The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-16
Done8ttr.
TORPEDO WAR.


A work has been lately published in New York
under this title. The project has been long be
lore the public in various views, but not before
the present OCCASION in satisfactory and system.
atic form. 1t has been a subject of applause to
those who have investigated it, while it has been
theme OF abuse, repro5ation, Misrepresentation,
and ridicule to those who either knowing nothing
shout IT. or fearing that its efficacy would pro.
duce effects the most momentous to military ma
vies, have endeavored to depreciaie the forbedo
System.
To any man OF common understanding who has
considered the natural tendency of the esoIos;ve
power of guapowder its operative projectie
power, in throwing balls or shells; its common
operation even IN the explosion of a rocket, of a
lew ounces weight, the height to which it ascends
IN the atmosphere; 1T would appear not very
extraordinary, that AN augmentation of the guam.
tty OF powder from the load of a rocket, or of n
twelve FOUNDER fired horizontally, that the effects
OF an increased quantity and AN explosion up.
wards would prove terrible wherever It could be
brought into operation.
The effects OF the explosion of powder mills,
which have produced conclusions terrible as
earthquakes; the effects of artificial mines
blown up IN military sieges, have been contem-
plated rather by men who have made military
subjects study than by Legislators or the private
citizen 49,.
A private citizen durir.. The American reyolu
ton, made an attempt to realize the effect of =
submarine explosion on ships Of war, but public
patronage was wanting or secret corruption
prevailed against public utility, and Bushnell
1t IS believed died nrewarded and neglected
We have now citizen, native OF Philode,.
PIMA, whose independence of fortune and whose
zeal tor science, place him out of the scope of cor
rupton, and above tue sordid spirit of avarice.
VINO has at his own expence matured expert.
ments and given demonstration to the efficacy
nm IN NIcl E,r III.
as well as for the importance of its const ouences
once brought INTO practice, every calculation that
can be attempted must fall far short of its power
or its consequences.
Its our intention to present to the public the
whole treatise just published on this subject,
with the plates by which means the whole peo-
pie ct America will be enabled to Judge Tor them
selves on tins most interesting and effective mode
Of defence.
Nc. falfor, the author of this work, is a M .
I've OF Philadelphia, and has spent several wears
in Europe, where he has maturcd his toroeao
system III conjunction with other great branches
of engineering and mechanics he is also the.
irst successful navigator by philosophical power.
against wind, and tide, and weather, as proved
by his steam boats which ply on the Hudson
and Rariton, and of which there is a prospect to
the national advantage to see lines established i'm
the Mississippi, Ohio. and lake Champlam as
well as on the Delaware and we trust at no
remote period OH the Potomac and lanes Ri
ver.
The torpedo which is tie subject of our pre.
sent attention, takes it's name from a fish, whose
physical electric properties are generally
known, to strike with the touch the artificial
torpedo, is thus described by Mr.. Fulton, in page
described in plate ii above, which we also
give in his own words.
CT The above is in the Aurora, but as we are
without the Plate, sue must stop here-tor the
present. E E.
" The reader must take the following. for
4chat IL rs 7oorth-we can only state, that
IT is from nigh o6Iciai authority-no less,
than the Boston Centinel:
EXTRACT OF LETTER.
NEW YORK, Jan. so. Mr.. Jackson as
you may suppose. is topic of conversation
here, and apparently a more frarx and af
fable person does not exist. He expresses
much disappointment and regret at not be-
ing able to effect the arrangements he so
confidently anticipated when he left Eng
land; and which confidence induced him at
a great cxpence. to bring over his Lady and
family. 4 am told that he has demanded
OF ms government an immediate recall ;
and that he expects daily the arrival of a fri
gate to convey him home. 1t is also -aid, that
he has expressed his opinion, that a War
Will not ensue between the two countries.
in consequence of the rupture that whate-
yer measures are adopted by the u. States
hostile or friendly to English commerce,
will be retaliated, measure for measure (;
but that Mr.. Pinkney will be permitted to
remain in England as long as he pleases.-
We remain destitute ofevery species of To-
reign information"