*3f General Principles and ConJlruBion of a Sub marine Vijfel. 



fixed the fcrew ; or if the (hip were flieathed with copper, he might eafily have pierced it : 

 but not being well flcilled in the management of the veflel, in attempting to move to 

 another place, he loft the fhip : after feeking her in vain, for fome time, he rowed fome 

 diftance, and rofe to the furface of the water, but found day light had advanced fo far, 

 that he durft not renew the attempt. He fays that he could eafily Lave fattened the magazine 

 under the ftem of the flap, above water, as he rowed up to the ftern, and touched it 

 before he defcendcd. Had he faftened it there, the explofion of one hundred and fifty 

 pounds of powder, (the quantity contained in the magazine), muft have been fatal to the 

 fhip. In his return from the fliip to New- York, he paded near Governor's Ifland, and 

 thought he was difcovered by the enemy, on the ifland ; being in hafte to avoid the danger 

 he fearctl, he caft off the magazine, as he imagined it retarded him in the fwell, which 

 was very confiderable. After the magazine had been caft off one hour, the time the in- 

 ternal apparatus was fet to run, it blew up with great violence. 



Afterwards, there were two attempts made in Hudfon's river, above the city, but they 

 effe£ted nothing. One of them was by the afore-mentioned pcrfon. In going towards 

 the fliip, he loft fight of her, and went a great diftance beyond her: when he at length 

 found her, the tide ran fo ftrong, that as he defcended under water, for the fliip's 

 bottom — it fwept him away. Soon after this, the enemy went up the river, and purfued 

 the boat which had the fub-marine veflel on board — and funk it with their fhot. Though 

 I afterwards recovered the veflel, I found it impoflible, at that time, to profecute the 

 defign any farther. I had been in a bad ftate of health, from the beginning of my under- 

 taking, and was now very unwell ; the fituation of public affairs was fuch, that I defpaired 

 of obtaining the public attention, and the afliftance neceflary. I was unable to fupport 

 myfelf, and the perfons I muft have employed, had I proceeded. Befides, I found it 

 abfolutely neceflary, that the operators fliould acquire more flcill in the management of the 

 veflel, before I could expetl fuccefs ; which would have taken up fome time, and made 

 no fmall additional expence. I therefore gave over the purfuit for that time, and waited 

 for a more favorable opportunity, which never arrived. 



Other Experiments made ixiith a Deftgn to fire Shipping. 



In the year 1777, I made an attempt from a whale-boat, againft the Cerberus frigata, 

 then lying at anchor between Connedlicut river and New London, by drawing a machine 

 againft her fide, by means of a line. The machine was loaded with powder, to be ex- 

 ploded by a gun-lock, which was to be un pinioned by an apparatus, to be turned by 

 being brought along fide of the frigate. This machine fell in with a fchooner at anchor, 

 aftern of the frigate, and concealed from my fight. By. fome means or other, it was fired, 

 and demoliflied the fchooner and three men — and blew the only one left alive, overboard, 

 who was taken up very much hurt. 



After this, I fixed feveral kegs, under water, charged with powder, to explode upon 



touching any thing, as they floated along with the tide : I fet them afloat in the Delaware, 



4 above 



