American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1828-01-11
HOUSE OF REPRT.sESTATiyEs.


This being the day for lie presentation q ret
tons, (Which. according 10 the Rnrs If the House,
can only be presented on A;ondas~, after tAc ft
thirty DAYS Of the se>-on,l upwards Of eisMJ
were presented and disposed Of,
Mr. .Wtchell, Of Tenn. presented H. ncttoa
ot Ulall Brown, praying that Congress Nil exon
inc IN invention of his ,0r defending tie coasts
and haihors Of the United States, by certain
steam vessel darling lld;ncs.
Mr. .Wtchea, said. that lie hoped 10 be intll-c
in a lew words Ut explanation. intended 70 ham,
Tic SUBJECT Of this petition more distinctly bct@t
the view OF the House. Tin, petition Had basa
presented at a former session. and referred u tle
Committee on Military Afars; bnt owing T. tAe
pressure Of ohri business, that committee had ~
yer been able 10 give il tie attention which i weil
metitca. Ihc petitioner. during thc time q &C.
late SIR. had invented a steam boat. 50 cGn,!ruci
ed To ect fire from it, sides, % he distance y
or $50 ieet. Experiments had been made Mt5
this vessel IL the hattor ni Baltimore, before thou
sands 81 People aud il had then been clearly
shown that 1t Was capable Of setting fire To- alfl
lcstroyin5 4 hostile feet without rccel,in-. seiii
the least damages lhe invention was il.ehdsa
for tho purpose u haibnr and sea board defence :;
and, ~Aen u,ct IS ~ anSlllaty 70 the FORTS whlcA
had already been erected, it was calculated to lhr
hsh the best possible security against the attack
/
to be perfectly in.ulnerabie TO the united attack
of whole feet. 1t moved with great fapidty'
and III Calm rs we'll as IN running chase, wohd
be able to o,erahc, approach. and set on ife any
ships which could be brought by an enemy. Ing
experiments necessary 10 this discovery, had cost
the inventor the best yea, OF his lie, anu ma"
exhausted the .tcatcs; part ot his pecnnary &c.
sources All he asks Of this House is, that It nav
be fully and iaNly examined; and IN h, Iell'ioh
he Uow that 1t the last tame he Will prefer
tia, request baye had his papers iur two weeks
! III my POSSESSION, and have eSamihcd wisii soh.c
care the Evidence b. which he support his Request
/ 1t c0nans the declarations Of nca 81 science a'.
81 nautical experience, ana also OF ship baiers. y
the plan is practicable, il will effect a sayihs y
millions Of dollars ia the defence oi our coasl.
The estlmatcs Of well experienced men render =
probable that such vessel viii cost about !0tnt
dollars: and it j. proposed 10 station one ~ tae
Gulf Of Mexico. two IN HE Chesapeake, one N w
)elav are. Two III Long Island sound. and enc ~
Rustoa l.av. Jhls distribution Will eiiefiuafy
prevent the landing Of any army on or sesboau'
\ Our Iortihcati"ns only protect our Navy WIZ,
it runs under their guns tDt shelter bnt ses,N
ike this Cal; run out INTO the bay, meet NC arm
cling. pursue the retrcathg enemy, ana ~"
1000 gallons OF inhammabie matter lIrn by ~
with q force and elect that cannot pc trslsssH.
the pl Ian !, practicable, t ought, doubtless -
ceiNe the attention OF men q se4tnet. II nh7 1@
promise ii Iieat economy, af,i dt en- y ~ :"
impu,t.nec Il, 10 de,eive tive attention g 'sf@
committee. uho can de,ue iheir tiinc an9 i.5'e4
lion 70 the ,obirct | move. ,helttn't, hR'
petition BE- referred % select cnt.nailet.
/, Mr II Gsaaa, Ih.lruar d tie ieaaatlit'' =
Naval .'iIf,s. an9srs.ea' A5 4 @4tt5'