The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-05-14
From, q LONDON Paper.
-4.ME RICAM 7ORPED oES.

destruction OF Eng sh vessels, of sub.n,.rine ma.
chimes disgrsceiui 10 humanity and contrary to the
laws Of wsr and II has been said that such hines
would not have been encouraged in Jseobn State
with q Jscobin President at its head. We are far
from approving the introduction into warfare OF any
sueh machinery as that in question. But while we
deliver this opinion, think it but fair to state
what not 30 generally known that in the ensou-
ragement OF th, dssrsceiul plan, we are as mach
concerned as the Americans. In 1904, Rt. Fulton,
styling himself sn American citizen, was invited
by L. I'd Liverpool, then Lord Hswkesbury TO this
country, to show his Majesty Minister hiss plans of
sub marine navigation esd attack and on the goth
OF July OF that year, he entered into contract with
Mr. Pitt and Lord Melville, the principal conditions
OF which we're
I" His Majesty's doek-ysrds and arsenals to msk e
ahd'tnruiah all such articles may be required,
which sre applicable to the purpose,
" If any circumstance should arise to prevent Co
vernment carrying this plan into execution, then
khe parties sre each to name two commi ,sioners for
the purpose OF examining the principles and trying
such experiments as they may think prope p, and it
should appear 10 the majority of the members that
the plan is practicable, aud offers a more eifec ua
mode OF destroying the enemy's aeets at BouIosue
Brest, or elsewhere, than any mode in practice and
With less cisk, then government is to pay the said
Robert Futon forty thousand pounds, as a eompen-
sation for demonstrating the principles, and making
over the entire possession OF his submarine mode
OF attack"
When tSe administration of which Mr. Eek and
Lords Grey and Greuviile at the head, came
into office, they we're good deal surprised, on Mr..
Cufon's claiming performance OF this contract, to
mad that such an inst-um eat actually in existence.
The plan would never have met with any encou.
rsgement from that administration; but as it had
already been secepted of, they under the ne
cessity of agi eeing to slow the necessary expert
ments to be made, or paying the forty thousand
pounds Ear Grey, then at the heal of the Adm-
rally, gave orders, reluctsrtly enough, that Mr..
Fulton should he supplied with whatever he reouir-
ed necessary for the of kis experiment &
the execution was entrustef to of the ables and
mn torn rartn ernHa- -,
tempts made the enemy's vessels at Bou.ogne
but from one circumstance other, the plan was
always found impracticasle On Mr. Fultons still in
sistng the payment OF the forty thousand pounds
che matter submitted to four srbrators Alexap-
der Dawson, Esq. Dir. Edmund Cartwright, Sir
Charles Blsgden, end Captain Thomas Hamilton
who, after full investigation, pronounced the plan
not so far nove practicable effective, as to entitIe
Mr.. Fulton to the sum in question.
1t was admitted by the srbitrators when the en-
gnes we're exhibited TO them, that the explosion of
submarine bonb OF one or two hundred pounds of
powder, ander the bottom OF a ship OK the Inc
would destroy her, snd that were an instantaneous
bomb anchored under water, and vessel 10 run,
against 1t so that the bomb sould strike any psee
nnder her bottom, and an expl, on 81 ouH he
place, the Vess won C dc stToyed but atn,t 'ng
the power of the engines, It Was ,emark ii tAat
there could not ne 9ny de ~,dSnct on the houlhs
being msdc wster tight when ~ IS II 10 pressur
o. twelve feet water, .sp~s sd =, wien L. p
enough to dsplsee ten cubic feet r ter, end that
the laying down such bones ,uul difficult and
hazardous in the extre wuud seem, y, er,lc re-
thsr we have no great csuse tn he Nl-u,ed ~ TINS
sui. marine machinery NJ. Fu.'1n sIqtcd mat
eSch bomb might ION fourteen 20 twenty
pounds, ard thst fifty th.usrnc raigft be made for
on million erling. II snppose6 ne thousand 0.
thuse bombs capable OF die ceasuF tns Whole com
merce Of EOgRnd fer 10 Inostis and tia. naya-
zine ofh:y thousarG a them world extend its ter.
rors TO 6ftv years Expeiim, nts were mad. ..
France by Mr.. Fulton, hut he acknowledges ,bey
were looked in that country Idle c'i.nerss ar
fres kar. tral.,t -
ever, seem 10 be much more sRnguine. and resolved
that TIE experiment shall have every chance sue
When disappointed of his reward by tse report
of the arbrators, he addressed the following letters
20 two OF them. I'ley curious
FALMOUTH, Ost 6, 1906.
captain THOMAS HAMILTON.
"SIR-I remember IT the time o the arbifra-
ton, you seemed disposed to make very light of
what called new invention or organization; YOU
remember the story of Columbus setting the ezg on
the little end ; snd rs sll these things amusing
exercises for ingenious mind, will now beg leave
10 present you with egg to set Mp.
"I have contrived a means by which an anchor
ed instanteols bomb shall destroy itself on sny day
which shall be previously nsrued from two days {,
56s this invention, which is but triiine eomnsre
TO the whole system, is nevertheless i'm portant for
by arranging the bombs to destroy theras Ives on n
given oey, there win be certainty thst after ST. h
day the Ssss will be clear of the engines, and block
ad5 fhsy be laid for gwen time were tits nor the
sroy the confidence ofnsvsatOrs for years
s. Now, Sir, tlHing as this invention may appes~
I will bet you 100 guness, you will not find out
how TO do il between this * the first of mex; June
IF do not hear from you or the government before
thatdsy, shall order this, with NY challenge to
YOU and Sir Charles Blsgden TO be published in the
London papers. r r, as conceive an excessive in.
Justice has been done me, will GA this 81
leet till reparstior be made till ! convince the
world OF the truth of my assertions, and OF NY
rights.
clam, Sir, your most obedient,
"ROBERT FULTON.
NEw-YonE"
To Sir Charles Biagicn and Captain Thomas
Ha1Hi[toH
GEVTLENEN,
There is az expression in the award IN which
must now t,ke the opportunity to 3.akc some
remarks it is thus" And we ind tbs plan
Of the said RI 1t Fulton is not so for n5ve1,
practicable, effective, rs to entite him to-" &c.
&c.
The contract, which should 1--we been vour guide
Sn Judging says nothing OF nv ity IN fefre, no
yeIty was not nee essay to ny rights. The con
tract says-" A nd should itappesr that said plan
is practic.tie" o. r. But Il my plan is not no
We wh-re g I to be found, and what is the reason
il has never teen prsctised by nations? That
which approaches the nearest 10 my inventions and
combinations 3 3 maehiue made by Mr.. Bushns IN
America, dining the war, which WAS calle the a
merioan Tortoise in which believe lie once or
twice went under water there we're also come kegs
Of powdcr hoatcd down RIVER, with common run.
locks In thew, and string tied to the trigger, IN
hope that o. tie British ships would tlke the
kegs On board. and wnie working about them,