Motives for inventing submarine Navigation and attack,

Statement of the causes which brought me to England, reflections on the prospect of emolument held out to me by Lord Hawkesbury, and again under the Contract with Mr. Pitt and Lord Melville,

Statement of the Sums received and disbursed by me.

Having contemplated the Federal government of the united States; the Vast country comprised in them which gives room for 120 Millions of inhabitents; Seeing the rapid increase of their population and consequently of their industry and commerce; A people without colonies and who did not desire to have any; Without Enemies on their frontiers, and having nothing to contend for but a rational intercourse with foreign nations by sea; which intercourse would be interrupted on every war which might take place between England and France or between European nations; and cause Vexatious feuds and parties in America, which might lead to marine and army establishments, to alliences offensive and defensive with European states, thereby direct the ambition of individuals to Military fame and the people to warlike pursuits; and all their complication of evils; which might finally divide the states, and destroy a system which should progress as near as man is capable, to the perfection of civilization.

I was to prevent the possibility of all such consequences; by destroying the principles which lead to them; that induced me at first to contemplate a plan which might destroy all Military marines and give liberty to the seas; But I did not hope to neutralize military marines by a confederation of maritime states; Henry the Fourt of France, and the Abbey St. Pierre with all their influence endavoured in vain to preserve peace in Europe by a confederation of States and a congress [of st] to decide on grievances;

I therefore looked to the arts for effecient means; and after some months study found that only two things were wanting: First to navigate under water, which I soon discovered was within the limits of physics, Second to find an easy mode of destroying a ship; which after a little time I discovered might be done by the explosion of some pounds of powder under her bottom; Being convinced of the practicability of two such engines, I commenced drawings on their combinations; and calculations on their power and effects; which occupied me near nine months. I then began my experiments first on a small and then on a large scale; and in two years was so wellsatisfied with my success and that everything which I had contemplated might be performed; that I wrote to the Earl of Stanhope and gave him general Ideas of my plan and experiments; His Lordships mathematical mind soon opened to him the practicability and ultimate consequences of such a System; he felt alarmed and as we all know spoke of it in the house of Lords; which excited much public curiosity And Some ridicule; on the justice of which Gentlemen will now have the opportunity of judging; however still anxious on a subject which his talents gave him a facility to understand; he took the trouble about the year 1803 to form a committe of Gentlemen to consider the principles and powers of my inventions, and get all possible information on the progress I had made, which committee I believe made a report to the then Minister Lord Sydmouth; whose attention was awakened to it; about this time May 1803 there was an english Gentleman in London who had known me for some years in Paris; Dr. Grigory became acquainted with him; had many conversations with him on my plan and its consequences if carried into effect; the Dr. Communicated what he had learned to Lord Sydmouth and it was agreed to send the Gentleman to Paris to induce me to come to London; when he communicated his mission to me, he said the British Government wished to us my submarine Vessel against the French fleets; I replied that in this there must be some mistake that it was neither the interest nor policy of the British government to Introduce such a Vessel into practice; he Said on consideration that might be true; but Ministers wished to be fully acquainted with the properties of my inventions; and wished me out of France and in England; that would I go over and explain to them my engines I should be rewarded in proportion to their Value; I asked if he had any written proof that such was their intention; he said no, that it was too dangerous to carry letters on such a subject; but as a proof of their liberality and the prospect which I had of being treated in like manner; they had given him 800 £ to pay his expences and mine in bringing me over; Knowing the Gentleman to be a man of Integrity; I believed such might be the wish of Ministers, Yet I would not move without some plan and written proof of their intention. I therefore desired him to return with the following proposals and if Ministers agreed to them I would come over,

First, For leaving France and the pursuits which at present occupy me, and for going to England I [demand] require the sum of Ten thousand Pounds;

Second, On my arrival in London Government shall within three weeks, mane a committe to examin the following principles of submarine Navigation and attack;

First Principle

That a Submarine Vessel 35 feet long, 10 feet wide, an 8 feet deep, capable of containing 6 persons, shall have the property of sailing like an ordinary fishing Boat;

Second

That her capacity including her machinery shall be sufficient to hold provisions for Six persons to continue at Sea for twenty days;

Third

That Six persons can enter such a vessel & descend in her under water at pleasure,

Fourth

That the Six men can continue under water three hours without renewing the air,

That to renew the air, it is not necessary the Vessel should appear above water; but approaching the Surface two tubes project, through one of which the mephitic air is discharged, through the other fresh air is drawn into the Vessel, which operation can be performed in 3 or 4 minuets, to continue again three hours under water; in this manner a crew can conseal themselves under water during the day, on renewing the air 4 times, hence might lie many days in the Neighbourhood of an enemy unperceived,

Sixth

That the crew can raise her to the surface at pleasure hoist sail and proceed on their [Voage] Voyage; as before descending;

Seventh

That where the water is not more than Sixty fathoms deep, and the current not more than four miles an hour, she can cast anchor and continue under water at any depth from one to fifty feet; that she will there remain as stationary as Vessels usually are while anchored on the surface;

Eighth

That in open Sea where bottom is not saught, she can plunge with safety and continue Under water while the air is respirable; but in this case she must drift with the tide like a vessel which cannot anchor and has no wind,

Ninth

That in Still water and while under water, she can move forwards, or backwards, to the right or left, mount or descend at pleasure;

Tenth

That She is capable of carrying 30 Submarine bombs each containing 100 pounds of powder

The preciding properties are all which are necessary, to a plunging Vessel, such a vessel cannot be taken in consequence of the ease with which she can hide under water during the day, she can make her approaches [in the night] in the night and must be considered as a masked [battery] Magazine which can lie secure in the neighbourhood of an Enemy watch an opportunity to deposit her cargo of Bombs and retire unperceived.

Should the committee find the properties here specified within the laws of physics, and by the ordinary course of improvement reducable to simple practice, the investigation will there finish; but should it so happen that I cannot make the committee feel these truths without Occular demonstration, I reserve to myself the power of building a submarine Vessel, for which the Government shall allow a sum not exceeding ten thousand pounds; to be paid progressively as I may think proper to call for it to proceed with the work,

Of the Submarine Bombs,

That a copper case containing from one hundred to three hundred pounds of powder, coming into contact with the bottom of a Ship of any size and explosion there taking place will completely destroy her; that the machinery attached to such Bomb is so contrived [to] as to cause explosion when the bomb strikes the Vessel, or when the Vessel strikes the bomb; or at any time desired from 4 minuets to 13 hours or, 8 days; If the Committee are not to be convinced of this without experiment and will appropriate any kind of Vessel I will blow her up with a submarine bomb to give demonstration;

When the properties of the Submarine Vessel and Bombs are demonstrated and admitted by the committe, a new succession of Ideas will of course result, it will be seen that England may draw advantages from these inventions, or they may be turned to the total destruction of the British marine; in either Case it is of importance to the British Government to have the entire command of Such engines to do with them as they may think proper;

But as these inventions are the produce of my labours for some years, I now consider them as rich gems drawn from the mines of science and which I and my friends have a right to convert to our own advantage and which I now offer for sale to the British Government; For putting the Government in full possession of all the combinations and movements of the submarine Vessel; so that any Engineer of good talents can construct one, and navigate her; also for explaining the combinations of the submarine bomb, and the modes of attack which time and experience will multiply and perfection; I [demand] require the sum of one hundred thousand pounds Sterling—;

When the Gentleman departed with these proposals it was agreed that I should go to Holland and wait his return, I did so, and staid at Amsterdam three months; contrairy winds prevented his arrival; I Abandoned the negotiation and returned to Paris where he arrived in a few weeks with the following letter from Lord Hawkesbury Hawkesbury—

Your proposals have been considered with that attention which the merit of the invention deserves, you must well know that it would be contrairy to Established rules to grant such sums as you require, before your invention authenticated by actuel experiment in presence of persons appointed by this Government, in order that a fair opportunity may be granted of appreciating its merit and adiquacy to the end proposed; The responsibility attached to his Majesty’s Ministers in their official capacity renders it impossible for them to advance the sums which you have required; in the form pointed out by you; without exciting such public attention as must be equally unpleasant to you and His Majestys Ministers; if however you have sufficient confidence in His Majestys Government to offer them your invention, you may rely on being treated with the utmost liberality and Generosity. Though this Government and you, have every reason to be satisfied with the zeal and activity with which your friend has conducted the business, Yet a negotiation personally conducted would smoothe many difficulties, and every facility and protection you can desire shall be granted you,

And should you be disposed to accept Active employment from the British government you may rely on the most liberal treatment, proportioned to your efficient Service;—

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This letter was brought in cipher; I Shortly after left Paris and arrived in London on the 28 of April 1804, On My Arrival Lord Sydmouth and Hawkesbury, were out of office and Mr. Pitt was minister To him I proposed the terms before mentioned; But Mr. Pitt and Lord Melville instead of arranging with me on the terms of my proposals; prefered making an attack on the Enemy with part of my engines; and as a fair prospect of emolument, at least equal if not superior to that which I had expected; I was to recieve 200£ a month during the time Government detained me on this business; and half the Value of all vessels of an Enemy which might be destroyed by my engines in 14 years; His Majestys Dockyard and arsenals were to furnish every necessary means to render my plan, efficient; useful to the Nation and Consequently productive to me; and on these principles a contract was entered into which is inserted in the body of the arbitration Bond,

Here read the Bond and contract;

On drawing up this contract I foresaw that Ministers might discover the bad policy of introducing the whole of my engines into practice; and therefore would not organize it nor exersise men to it so as to render it productive to me; and this has proved to be the fact; Government may be said to have abandoned this plan And it will be seen during the investigations that their true policy is to abandon it; if so, from whence are my profits to arise, what is my interest in it with this Governmt for 14 years, where is my emolument equivalent to the sum of 100 thousand pounds mentioned in the proposals? sent to Lord Hawkesbury.

Now Gentlemen I foresee before you enter into an examination of my engines and their final consequences; that you must as true friends to your country advise ministers [to] never to use them, but to conseal them if possible from the world; it will then become a consideration whether 40 thousand pounds is a reasonable equivalent to me and my friends for abandoning engines of such importance to this government to do with as they may think proper,—and for ever giving up the prospect of gain which was held out to me on coming to this country; or which the contract presented; had my plans been organized and carried into effect on System; But your powers are confined within the limits of the arbitration bonds; whatever may be your opinion you cannot exceed the sum of 40 thousand pounds. But from your report as men of science and calm delibiration; Ministers will be able to Judge of the reasonable, hopes of the proprietors of these inventions and not only of justice towards them, but of the real interest of the nation; in now finally Setteling with me for the parties concerned;

No Man can in Justice Say that we have not a right to make every possible profit of these inventions; And we have a right to accept Mony, or to abandon mony for fame—or raise our demands in proportion as time and new Idas develop the importance of these discoveries; But I have the pleasure to say that the gentlemen with whom I act, have never troubled me with one ungenerous or illiberal wish to raise their demands, they conceived these inventions worth at least the Value of one first rate man of war or 100 thousand pounds; and they have never deviated from this first proposal—on my part I Saw that government could not grant any sum with propriety, unless there was reasonable security given, that the proprietors would never communicate the engines to any nation or persons to the injury of the British marine; and there Is but one mode of giving such security That is to bind these proprietors by their own interest to keep the secret, I therefore Voluntarily offered that should I be entitled to the 40 thousand pounds; to receive one moiety in cash, and an annuity equal to the full value of the other moiety; which annuity is to be forfeited Should I be the means of Introducing My inventions into practice against the British marine; perhaps this is the Strongest proof a man can give of his own sense of Justice and it Should be a convincing proof of my confidence in my own power over the fate of my inventions, and the good Opinion I have of the integrity of my friends; but whatever may be done in this business in capital or annuity; the annuity must depend on my life as their names cannot appear, having so far stated facts gentlemen will deliberately consider the engines the modes of using them their ultimate consequences, the Interest of the Nation, and a reasonable compensation to the proprietors;

The first consideration will probably be the accounts, of which the following is a statement,

Of the Accounts,

The sums of money received and expended by me are as follows

1804 July 19 of Mr. Hammond	200
1804 [April] August 11th of Do	1500
	£ 1700

Article the Second of the contract states that 7000 £ shall be allowed for Mechanical preperations, this was for the first experiment; but after the attempt off Boulogne on the Second of October 1804 where Lord Melville was present; he entertained such hopes from the engines, that he and Mr. Pitt, then at Walmer castle, ordered more Locks and large copper coffers to be made; and for this purpose a further sum of 3000 £ was about the month of November or December 1804 placed to my order in the house of Missrs Davison and Co. At this time Ministers were so well satisfied with the prospect of success from my engines, and feeling the right which I had to a remuniration, for neglecting other pursuits and coming to this country, and for the communication of my engines to them that they granted me for my own use the Sum of Ten thousand pounds; it will be seen by a letter from Mr. Davison to Mr. Hammond, that this sum was also granted me to relieve me of some pecuniary embarrassments and was considered by them as a reward for past services; not to be refunded should nothing more be done or required, but to make part of any future sum which might be awarded to me.

Again on the 9th of October 1805 about the time Sir Sidney Smith took the command off Boulogne; Lord Castlereagh thought it right to have more locks, Bombs, Boats, and preperations made; and for this purpose Also to pay old accounts I received of Sir Sidney Smith	4045£
Of Mr. Hammond first Sum	1700
Of Do Second Sum	7000
Of Do third Sum	3000
For my private Use	10000
	25745£

By an error in Mr. Cutlers accounts he has refunded 1,000 £ to the treasurer of the navy, which leaves 24745 £ to be accounted for, of this sum it will be seen by the bills and receipts which were submitted to the commissioners of the Navy and

	£	S	P
passed by them that	11353..	3..	2	has been expended for
government uses And	13391..	16..	10	to my own use
First a remuniration					10,000
Second my salary from the 20th of July 1804 to the 20th of August 1806 or 25 months at 200 £ a month					5,000
					£ 15,000

As my right to the Salary cannot as I conceive be questioned for I have continued in this Country to get the decision of ministers; and Should the 10 thousand pounds remuniration be admitted Government will owe me on this Account 1,608.. 3.. 2, such are the sums received by me and the Gross of their distribution the accounts will explain the details.

Description of the drawings of the Submarine Vessel, submarine bombs, and mode of Attack

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Plate the First half an inch to a foot,

The incompressible part of this vessel in which the men are when she descends under water, is composed of cast brass cylenders 6 feet diameter and 6 feet long about one inch thick; which will be of a strength to resist the pressure of more than one hundred perpendicular feet of water; Three or more of such cylenders may be screwed together at the flanges to make a length of 18 or 24 feet; the ends forming a part of a sphere to resist the pressure of the water in all directions; The dome where the Men enter may be three feet diameter three feet high; with a smaller dome on the lid through which observations may be made when raised a foot above the water:

The cylender and dome is placed in the body of an ordinary shaped vessel; and the water chambers for sinking will be round the cylender as seen in plate the second;

In this place it will only be necessary to mention the different parts which compose a submarine Vessel, any person acquainted with mechanics can trace their movements and uses,

A The bow anchor,

B The plunging flyers communicating by two angle wheels to the insides;

C The bow cable, its windlass Slides backwards and forwards on a square axis and lays the cable in regular coils;

D A small safety pump to drive the water out of the balancing chest G; suppose this pump one inch diameter, a column of water one inch diameter and 300 feet high would weigh about 150 pounds; hence one Man with a lever of three to one; could work such a pump under a pressure of 300 feet and rendering the Vessel lighter than her volume of water, could mount from that or even a greater depth to the surface;

E and F a pipe and cock to let the water into the balancing chest G;

G The balancing chest of a capacity to receive from three to five hundred weight of water, when the outer chambers are full, the Vessel being still from three to five hundred pounds lighter than water; Water is then let into the balancing chest correctly to such a weight that the flyers or plunging anchor can hold her under water;

H A air pipe to let out the Mephitic air; there is a similar one which extends to the stern, and enters a Ventilator Q by which means the air may be renewed in the Vessel;

I A movement to work the rudder while under water; on going to plunge the man who steers must take the helm off, this should always be his first act least he should forget it,

K The windlass of the plunging anchor sliding like that at the bow;

J The crank of the stern flyers; of the pumps, and of the plunging anchor; all these movements to be performed at pleasure by sliding the little wheels N and O in & our of gear;

P A screw movement to hoist the stern flyers out of gear; and out of water when the vessel is under sail,

M The pumps to force the water out at the pipe R.

The mast descends the sail boom and mast are tied together and made fast to the deck before the operation of plunging commences.

Plate the Second one inch to a foot,

This exhibits a transeverse section A the Valve to let in the the water which rises up to the deck B.B from which to the upper deck all round the Vessel are chambers to hold submarine bombs; which are placed in the chambers through trap doors on deck; and which bombs being the weight of water will in plunging displace their volume of water; and not add to or deminish the weight of the Vessel; this is the best mode of arranging the bombs for were they inside they would be embarrassing and each one when taken out would require to be replaced with its weight of water—

F The pipe to give air,

G The pipe to discharge the Mephitic air,

H.H Two air pipes to let the air out of the water chambers; they mount to the highest part of the Vessel to let the air in when the water is discharging; there should be at least four of these pipes; two in the bow and two in the stern; they may be lead from the stem along side and unite at I.I there the two mounting pipes H.H will be suffecient, care must be taken that the air can pass off with ease from all parts of the water chambers, or they cannot fill, nor can the vessel be got under water,

C The balancing chamber.

D The safety pump

E The discharging pipe

J Is a valve to let the water go from the centre chamber to the two ends, but not return, by this means water may be drawn from either end to balance the Vessel horizontal there are four such Valves,

All the communications with the exterior have cocks as will be seen in plate the third,

Plate the Third one inch to a foot,

Figure the first shews a section of the double forcing pumps A and B too cocks to draw the water from the right and left water chambers.

Figure the second a side View of the pumps A the pump B the valve which lets the water pass into the body of the pump C the valve which discharges the water by the cock and pipe D by shutting all the cocks and screwing off the top plates which cover the Valves they may be cleaned and put in order though the vessel were under water, Near the pump the plunging anchor F has a cock to stop the water in case the cable should break. E is a screw on which the anchor cap rests while the anchor is up and thus its weight is taken off the cable,

Figures the 3d and 4 represent a side and end view of the Cable windlass and the mode of sliding on its axis,

Figure the 5th Shews the whole communications of the pump tubes the great water chamber being divided into three parts, it is necessary to drive water out from the middle or either end at pleasure A A the pump seats, B.B.B.B the four valve chambers, C the discharging tube through the bottom, D a tube to draw water from the Balancing chest E.E to draw water from the right and left middle chambers only one of these are necessary as the water communicates by the Kelson to both sides

F To draw water from the bow chambers,

G To draw water from the stern chambers,

H The seat of the plunging Anchor,

Plate the 4th

Figure the first drawn by a scale of one quarter of an inch to a foot, Shews the incompressible part laid down in the body of a boat, A and B the divisions which form the length of the vessel into three water chambers, with the valve to let the water from the middle chamber to the two ends; but not return; C is a passage for the water from one side to the other. The other figures are of the real size, shewing the modes of constructing the air pipes with cork valves to let in the air and keep out the water;

Plate the 5th real Size

Figure the first shews the mode of placing the conic glass windows with the stop cocks in case of accidents; Figure the second the lid and cap of the dome; A head taking an observation through a window; this mode of making a window conic renders it as strong as the surrounding brass, as relates to the pressure of the water, a stroke only can break them; Figure the third is a Bathomater, to shew the depth under water.

Plate the 6

This is an addition to the dome more curious than useful; it is a mode of sending up a note and bringing down an answer while the Vessel is under water, Figure the first A is a cock with the cavity B in which there is a small reel; C the handle of which runs to D.... E is a piece of Cork, the note is to be written on a piece of parchment, tied round the cork or put into it, the cock is them turned by the handle F to face the opening G; the reel is then turned off and the cork mounts to the surface attached to a small silk line, when the answer is fixed to the cork the man below wind it down into the cock which being turned towards the inside of the Vessel the answer may be taken out.

Figure the second is an end View.

Figure the Third shews a man operating & the cork mounting, this may be useful in making experiments;

Plate the Seventh one quarter of an inch to a foot

This shews the submarine vessel under sail and at anchor under water with her plunging anchor out,

These seven drawings with this discription will enable any able mechanician to construct and perform the experiments of a submarine Vessel; It is not intended that she should go under or near the vessels which are to be attacked, her use is to enable the weaker maritime nations to attack the stronger without being detected or interrupted in their operations, hence She is contrived to hide under water when pursued, where she may continue the whole day and approach the fleets and harbours of the enemy in the night, there anchor her cargo of submarine bombs under water, or leave them to the tide, or use them in any other way which time and practice may point out; and retire unperceived for another cargo and deposit them in like manner on the coast, in the mouths of rivers in harbours or among fleets at anchor, and thus place Such numbers as would render it impossible for any Vessel to move through them without the imminent danger of being blown up and totally annihilated;

Of the submarine Bombs and modes of Using them.

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As Government are in possession of the real locks and Bombs with the modes of arranging them for action it will not be necessary to make detailed drawings of the several parts.

Plate the 8th

Shews a bomb arranged with an instantanious lock, and anchored from ten to twenty feet under water, for this purpose when the bomb is arranged with its lock it should be ten or fifteen pounds lighter than its volume water, it will then have a tendancy to mount to the surface but must be held down by an anchor or weight of 20 or more pounds; as the depth of water in all channels, bays and Harbours is known, the line D should before setting out be of such a length as will hold the Bomb from 5 to ten feet under water at low water, it will then be that number of feet added to the rise of the tide at high water,

At Slack water it will stand in the position B perpendicular from the anchor at half ebb or flood when the current is strong it will be inclined to A or C where the action of the water on a flat board which is fixed to its bottom at E will keep it in the position here deleniated. On the 5th of June in this year this experiment was made by my desire by Lieutenant Wm Robinson In Dover roads; and the result was as here described—A vessel under sail and striking on the Trigger F of such a Bomb would be instantly blown up, as will be seen in plate the Ninth,

Plate the Ninth

In this drawing A represents the Brig Dorothea as she blew up near walmer Castle on the 16th of October 1805, the bomb made use of on this occasion had a clockwork lock set to 15 Minuets; the bomb contained 180 pounds of powder; and was coupled by a line of 70 feet in length; to a bomb which was filled with peas and which served as a counterbalance; As the boat run within the Buoy, one was thrown to the Larbord, and one to the Starbord side of the bow, and at the distance of 60 or 80 yards from the brig; as the tide drifted them along the coupling line caught the cable, the pressure of the tide then drove the bombs under her bottom near the Keel, where the explosion taking place she opened in the middle was completely decomposed and in 20 Seconds disappeared, which experiment has proved that wherever such an explosion takes place under the curve of a Vessels bottom; so that the action must be perpendicular through her, certain destruction must be the consequence; B represents a Ship under Sail, C. D. E Bombs anchored as described in the last plate, she moving towards and among them with the risk of contact and destruction;

Figure 1st shews the mode of suspending the bomb to the cork floater A; the line B has pieces of cork on it to keep it from sinking; the line C is a brace to prevent the tide driving the Bomb by the doted line to near the surface where it could do no execution: the line E will be longer or shorter in proportion to the draught of water of the vessel to be attached, which will be further explained in figure the Third;

Figure the Second is another mode of arranging the bomb. A. B. C. are pieces of cork tied by small lines 8 or 10 feet long to the principal line D in this manner it is floated under water where it is not Visible nor in danger of being hooked or taken up;

Figure the third is a section of a ship shewing how the bomb lies when first it comes alongsides; here the suspending line A is of a length to bend round the curve of the vessel and lay the Bomb in the position B. where the explosion taken place; to get the bomb into that position two things are necessary. First When it is loaded and has its lock screwed on, or a weight equal to that of the lock; it must be suspended in a tub of salt water and if too heavy it must have a cussion of Cork fastened to it; so as to balance it to two or three pounds heavyer than its volume of water; in which case its tendency downward being not more than three or four pounds a little pressure of tide will raise it or move it latirally; and that it may mount latirally, and move to the position B, it must be hung with an inclination to the tide, as will be seen in figure the fourth, in which A represents a Vessel to be attacked, B her cable, C. C. two bombs united by a line 100 or more feet long, which line is tied by the bridles D. D. when it touches the cable the tide drives the bombs alongside; the pressure of the tide on the angle D will then drive them under the bottom of the Vessel as seen in Figure the 3d.

The Bomb was thus arranged to blow up the Brig Dorothea,

To throw them in case of an attack it is only necessary for the Boats to run inside of the Buoy—; which might be done of a dark night without being observed, or if Seen, would run little risk from musket shot in the dark, and at such a distance,

It having been fully proved that the explosion of a Submarine Bomb under a vessel will completely destroy her, it is now necessary to consider the expence of the two kinds of Bombs and their application; The expence of the Bomb complete, with the instantanious lock will be as follows

	£	S	D
Lock	2	0	0
Bomb of Copper	2	10	0
100 lb of powder	7	10	0
Anchor or weight and lines	2	0	0
	£ 14	0	0
The Bomb with the clockwork Lock
Lock	10	0	0
Bomb of Copper	2	10	0
100 lb of powder	7	10	0
Cork and lines	2	0	0
	£ 22	0	0

The Average price is 18 £ and each bomb of 18 £ Value is of a power to do as much execution as a fire ship which costs 2 or 3 thousand; 6,660 of them may be made for 120 thousand pounds or the first cost of one first rate Ship of the line when engines of such destructive powers can be multiplied to so great a degree, and at an expence which cannot be felt by an opulent nation the practice of them may produce novel and serious consequences.

In cases where a nation commands the seas as in the present state of the British marine, the Seamen can approach sufficiently near the Enemy’s harbours and roadsteads to use such engines from common boats; by which means several hundred Bombs with instantanious Locks might be anchored in the passages leading to the Texel, Havre, Brest or other ports of the Enemy which would render it impossible for any Vessel to move in or out. But it may be said that the Enemy are already completely blockaded and England has no need for such a mode of war; this I admit, but this mode is less expensive than the Usual method of Blockading and destressing an Enemy’s commerce; yet should the economy not be thought of importance Still this invention has to be considered in another point of View, and that of the most interesting kind, Which is;

how would it affect the commerce and marine of England had the French the means of anchoring 20 or 20 thousand such Bombs in the channels to the Thames in the Bays, Harbours, Roadsteads, and a long the coast of England, scotland or Ireland;

I will now endavour to Shew what an Economic simple and certain means this would give to France to totally destroy the British Marine

And First as to Economy,

The Boulogne Flotilla has cost the french treasury more than three millions Sterling, for this sum, more than Two hundred thousand instantanious Bombs might be made; with such a Magazine at Boulogne or Calais and 100 good row boats the Enemy might each dark night throw some hundreds of Bombs in the channels of the Thames in the Downs or along the coast, to the total destruction of the British Commerce, And if her commerce cannot be protected what is the use of her Marine?

I will now Shew that were this Simple System organized in France, it is not in the power of the whole British marine to prevent the practice of it to any extent which Bonapart might desire, and he certainly would desire the annihilation of the British Marine,—

For example. Suppose the French boats were to anchor 500 Bombs in one night in the waters before Boulogne; where the Blockading squadern usually cruise; some of the cruising squadern would most certainly be blown up, and the fleet would be obliged to Keep at a greater distance. The Bombs being anchored 6 Feet under water at low water, would admit of row and sail boats to pass over them without danger; while vessels drawing from 15 to 20 feet of water and running among them would be destroyed, The french Boats passing over the Bombs or knowing the line in which they had anchored them; could the next dark night anchor another 500 still further out, and compel the blockading squadern to keep at a still greater distance; In fact 1200 Bombs would lay a whole line from Calais to Dover, allowing an interval of only 30 yards between each, and 12,000 which would only cost 168,000 £ would lay ten lines from Dover to Calais which would render it impossible for any Vessel to pass without certain destruction, and thus a Blockade of the whole Channel would be formed of which plate the 11 will give some Idea;

Plate 11

I have before observed that the french boats could not be prevented depositing the bombs in this manner; Ships of war could not prevent them Because they dare not approach where the Bombs are anchored; British boats could not prevent them because they could not always be on the watch; and Second because the french boats can or may be encouraged to combat any boats whatever; And the moment this System or any other reduces the British marine to Boat fighting, the revered Sovereignty of the seas will be for ever lost; Colonies must be Abandoned and the whole influence which England holds in the scale of nations will Vanish, This is the natural and obvious consequence of this system when reduced to practice and prosicuted by a powerful nation with energy and Spirit; Ten lines of Instantanious Bombs or even a less number anchored in the British channel would cut off the greater part of the commerce of London and of England, The wealth of England and the existance of her fleets depend on her immense and uninterrupted commerce, But should France ever possess a means to cut off or interrupt such trade, England would be obliged to submit to any terms which Bonapart might think proper to dictate, I think I have here shewn that the plan described would give him such power, Gentlemen will deliberately consider it and its consequences consequences—

PLATE THE TENTH