The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-30

Dig EpIegl', u m. hancock, on TIE I'D OF the
same moeth. bofn on q cruise.
Her Majesfy's steamer Devastation, Com. De
Horsey, left ST. Thomas on the Sd instant, ON q
cruise
Her Majesty's steamer ves.al, Captain Thompson,
left Jsmalca, 7th November. for Grsytown.
Bark Snwar1ow Of New York, twenty-five days
from Sagua 10 Grsnde with sugar, bound TO Nav
York, arrived on the 18th ut st. Georges in dis
t1ess, lesky and with damage to spars and sails.
Who Invented tho Lancaster Gun:
TO THE EDITOR OF tbs HERALD.
was not aware OF the nature of the Improvement
elaine for the Lancaster Siege Gun employed be-
fore Sebsstopol until recently read a description
Of it taken from an English paper. ] was surprised
to discover that had invented the same thing az
early as July, 1912, now over twelve years since,
when brought it before the Navy Department ut
Washington.
Ny theory was, that projecties which moved
through the air with the least resistance, those
Of spherodal form, or which resembled the fol Of
the earth. 10 other words, that rouni bodies, or
balls, projected through the air had tendency to
dispose the particles Of which they are composed,
into fattened spheroids-that is, round body put
in rapid motion had tendency to expand in the
circumference Of its equator and to contract at its
polar axes. To obtain high range rom q cannon
fred from heavy ordnance, watch was the chief OBJ
ject Of my invention, proposed to make cannon
with spheroida bores, aud to cast the balls in the
same shape believing that they would ofsr less re.
sistance in their transit through the air than com
mon round balls. This theory has since been proven
by the Lancaster gun, recently brought out Dy Mr..
Lancaster, who, learn, Is eunsmita Of London.
The invention may possibly have been original with
i'm, AZ l know mine was with myself and in ad-
vance Of him or other parties.
The following official documents will prove that
brought II bef,re the Navy Department, and that
my invention was fsvorably entertained, both by
Mr.. Upshur, then Secretary Of the Navy. and by
Commodore Perry. But unfortunsteiy for me- the
apartment was never tried In any form.
" inst letter to Mr.. Upshur, dated llth July,
1872 contained diagrams Of my invention. The
So oDd and tnd letters referred to estimates of the
lost Of the experiments, and embraced plan Of
newly caat gun to be bored In the manner described,
and which estimates gre atty excs eded the amount
also enforced the claims Of my invention to obtain
Ing . higher range with my gun than any other
heavy ordnance. BY the politeness Of Commodore
Boorman, in command Of the Brooklyn Navy Yard,
permission was given to take copies OF all the let
tiers below, except the two addressed to myself. l
have made, 20 far, unsuccessful efosts to obtain du
phcates Of them, with my own, from the Navy DE.
partmeDt, but have 30 far been unsuccessful. Tney
substance Of them with the annexed cuts. and they
be hereafter obtained ard published IL necessary.
COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF TIE
NAVY.
NAVY DrpARrmKST July 10, 1912.
SI have received your letter of the 18th lust, and
request that you will ascertain and report this de-
partmnt what will be the probable cost of the ball and
cannon, each necessary test your invention. am,
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALEX JONES, Esq, New York. A. p. UPSHUR.
cory OF LETTER FROM COMMODORE PERRY.
CoAMANDANIs OFFICE,
NAVY YARD, BROOKLYN, July 80, 1912.
SR-I have received communication from the Hon.
Secretary of the Navy in reference to which shoud be
pleased 10 see you at the Navy Yard, Monday
Tuesday next, at 7. M. am, sir, respectfully, your
obedient servant N. C. PERRY.
AIIx JONES, Esq, New York.
cory OF A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY or THE
NAVY TO COMMODORE M. g. PERRY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, July %, 1912.
SRI refer you to two letters from Alexander Jones
Esq of the 10th and 2lst INSTANT with request that
desires to be made Of his invention and the you
have at the yard TO aid you in making it.
am, very respectfully,
your OBJ servt, A. p. UPSHuR.
Capt NJ. C. PERRY, commanding, Navy Yard, New YORK..
COMMODORE NJ. G. PERRY IN REPLY.
NAVY YARD, Brooklyn, Aug. Q, 1872.
u conferred with Mr. A. Jones In regard to his pro-
posed improvement in firing balls, and have sug
gested to him the cxpedency Of preliminary trial with
of the guns mounted at the practice grounds at
Sandy Hook by which better determine whether
it vii, b. desirable to extend the experiment further
Having everything at hand to make this trial. except
the balls which are be of spheroidai FORM the
pence will be merely the cost Of p 81 pound balls
about 80 only The preliminary experiment proposed
will be interesting and instructive to the officers Ii
II results in advantage. shall await the further in
strne0n Of the department lam oar OBJ ssSyt
Hon. A. P. UrsHuR, Secretary of the Navy Washington
LETTER or INSTRUCTION FROM THE SECRETARY OF TuE
NAVY TO COMMODORE PERRY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, August 10, 1912
sIR-Your letter OF the 9th instant the subject Of
Alexander Jones' invention, has been received. You
authorized to have the balls cast and to make the
pertinent am very respectfully, your 0b't seTy,t
Capt N. G. PKRRr, Commanding o. s. Navy Yard, New
York.
In obedience to Commodore Pcrys note Of the
3oh July, 1872, had . personal interview with
him, but not at the Navy Yard. Dat in * osd way,
where accidentally met him. In reply TO his sug
gestion 70 save expense by making the experiment
with sphercidal balls fred from q round bored
gun, Informed him that such procedure would
shoId no adequate test Of the value Of my iuven.
ton that TO give II fair trial, IL would be
sary for cannon to be cast, ADD to be bored ia
spheroida lovAl or elliptica) form, TO correspond
with the ball. He then saxd, to do this would N.
qufe gum TO be cast and bored at West Point, and
that Il would be necessary for me to attend there
and direct the experiments. / wished to kaow
how was TO be paid for my time and expsas >.
To ASCERTAIN this, he referred me to the department,
from which was subsequently informed that n,
appropriation existed for such apurpose; aud the
whole thing was left in siafu quo from that time to
tsis. The yeac previous, or in lS4l, wssenss gagged
in making experiments with what called water
eheIls, for che govefnmeDt-that il, shells which
should explode when they fell, indnerently
In water or on land. Not wishing to have the
appearance Of humbuggiDg the government,
proposed TO try the experiments at my own ex.
pense, and tsat, unless they succeeded, | would
charge the government nothing. THIS was agresd
to by Mr.. Badger, thsn Secretary Of War, who, ,w
ever, remarked at the time that my offer was too
liberal for the government. / went on, however,
snd after spending few hundred dolsrs, vas