American state papers : documents, legislative and executive, of the Congress of the United States ... . e surface, could nothave their boats out exposed to our fire, and waiting from day to day ibr a time uncertain. Whereas, our officersknowing the tnimber which were put down, and the day they were to rise to the surtlice, would have their boatsready to take thorn in, and at the same time replace tliem with others set for ten, fifteen, twenty, or more this subject in all its bearings, the impression on my mind is, that it would be impossible for an enemy toenter a port where anch
American state papers : documents, legislative and executive, of the Congress of the United States ... . e surface, could nothave their boats out exposed to our fire, and waiting from day to day ibr a time uncertain. Whereas, our officersknowing the tnimber which were put down, and the day they were to rise to the surtlice, would have their boatsready to take thorn in, and at the same time replace tliem with others set for ten, fifteen, twenty, or more this subject in all its bearings, the impression on my mind is, that it would be impossible for an enemy toenter a port where anchored torpedoes were thus used, without their incurring danger of such a kind, that couragecould not guard (hem from its consequences. Prudence and justice would warrant their such an enter-prise; and the probability is. that, knowing us to be thus prepared, they never would attempt it; or should they, andonly one vessel were to be destroyed, we might calculate on its good effect to protect us from future hostile entet-prises. ]8!0.] USE OF THE TORPEDO IN TUB DKFENCE OF PORTS, &c. 2i5. PLATE III Represents a Clockwork Torpedo, as prepared for the attack of a vessel while at anchor or under sail, by harpoon-ing her in the larboard and starboard bow. B is a copper case, to contain one hundred or more poiin<is of powder; C, a cnrk cushion, to give the whole tor-pedo such a buoyancy that it will be only from two to three pounds heavier than salt wale:. To ascertain suchweight, when it is charged with ptiwder, iind the lock screwed on, it is put into a large tub of sea water. C is to havefifteen or twenty inch holes bored in its sides and top, to let the water rusii in and tiieairout, otherwise the airwould prevent its immediately sinking. A is a cylindric brass box, about seven inches (iiameter and two inchesdeep, in which there is a gun-lock with a barrel two inches long, to receive a charge of .?d a wad, whichcharge is fired into the powder of the case R. In
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