The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-19

III
the report of the committee on the torpedo
experiments, with that of Commodore Rod
gers: and the letters of Robert r. Living
ston Morgan Lewis and CadwalIader d. Col
den, on the same subject. The opinions ex
pressed in these papers, are, / think, az
favorable to this infant art, as under all
circumstances, could be expected.
1t is proved and admitted
LIST. That the waterproof locks will ignite
gun powder under water.
I'd. 1t is proved. that 20 pounds of powder,
exploded under the bottom of a vessel of
two hundred tons, will blow her up; hence
it is Admitted by all the above parties. that
If sufficient quantity ofpowder land which
believe need not be more than two hun
dred pounds,) be ignited under the bottom
OF first rate man of war, it would instant
ly destroy her
Sd. II is proved and admitted by all par
ties concerned in the experiments. that a
gun can be fired under water, and a cable
OF any size may be cut by that means at
any required depth.
with these immensely important princi-
Piles. proved and admitted, the question ma
turaIly occurs, whether there be- within RI
genus or inventive faculties of man, the
means OF placing torpedo under ship. IN
defiance OF her powers of resistance. He
who says there is not, and that, CONSEQUENT
ly, torpedoes never can be rendered useful, ,
must OF course believe, that he has pene
trated tothe limits of mans inventive DOW
ers, and that he has contemplated ali The
combinations and arrangements which pre-
sent, or future ingenuity can devise, to place
torpedo under ship
There is no man of sound sense. whobas
the least acquaintance with the difficulties
under which all the arts have labored i'm
thelr infancy, who, on calm reflection. will
De so weak or vain a to presume, chat he
Possesses strength OF intellect, 20 foresee all
that can be done, not onl, in infant arts.
but IN arts now familiar and long estab.
lished.
BuS as it Is impossible now to conceive
the various modes which may be invented
tor placing torpedoes under a shin. and as
success is OF incalculable Importance to our
country, there is every reason to prosecute
the experiments with ardor: and we are
encouraged to this. by a contemplation of
the progress OF the whole military art. and
particularly he attack and defence of for
tined places. Ihe celebrated Vauban, af-
ter years OF experience, aided by pow
erfnl genus to fortity Cities, confe ssed that
it was impossible TO make any work so
strong by art alone, that it could not be Ia.
Ken by the art aud exertions of besieging
army, IN which the, besiegers commence
oy para'lels and zig Gags, to approach the
rampant OF the besieged, and run their mine
or suoter'aneous passage under the works
to blow them up During the whole time
OF their approaches, which is frequently for
weeks or months, the beslegers are under
as heavy fire from the besieged, as has.
or perhaps can be invented when the ex-
Pios'oh MAKES breach in the rampant, it
IS defended by all the guns loaded with
grape ana canister shot, which can be
Drought 10 bear upon it. The trench is en-
hiaded with Cannon and small arms. In
fact, the whole power of the besieged is al
rected to defend the breach, perhaps not
twenty teet wide; yet in defiance of 80 COM
centrsted fre-a fire infinitely more des-
tructive than any ship could keep up from
her oow--there are hundreds Of instances
OF such breaches having been forced. and
the works taken. Is it possible To con-
template the ingenious combinations. the ner
severance, the risques and acts OF vaIor rs
besieging army, and then believe, that
there are not ways and means, enterprise
and courage, when organized and exercised
to mine through water, which is the work of
few minutes. and blow up ship, when
the risqueIs not one thousandtb part so great
as that OF stormiDg breachp / think CIR
TINS comparative view OF the danger in
storming breach, and attacking a shin.
proves thar, added to the three principles
before mentioned and admitted, the courage
TO undertake the attack of ship with tor
pedoes, must be admitted also.
will now consider the progress Of the
experiments at New-York, and the pros
pect OF future improvements which they
present:
First, as to the harpoon, it is admitted
that az the distance Of "fGecH fret re