The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-14

PERKINS, STEAM GUN.
OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.

PERKINS STEAM GUN.
OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.
LONDON, June 81, 1861.
does not require great logcian or subtle casuiss
10 prove that the terrible and often unequal connct o.
war; the skill Of soldiers may be utterly thrown
away without proper implements Hence we see 'ne
extraordinary exertions and almost fabulous sums o
money by France and England In cannon rne'
shells steel clad ships and destructive missiles neeu
not then, make any apology TO you and your reaoe''
Tor giving you three or four letters warke implements
The most destructive engines Of war shorten hostltes
and vastly abrdge the suffering expense and commercial
disasters Of national conflicts The man. Who In period
Nike the present. should invent implement that, BY It's
desruciyeness would shorten the period OF such war
AZ the United States engaged in, would be bene
factor TO tho human species.
Perkins steam gun Is historical but for certain
eons-and those mostly connected with its merits or
demerits-has never been used even tried in battle.
The great Duke OF Wellington, who except perhaps his
Imperial antagonist has OF than any other
man OF modern times-and who was emphatcaly a man
Of peace and opposed to all warsuged upon the British
government in 1924 time Of profound peaceto pur-
chase from the inventors the exclusive use and patent
Of this destructive engine while II was in COM
paratively unfinished state, and the price asked for
one hundred thousand pounds or $500 O00
The inventors jacob Perkins and his son Angler
March Perkins, both natives Of Newburyport, Aassa-
chusets, and citizens Of the United States. jacob
Perkins has been dead some years, while Mr.. A. NJ
Perkins, in company with his son, Lotus Perkins, has
been for some time we'll known a most eminent 1rm o.
engineers and engine builders here in London. Any on
who knows the difficulties and the superhuman exer
tions necessary the red tape routine official
jealousy and vested interests that cluster round the
British army and navy will not BIO surprised that
md
profitable business would not spend all his life and more
han all his in tryingo stem the current Of oica
prejudice, with brilliant prize in the foreground
Ipredct without any fear oil of being false prophet
that Perkins gun will At day not far distant, be
almost the only means used for impeling balls shells
and other missiles in the naves OF the world.
1t be certainly steam has been the princi-
pal motive power for and travel on land and
water.
A committee Of the British army and navy sat upon
the merits Of Perkins steam gun, and majority, save
one in favor Of adopting IT, and those who opposed
Or unconvnced had nothing TO rely upon as an ex
except the report Of whomi Why of certain steam
boat army engineers who did not believe Mr.. Perkins
could do what he said he could because he had never
seen accomplished. Steam be worked practically
and safely up to 3o0o lbs to the square inch, and is
worked up half that every day Mr. Pcrkins' Steam
Works IN Regent square, London The theoretical engi
neer artillerst, will tell you that gunrowder has
pressure far greater at the time Of ignition than
steam has but he forges that almost the entire
tum of the ball from earm given it at the time and
IN the space that the powder takes to burn while steam
Is excrtng equal force the whole length Of the barrel
while the missile is being projected Mr.. Perkins de-
Clares that he is able and will willingly undertake to
throw solid ball a shell with a steam gun from
ordinary ship into fortified town FIVE miles distant
Enc,, ,npiea ncnF
making piece capable Of throwing even a ball Of two
or three hundred pounds Observation-Disclosures that in
by sort Of geone,rcai progression till they be-
come nsuperabe in all firearms Of very large size--we
cannot but be startled at this bold assertion
II tho gun has half the merit claimed for It by
the inventor, if forged or cast the size Of
ordinary guns we could rot believe would hazard his
reputation by such assertion the above il il mad
much chance of being fallacious.
Il took Lancaster and Armstrong the hes, part of n
Metme TO get their inventions adopted by the British
government, and We need not wonder that the steam
gun has 10 undergo long probation The advantages
claimed for this gun are so numerous thai scarcely
know In what order TO begin 10 enumcrate them.
1. The Perkins steam gun will Ere from ten TO sixty
balls minute and be Kept going night and day,
long ,ha ammunition holds OUT or during the pleasure
OF the engineer.
g The Steam gun will have effective range equal to
that OF the most efficient Armstrong or Whi,worth
fed gun, throwing balls accurately from four to six
miles.
T. The steam gun produce far effective bat
cultes existing in firearms will prevent the throwing Of
solid explosive missiles weighing five hundred, ono
thousand or two thousand pounds weight.
Any rieed barrel, the most efficient III that
be made-Armstrong's Whitworth's Wheatley's
James Parrots, or any oher-with any description Of
bullet that can be used in firearms, caD be connected
with the proper steam boiler and rsed steam gun.
s. The expense While in use is less than half that
OF ordinary artillery the saving in ammunition during
twelve hours shooting of twelve FOUNDER being least
fifteen hundred dollars or two or three times the cost Of
an ordnay cannon
q Tveiv If tbnse h,cd
board steam vessel OF moderate
size, will throw shot, and with equal elective range
than can be thrown by half dozen seventy four gun
ships, ana carrying | 900 to 200 men each
T. From two tofour men, besides the ordinary lremea
whatever It's size together with the boiler and steam ap
paratus.
s. The ordinary boilers of steamer if constructed or
adapted to the use of this gun spare the steam aud
without any perez stivo loss Of speed
9. A steam gunboat # the ordinary size used in the
British Navy, cutter California or ransat-
lantc steamer, with two Of Perkins steam glrs-twelve
pninders with the ordinary boilers of the vessel
adapted TO the purpose, moderate sized boiler,
like that Of donkey engile-woud BIO than |.
match for line ofbatte ship, while Of two dozen
would give sufficient reserve for relays and
alties
TO- Nothing is required except the rliled barrels the
steam power the solid explosive missiles two three
men TO attend and hopper TO pour in the balls
H. On board chip, in a fort or in the field,
there are no power .es aas ga hs Sas'ons or
alarm danger OF expos this calamity often causing
The entire destruction OF The vessel and ali on board de
stroying tho lives of all within reach
II The steam gun be used in every description of
wayfareon board vessels in forts in The field with horse
power, attached to land ocomGtiven the po-
sitions as ordinary cannon or frd pcros.
49, Nothing but metallic balls and steam being Used,
discharge ubricatcs the gd foulDg rendered I'm
possible while there is al the cleanliness safety reg r
~ of action, and durability Of ordinary steam machinery.
H. Scam vessel clad in s!cci plates to resist the
enemy Is ar sery, could with two OF these guns
deal destruction every side, and sink whole fleet with
only sun!cien, time to engage each separate vessel
10 Two such guns ior ordinary harhors, ami one or
two at each prominent point at the entrance the ports
Of New YORK Boston, Philadelphia, and other large mari
time ccg, would prove iuvq!sorabe TO any hostile force
or feet that could be brought against them.
16 AL vessels having valuable cargocs, ordinary
sailing ships With nothing but boiler aud gun, could
be enectuay armed to resist the gulf pirates, priva
tccrs any and every sea
II. The expense OF both gun and boiler wond be but
moderate per ceniage the value OF single cargo
while the and dead weight would scarcely be equal
10 ton OF ordinary merchandise.
Is. The explosive ammunition for throwing balls or
shell consists Of nothing bat coal and water and the
quantity used viii not exceed the weight Of gunpowder
In ,f nd ~