The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-09-09

this that the former has accomplished or invented
thing that is new, and which no one has ever done
before HIM, orPossesses knowledge OF at present,
BY his discovery he can blow up a vessel at any
reasonable distance, say about as far off as Colt cam
and without the aid OF galvanism or of a galvanic
battery at all
The same principle that governs the explosion of
his shells, will also produce this result.
The inventor may be asked, il this be a fact, why
he has not pressed his claims Upon the attention
OF the Government. To which he replies, that so
far as galvanism or electricity can be applied Con
not Colts plan, but called his) or any other plan
capable OF producing similar results, it is wholly IN
applicable TO harbor Defence for reasons which will
be stated. AS regards the more important appca-
ton of DR.: Joness principle to explosive shells, he
never tried but single experiment, and that under
the most unfavorabe circumstances and at his own
expense The Colonel who was deputed TO witness
It's operation, was himself an inventor of shell,
and at the same time took under charge the expert
ments OF another inventor in the same line. The
consequence was that after single trial. as stated,
DR.. Jones withdrew, and has never done any thing
In the premises since; II is extremely doubtful
whether any thing of the kind would be rewarded
by the Government except in of actual war.
If we are asked for reasons why neither galvan-
ism or other means to produce the result, can
be relied on tor harbor defence, they sim
ply as follows In deep water of twenty or thirty
feet, no powder laying on the bottom of it, will
blow up vessel over IT, owing to the pressure of the
incumbent water, the expansion being effected lat
ments,w have been told he suspended his powder
either immediately tied to the bottom of a vessel
or suspended It by buoy, and placed his vessel
over H. Besides, an enemy entering harbor
would be careful to have the channel raked in adj
vance, by tide rakes, by which means the connect
ing wires would be torn up. Besides, when lying
In wat, the wires, by ships anchor might be drawn
up. In such cases no explosion could happen at the
any attempt at removal would produce an imme-
date explosion without the further agency of any
other party.
Besides, it is known in the galvanc plan the wires
have 10 be coated, or enclosed in some waterproof
substance, and if the connection becomes the least
broken, or the wires exposed for any length OF tms
it is impossible afterwards to discharge the spark
through them by means of the battery, and all has
to be taken up and repaired Not with Dr. Jones's
plan. Has MIR. Colt ever let the gavanic wires lay
under water six months, and then attempted to dis
charge the powder! This can be done on Jones's
plan. But all these objections aside How is a
channel a mile wide and twenty feet deep to be de-
tended by any of these means? Suppose vessel TO
enter, Of so feet beam. Then we must have bar.
rel or two of powder laying in the channel, clear
across IT. and on the bottom, within fifty feet Of each
other. This would require more than one hundred
barrels OF powder; and then it is not certain
sci might not pass up in day time between two of
them, laying 80 feet apart, and be unhurt. And if
the wires got wet or rusty no explosion at all could
be had, and the one hundred barrels of powder
would be useless. But suppose vessel chose a
dark night to pass and put out all her lights, how
would those on shore see when to immerse the zinc
and copper plates in acidl (caled in Congressional
parlance "Cot's Marine Battery !!!'') but known
for near century as a common galvanc battery,
in one of its forms Might not they, on waking up
in the morning, fpd the vessel above Wise or Colts
stand on shore! Nsuch thing was at all feasible,
would we not find France disposed to forty her
harbors by this against the steamers and ships
of Great Britainl And the latter make arrange.
ments to do the same thing against Francel
We are always pleased to original invention
huf see M Inv largo cnf(r 70
vernment money should be given away on objects
not original IN themselves, and which promise no
permanent utility, ifthey were so.
We shall notice some other things in our next
with regard to war, men, and measures, and sub
scribe ourself your obedient servant,
AN OBSERVER.