The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-12

[
; provided too, that an ill-timed parsimop,
should not confine The torpedoes (anchoret
| torpedoes especially to number below
that which the Importance of the subje C,
demands. / WOULD therefore, earne silly re.
commend the further prosecution of the ex.
pSrlhens already commenced, and upon a
larger scale: nor do think that trifiinp
hiscarrlagcs arising from want of practice
ana nautical skill, should stifle in its birth a
discovery that may lead to consequences,
| the extent and importance of which il is
impossible at this moment to foresee-aul
L sincerely hope, sir, that they may do honor
co your administration by being brought to
Periectlon under your patronage.
| nave the honor to be, sir, with great re
spect. your obedient servant.
| ROBERT r. LIVINGSTON.
The honorable
Raul Hamilton, &c.
O.)
Is, Sfaats6urg, Jan. 90, 1911.
The expectation of Joint report from
the gentlemen with whom / was associated
ON the subject OF your letter of the Alh of
Way last, has hitherto prevented my accep-
.hS the alternative you proposed, of ad-
dressing you individually. A difference of
sentiment having disappointed that expec.
tatioh, transmit YOU brief statement of
the impressions received from Mr.. Fulton's
experiments explanatory of his torpedo sys@
TEN.
particular detail of the experiments, [
understand, viii be forwarded 10 you by
another hand. II were useless therefore
TO repeat them here They were mnch
more limited, it is said, than was int .ded
lowing principally to d continuance of un
favorable weather occasioping an inconve-
hieht delay to those gentlemen who resided
at distance. Restricted as they were.
when considered as first essay i'm support
OF an infant science. they certainly equailed,
! II not surpassed those of most new inventi-
ems and might challenge a comparison with
tne progress made in the application of gun
Powuet 10 the various species of fire arms.
l might add, without extrayagarice Ntbs"
warrant an expectation that aided by 60
vernmeht (Which every practical science
promising public utility is entitled to be-
ana the efforts of genius, the sub marine
use OF gun powder will at no distant
period. be entitled to rank AMONG III.
pest and cheapest defences of ports and har-
bors. ''
me facts resulting from the experiments,
are
l. That gun. pdwder is susceptible of igni-
ton and explosion under water.
3. That sufficient quantity exploded sn.-
der the bottom OF vessel living in that ell.
ment will destroy her.
8. That it may be applied under wa
ter to lire arms with as Nnuch effect a,y
der some circumstances, as in the atmos
phere.
4. That by such application vessel
may IN few minutes be cast from her
moorings.
5. Ihat the necessafy defence of a shin
against iioating torpedoes must greatly en-
cnmoer her, and proportionably impair her
activity.
The supposed difficulty of conveying tor.
| Pedoes under the bottom Of vessels afIorde
the principal objection To their practical
use as engines of war; ANA ,he nautical
gentlemen who attended the experiments of
| MT. Fuiton, and who when free from bias.
mast be the be Judges, were with one ex
ception OF opinion they could with the ordi-
nary muniHents of ship, defeat every eff
tort which should be made fol. that pnrnose
Specimens OF the means to which thew
would resort, were exhibited i'm the eouib-
meut OF the Argus. Of these the only one
whicn appeared to me of much importance
| as defence against an attack with tnrpe
does, was the subtehsioh of the brip'S shin
Ter net from the bowsprit yard to A corsi,Ir-
raoie depth below The surface of the water.
where, understood, it was kept TO it's no.
sitIoh by a quantity of kentiedge attached to
its lower line. This defence I conceive IN
be useful only where the vessel lies at AN,
Choir though the Nautical gentle men were
OF a contrary opinion Whether they are
correct or not can be ascertained lJv exner;
nent alone In any situation of the vessel.
however, 1t does not present to my mind AN
iDsurmountable obstacle.
| The annoyance which the boats empIoyed
IN the management of the torpedoes would
/ be subjected 10 from the ships battery. an
peAred TO many to afford ofitself con,oItte
projection, On this subject it is with diff
deuce offer an opinion. The little exue.
r'ence have had has not been calculated
to impress my mind with great respect for
battery employed against small moving
o', ect particularly where the battery H..
self, after a few discharges acquires de
gree OF motion. The uncertainty of round
shot, ON such occasions, IS obvious and the
eject OF musket bali discharged from prea,
gems may be easily rendered harmless. II
IS afact known 10 gamers, that Won canpo,
give to a cannon loaded with leadcn hail her
tail charge of powdsc, without riskioea 10
sion OF the lead They are, therefore. o.,
: such service, always undercharged. & tbcir
iofce tdeIs1Y proPoi ,ionsbly diniuishcd. -