The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-23

by which the application of the violent eXplo-
sive force of gun powder sh all destroy ship. of
war, & give to the seas the liberty which shall
secure perpetual peace between nations that
are separated by the ocean! My conviction
| is, that the means are here developed, and
require only to be organized aud practised
to produce that liberty SO dear to every ra-
,ional and rejecting man and there is
grandeur in persevering to success i'm SO inn
mense an en,erprize-so well calculated
20 excite the most vigorous exertions of the
highest order of intellect, that hope TO in
tercst the patriotic feelings of every friend
to America, to justice and to humanity, in
so good cause"
In fact, it is only upon such bold and aspi-
ring minds as Mr.. Fulton's, that ,hese germs
of great improvement can be edged with
safety hints may strike men of
less sanguine hue-but the want of energy
and fire, chills and nips the bud of promise.
1t is fortunate, therefore, far the world, tina,
the system of Torpedoes has met with
friend of such nerve and perseverance as
| MIR. Fulton-whilst it remains in his hands,
it is impossible to predict the consequences
or calculate the benefits.
That the mere attempt to make expert
ments, and bring it to maturity, will meet
with opposition even i'm the United States,
who is so unwise as to doubt? Who is so un.
acquainted with the state of our parties, as
not 10 see inevitable
Men of sober minds may conceive very
honest though unnecessary doubts, about
the capacity of Mr. Fulton-"he may be an
Iimpostor, meer quack, or at best, an enthu
sastc, visionary protector" But such men
should know that Mr.. Fulton is one of the
first minds IN this country-that he is neither
bedlamite nor an impostor-that he exc
cutes as he plans, reducing every thing as
he goes along, to models, diagrams and cal
collaborating he stands on elevated ground
among the wisest men of Europe--that in
this country. Messrs Jefferson aud Barlow
are the friends of his system-that we have
the best security for the common sense 8,
practical turn of his character, in the works
which he has already put into practice-his
iron Rail ways, his compositions on roads &
canals-his steam boat, which goes against
wind and tide, stems the current of our most
} rapid rivers, and fixes new Era i'm the art
Of Navigation.
Pritish subjects will range themselves
, against it. for the sanc reason that Earl ST
Vincent blamed Mr.. Pitt" The morning
" of nv first interview with Earl St. Vim
{. cent" SAYS Mr.. Fulton, p. 7. she was
livery communicative i explained to him
: "a torpedo and the Dorothea experiment
| " He reflected for some time, and then said
" Pit was the greatest fool that ever existed
to encourage mode of war which they
f" who commanded the seas did not want
"and which: if successful, 7Douid deflriue
: "them Of IT,"
Federalists will be, generally. opposed tc
it-either because they wish to sec Or. Is.
riding triumphant on the seas, as check
upon France, or that they wish ID have a ma
Wy of our own.
Men, scured by disappointment. will ven,
their spleen. because they dislike every thing
that is not their own---Let D5ucius cont
nue. TO rail at Torpedoes-let him nick
name Mir. Fulton " the i-disant Ar
D chimedes"-the wit of MIR. Randolph is
. harmless-rhere is no electricity in it
it is destitute of all power, as well as OF
point--Let Mr.. r. laugh at what he does
} not understanding will find it hard to
make any man believe. that the mechanical
Sk1H OF Mr.. Fulton is not above the reach Of
the mechanical gvit of Mr.. R.-Let Mr.
, Dana satirise the {" Eeis"-or let Mucius all
} at the American Archimedes-their witt
cisms are of no account-Whilst such men
: as Montugla, in his Historic des i1athema-
n7nes, Continue to lavish their praises upon
} Fulton, such wits as Dana or Mucus may
, be permitted to break their jests.
Such opposition, however, will be unavail-
lrg-the work is ia too great a forward
ness to be arrested by witt;cism or preju-
many Hicl, nave TAKEN lHtC-
: rest in it, not to resent this injustice-the
eyes of the country are upon MIR. Fulton
let him SO on with his experiments and eff
forts-the world are calling aloud for more
: light, let more experiments be made.
10 those who have not the cngravings be-
fore them, it is impossible TO give a clear
description or the contents of this pamphle,
| of the torpedoes, and the means BY
W. 3ich they are to be affixed to ships of war
to b low them into pieces.
To. "pedoes are more or less complicated
accord. us to the way in which they are to be
| used.
In torne does. there is a small cope,
case, about vo feet long, and twelve inches
diameter. cara BILE Of containing from 100 to
/ so pounds of Il, 'wder---a brass box con.
| tanning g. lock sim; 'ar to a common gun-lock,
with a barrel two inches long to contain
musket charge of owder; the box, with
the lock and barrel. is screwed to the case.
When the Torpedo. is toDe anchored In a
harbor, and so arranged rs TO blow up a
vessel which should run al 'alnst 1t, there
is leDer like trigger projecting on
the outside of the box, and havin,F commu-
nication with the lock inside of the oox-the
lock is put down cooked aud ready 20 ire
when the trigger is struck by an adequate
force, the barrel is discharged into the cop
per case, whose contents are therefore tx
pioded----and the vessel is rent in twain
BESIDES this mechanism in the "A nChored
torpedo, has a deal box flied wifi. cork,
to render the orpedo "specifically liz hter