Ctneral Principles and ConJlruBion of a Sub-marine Vejfti, »3S 



No. 3. 



Experiments made to prove the Nature and Ufe of a Sub-marine Vejfcl. 



The firft experiment I made, was with about two ounces of gun-powder, which I 

 exploded 4 feet under water, to prove to fome of the firft perfonages in Connefticut, 

 that powder would take fire under water. 



The fecond experiment was made with two pounds of powder, Inclofed in a wooden 

 bottle, and fixed under a hogfliead, with a two inch oak plank between the hogfliead and 

 the powder ; the hogfiiead was loaded with ftones as deep as it could fwim ; a wooden 

 pipe defcending through the lower head of the hoglhead, and through the plank, into the 

 powder contained in the bottle, was primed with powder. A match put to the priming, 

 exploded the powder, which produced a very great efFeft, rending the plank into pieces ; 

 demolifliing the hogfhead ; and cafting the ftones and the ruins of the hogfliead, with a 

 body of water, many feet into the air, to the aftonlfhment of the fpeftators. This ex- 

 periment was lifcewife made for the fatisfaftion of the gentlemen above-mentioned. 



I afterwards made many experiments of a fimilar nature, fome of them with large 

 quantities of powder ; they produced very violent explofions, much more than fufficient for 

 any purpofe I had in view. 



In the firft eflays with the fub-marine vcflel, I took care to prove its ftrength to fuftain 

 the great preflure of the incumbent water, when funk deep, before I trufted any perfon to 

 defcend much below the furface : and I never fufFered any perfon to go under water, 

 without having a ftrong piece of rigging made faft to it, until I found him well acquainted 

 with the operations neceflary for his fafety. After that, I made him defcend and continue 

 at particular deji|||s, without rifing or finking, row by the compafs, approach a veflel, go 

 under her, and fix the tvoodfcreiu mentioned in No. a, and marked A, into her bottom, 

 &c. until I thought him fufficiently expert to put my defign into execution. 



I found, agreeably to my expeftations, that it required many trials to make a perfon of 

 common ingenuity, a Ikilful operator: the firft I employed, was very ingenious, and 

 made himfelf mafter of the bufmefs, but was taken fick in the campaign of 1776, at 

 New- York, before he had an opportunity to make ufe of his fkill, and never recovered his 

 health fufficiently, afterwards. 



Experiments made with a Sub -marine VeJJel. 



After various attempts to find an operator to my wifli, I fent one who- appeared more 

 expert than the reft, from New-York, to a 50 gun ftiip lying not far from Governor's 

 liland. He went under the fiiip, and attempted to fix the wooden fcrew into her bottom, 

 but ftruck, as he fuppofes, a bar of iron, which paiTes from the rudder hinge, and is 

 fpiked under the fliip's quarter. Had he moved a few inches, which he might have done, 

 without rowing, I have no doubt but he would have found wood where he might have 



Vol. IV.— August 1800. Hh fixed 



