New-York daily tribune., 1844-11-23
From the Boston Cultivator.
D.r.--;,- Shs-s - MAJ

| Extract from an English paper received by the
Caledonia, which arrived Oct 81:
The Davenport Independent states that MIR.
| NaSmyth has invented an instrument of destruction,
which will go far to supercede Capt. Warmers. 1t
is an iron steamer, bomb proof, which will run stem
on TO ship, and will leave hole in her many feet
wide, below the surface. The invention is said to
be under the consideration of the Admiralty
| This is not new thing in the United S'utss.-
| The writer Of this knows that William Keith, Esq.
of Roxbury, presented projects for harbor defence
to Gen. H. A. S. Dearborn and Col George Bom-
ford, of the Ordinance Department, early in the
year of 1911. One of the projects was long, mar
row vessel, from so TO IS tons, TO be propelled by
Errcsons propeller, or Hunters wheel, at the rate
OF 90 to 25 miles per hour, with shield deck for
ward, bomb proof; the lower deck being three feet
below the surface, breakage above would not in
jure her; TO carry gun on slide near the keel, to
discharge ball or she'll, from one to two hundred
pounds, six or eight feet below the ships water
line, and followed up at the same instan. with an
explosion at the bow of heavy Shells with four or
five hundred pounds of gunpowder, which would
sink the ship instantly, or the discharge of the gun
alone would doubtless be fatal 20 the vessel. At
the instant the vessel struck the ship, the gun
would slide forward, let down q spring hammer on
percussion caps, and the whole explosion take place
while the bow is in contact with the ship; in
this case, the ball would meet with no re-
sistance OF water. This vessel would not cost
much it would require only two men to con-.
duct ii, and they under cover of the shield deck,
rigged with diving apparatus, TO escape when the
vessel was within eight or ten rods of the enemy.
They would not be in one-tenth the danger that
men are in common sea fight while on the other
side tie ship wouldcost s70e,O00, with 1000 lives
at hazard.
Another project was artificial snaga. Sticks of
hard wood timber, pointed at each end, the upper
poilt with cast iron cap, made very sharp, to en-.
ter the bottom Of the vessel. The snags would be
portable, and could be set very quick and removed
from place to place; made with two iron staples in
the undsT part near each end, with one staple on
the upper side near the upper end, 10 hook on
brandy pipe, any other vessel, TO keep the upper
end elevated on the lower staple would hang
weight On chain 10 keep il stationary on the up-
per staple chain end weight Of length ,ha,
would sutmerge the point Of tie snag three or four
feet below the surface OF the water. Nc vessel
could enter harbor where they were sci. They
might be set with passage for friendly vessels to
pass with pilot.
Mr.. Keith also submitted some o,har projects,
which Col Bcmford thought well of, and said to
Mr. X that they were ingenious and mast have re-
CURED much thought, aud was Of opinion, in case
of war with superior naval force, the Government
would adopt some OF them. Early in the year
ls4o Mr.. Keith submitted thess projects to several
scientific gentlemen.
FP The sale of one half of ths coJlac,;on ofl