Arkansas intelligencer., 1845-01-25
From the 81. Louis Ereo;,o C,-o,,.

81. from tile 81. Louis Erenine Gazette, +
we suhIoIn letter yesterday received from
Lieu" Boyle Y. 5. Navyson the subject of the
last experiment of COLTS Sub .ma rine Battery I,
will he recollected than. some weeks s,uce we
published several communications in ,eIo,;on 81
our " Coast Defence.'' The public mind bos no,
been sufficiently awakened to this subject. A,
me moment, while we wrle The English have
upon The stocks two hundred steamships. with
r r"o'" enough Tor regiment of soldiers on each,
! ms we learn from Black wood. an EpgIisb rory
periodical. France is also ma kino ug,r,i. ov,,.
lions ~ this matter. While we contemotote these
Prepa rat'ons on the part Of the English govern.
meht, viewing at tho same time the somew b;,,
critical position of our Foreign Relations we
must say. that we are supine and not sufficiently
Vgliant of our nationaI safety. Our ha rbors ami
large cilles along onr whole seaboard, should be
placed IN greater security.
ihe letter OF Lieut.. Boyle will be found to EN-.
o"nv Facts of much interest, and abundantIy tn
sunSla an'iae the decarations of our correspondent
w. III ms articles of hast summer, rcIn tive to
'he s"p' rior claims Of Colts Sub-ma rine Battle
ry' 5" iar ms the last experiment is concerned
"h" 'hat experiment, If a bona fde enterprise en-.
u'eiy' as Is e'iden, was conclusive: .,..
M'. EdNor:-Cn the eve Of leaving the y. S
having my attention drawn to sundry con,,ou,;
I"''""S III your rnier. m which my name is free
usta. IN connection with "Coi's Submarine
n'"er!' am induced TO state the following
'acts' correctres. rs far as lies IN my power. OF
Such impressions as those letters ma !, have erro
neou>ly made.
On the day of the experiment, bv mn reouesi
inc snip was examined by competent persons and
'ouh" 70 be sound although an Old VESSEL She
WAS ahc'"red IN Tie channel I,nding to the NAVY
i"ru. ~ meridian It was cain. aud il was i'm.
possible TO know whether would be conpelIeI to
'i up or u"wh the r'rer--the experiments being
h"uced IN the papers 10 come off at 5 o'clock. r.
VI. About O'Clock light breeze s,rung m from
the Southwark which decided the course | was to
take, aud IN Il few inmates. not more than In IF
an hour before the appointed time, gave hlr.
oo'' lie signals which were to govern our opera.
nons. A salute having toen fired in honor Of
wt4ss wA4s R eR visiting the Navy Yard
sIgnnI was then mace that Mr.. Colt was ready.
and soon us possible afterwards, the cable was
stppcd, the American Flag hnuIed down. the sa, is
property trimmed, and tic Styy" ran M the
h-----i ..t 'i,ns ef Il a ,,,;,.s ,,,,
w heh thought sh" would run steadily for a con-
siderable distance without taking Il shear or slrk-
ing the ground, laslicl the helm and left her to
her taie. When clear of the ship fired a rocket
TO inform Mr.. Colt that he might do his worst, as
| was clear Of danger. This signal was p,eyi.
Considerable extent SHE was DESTROYED, and. to
was Injured. OF Inc chahne!
do believe that whole squadron would have
shared the same fate. The channel being len
dered impossible by wrecks. other vessels bound
up. and sailing in the wake of those blown up.
would be served in the same way. or have run
ashore or anchored. The channel is too narrow
t" haul suddenly on tho wind. without getting on
shore, whore OF course They would be easily de-
stroyed.
In concluding this hastv letter. ! would simply
ndd my convection, that a iortificninn, during the
last war, been CONSTRUCTED on Mr.. COTS plan. near
Fort Washington, for the protection of the cities
on the head waters of the Potomac and Fort
Washington been efficiently manned the English
s''ps passing up the river would have been easily
destroyed, and our Capitai and public buildings
saved from II derouring element and tie poliutiol
of il foreign foe.
In taking leave Of the subject, as do with this
my first and Iasl letter, | woid remark that in
writing tho above | have been prompted bS II
sense of JUSTICE winch we 10 ourselves and
one ano her, when attacked either by ignorance,
error or malice.
have the honor to be, respccty,
Your ont srrv't. . ...
JUNiUS BOYLE, ..
ie, I