The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-09

system, SO far as satisfactory opinions might
be formed from an observation OF his exPe-
riments.
"A variety of circumstances have occur
red to prevent the committee from meet
ing TO make. Joint report. The gentle
men Of the committee, who reside in this
city, have at lcegth. however. agreed upon
q statement to be submitted to you; but as
this is mere detail of the Experiments
which we have witnessed, and as we, who
have subscribed that statement, could agree
upon nolhiBg further. think it my daty to
: offer. for your consideration what follows, as
me result of my observations on Mr. Full
tons experiments
That qua powder can be ignited under
water with facility, and the infinite power
Of its expansibili,y. when exploded in that
situation, seems to have been demonstrated
by Mr.. Fulton's experiments The efficacy
of his cable-cuttng machine. which re-
Quires bat a very small charge, shows at
once how easily powder may be fired un.
der water. and that its force is equal to what
it would be, If exploded in the same ma
chine inthe atmosphere.
1t seems to be proved, that water ia as
resistible to a sudden impulse as a solid bo-
dy If so, a very small quantity ofpowder.
If fired at any depth below the surface, as
ircannot move the infinite weight Of matter
which ressts its lateral pressure. must make
way for its expansion Through the perpen-
dicuIav column of water with which it may
be covered. When we see that the frmest
rocks yield to the force of a small Quantity
of powder, we cannot doubt but that the
strength Of vessels bottom, must be as no.
thing, when exposed to the explosion OF the
charge of a torpedo. :.
If these may be .taken as just principles,
then if means can be found of placing tor
IL 49, ~
notwithstanding any act or force she could
nse. the torpedo system would be complete.
When we consider how much experience
has been necessary to bring to perfection
what are now considered as very simple o.
perations, we should be cautious not TO be
discouraged by the failure of first essays
The history of powder. from the time of
its first discovery, till it was applied in the
way in which it Is now used, affords stri-
king example of the improvement to be de-
Sived from practice and experience. We
should have had neither land nor floating
batteries. nor armie. with FIRE locks, if the
world had rested satisfied, from the early ex-
periments which were made with gun
powder, that there were no better means of
applying it, than the leather gun and the
match, which were used in the infancy of
the invention.
The committee saw no attempt on the
part of Mr.. Fulton, toplace a torpedo under
The bottom of a vessel. he acknowledged,
that he was not prepared to overcome the
means which had been adopted for defend
ing the Argus against his floating torpedoes,
and it appeared from Mr.. Futon's expla
nation of the manner OF applying these in
struments, that the defences of the vessel,
independent of any force which might have
been used, were insurmountabe obstacles to
the application Of a torpedo in any way
which Mr.. Fulton had previously suggest
ed. But though the means of defence, which
were applied to the Argus. were only such
as vessel of war commonly carries, as
part of her equipment and though they
could be put in the state in which the
committee saw them in a very short
time / cannon but think, that. if the
dread of torpedoes were 10 produce no
other effect than to induce every hostile
vessel of war, which enters our ports, to-
protect herself in The way in which the Ar
gus was protected, torpedoes will be no in
considerable auxiliary in the defence of our
harbors.
As &c the anchored torpedo, 10 other ex-
pertinent was attempted than TO show. that
when in the water, it might be retained in
the position necessary for its having the de
sired effect. The tide, however, being slack
or nearly so, at the time chat the anchored
torpedo was examined by the committee,
its vertical position at that moment did not
afford any evidence that it would resist a
strong current /; on the contrary, there was
reason TO believe, that in the way in which
it was then anchored. it would yield to the
pressure of strong tide, so as to be driven
to the bottom, or TO lay nearly horizontally
in the water; but it cannot be doubted, but
that there are means OF fixing a torpedo
so that it will retain an upright position
IN the strongest tide.
MIR. Fulton's cabie-cutter, appears to be
very ingenious invention. Its efficacy,
when properly applied to the cable OF a YES
sci, has been demonstrated and it seems
that it may, be applied. when the persons
who are to manage il, are at considera-
bic distance from the object intended to be
effected. 1t was suggested by the officers
OF the navy, and it cannot be questioned,
but there are many means, by chains and o.
therwise, of guarding cable against this
machine; bat an invention, which will OBJ
lge a hostile vessel, whenever she an
chors in one Of oui ports, to guard her ca
bles by the means above teferred to, must !
be of great importance in system of de- |
fierce. A vessel of war. surrounded by |
large booms and spars, with nets hanging |
from Der bows as deep as the waters, with |
her rigging loaded with weighty pieces Of
iron. and with grapnels and shot suspended
from her yards to guard her against tor
pedoes, and with chains to defend her ca
bles against the cable-cutting machine, must
be much less wieldy, and of Course, much
less formidable for attack OF defence, than