The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-16
mo 1oe.

5 FOUNDER, and Of which were actually drove.
seVenty-three shot through the boat, 8 thro'
the hrst piece of board representing man,
nine through the second and five through the,
third.
:, MIR Ful'o having now expressed doubts
whether the preparations made IN he Ar
gus Could be effected with any reasonable
degiee ct facility, the committee proposed
that she should be got under weigh. & that
the preparations then made on her should
be brought 10 AN anchor again. & the same
preparations replaced, in order 10 pruve the
facility with which such an operation could
be performed.
This proposal was accordingly assented
to; but the rudder of the Argus being az
the time on shore, and under repair, the:
performance was necessarily postponed tn
take place on the LIST of October, in the
North river.
October I.
Owing tocalm weather during the two
preceding days, the Argus was not remov-
ell INTO the North river, as mad been deter.
mined ON the 2Sth ultimo the Committee
however, not thinking it then necessary
that she should be removed for the pnr pose
| or performing the experiments, which az
their last meeting had been resolved on.
| agreed that they should be made who're she
| then lay in the East river, and which was
IL.
astonishment of those who had entertained
any doubts of the facility with which YES
sci could be so prepared, after she had
been d.smaniied OF such preparations. the
same were seen replaced in less than fifteen
minutes
Mr.. Fulton having now candi,lly ac-
knowledged (and that too in u manner much
TO his credit,) hat his want of nautical IA
formation had led him into many errors
"a he oil
the project fairly and thoroughly tested:
the committee adjourned, to meet again en-
the gym instant, in order that he might be
| afforded sufficient time to make experi
| ments on the improvements which he had
suggested as being necessary to the perfect
ing OF his tnrpedoes, and the manner of apS,
plying them.
October 90.
Owing to bad weather, the committee
was prevented attending to the torpedo ex.
perimcnts. consequently, they we've not re.
newed, as had been resolved at the las, adj
lJournment, on the fist OF the presepr
month.
October SO.
Boats were sent to New York tor the
purpose of conveying the gentlemen of the
committee TO the navy yard bul none OF
them attended, except Col Williams and
T. ID. Golden, Esq. the latter of whom
SdibS aI d late nOur.
NO eXperimens were made on this day.
but Mr.. Fulton exhibited miniature mo-.
! del OF vessel of three hundred tons. in
the presence of Col Williams. CAPTAIN
Chauncey and myself: at which exnibt,on
were also present General Morton. Doctor
builus and some other gentlemen OF simiiai.
curiosity; which he called torpedo b,ock
ship the sides of which were calcnlated
! (as he sa'd,) 10 be Cannon proof, and the
decks P"oot against uusket shot the for
mer being six feet thick. and the latter six
inches.
(Hfre an Engraving
i his vessel is intended to be armed with g.
to'pedoes Oh each side, which are each 20 be
| apphed oy means of a spar 90 feet LONG. bro.
Jectihg frnm the vessels side, supported AT,
ne Inward end, by d uble circular swivel
ana at the outward end by guys LEADING
rom the mast heads tor the particulars
Of TINS singular vessel, (Which, to ms CON.
hned imagination iruly deserves to name of
non descuft, J | leave the reader to NIKE
MS own conclusions from the figure des ill.,
ca IN me preceding page, and by which A..
lone, he Will he enabled 20 Judge ,h etber.
such torti'd, sa7uictdy. sic. jeet-sided sir~
T1ch-dfe%ed, freen-Strfeenth sunk zvate,..
dungeons, are calculated t. supercede the
necessity OF nauy particu arly when the
men VINO manage them are (as IS Intended
confined to the limits of their holds. WHICH,
viii be under water, and in as perfect dark
ness as II shut up In the black hole of Cal
cutta.
October 81.
Boats were sent to New-York for tho
Committee, but the weather being unfavora-
Die, none OF the gentlemen attended
November l.
Boats were sent to New York for tbe.
committee, but none of tre members mr.,
tended, excep he hon. Oliver .Wolcrt,. q.
ID. Golden Esq. Col. Williams and Mr.
Garnett. On this day Mr.. Fulton made ar,
e'say win his sub..ma'i inc gun, and sue
ceeded IN cutting off under water an old
fourteen inch cable. that had been prenar
ca LOT the purpose and this understand
ne oid (not being myself presently w,thout
any INJURY to the gun or lock 1t IS. there
,"re' proved mat by such meaps a cable car,
ne cut OH under water; but l. peverthe-
'ess, deny that 1t Is possible to use this ma
chIne so as to make ii of any importance az
an engine OF war, for The cable cann,t mo
hooked WIN any probable degree of Ger
fanny "i'hout exposing the assailants in
such manner, and tor such length ot ,ine
TO part OF the ships cannon as well q. -,
ner m"sketry, swi'eis bluader-busses. &c
as would ensure them destruction before
| 'hey Gould perform the operation. and which
was amply verified in the aforeme,tioned
experiments as MIR. Fulton. and ali tbes
men ~ The boat with him, were exposed
'"r At ieaS, hoeen minutes to the fire oftbe