SUB-MARINE VESSEL. 311 



wards the fhip, he loft fight of her, and went a great di- 

 ftance beyond her: when he at length found her, 

 the tide ran fo ftrong, that as he defcended under water, 

 for the (hip's bottom — it fwcpt him away. Soon after this, 

 the enemy went up the river, and purfued the boat which 

 had the fub-marine veffel on board — and funk it with 

 their (hot. Though I afterwards recovered the veflel, I found 

 it impoffible, at that time, to profecute the defign any farther. 

 I had been in a bad ftate of health, from the beginning 

 of my undertaking, and was now very unwell ; the fitua- 

 tion of public affairs was fuch, that 1 defpaired of ob- 

 taining the public attention, and the affiftance neceflary. 

 1 was unable to fupport myfelf, and the perfons 1 muft 

 have employed, had 1 proceeded. Befides, I found it ab- 

 folutcly necelfary, that the operators fhould acc]uire more 

 fkill in the management of the veffel, before 1 could ex- 

 pert fuccefs ; which would have taken up fome time, and 

 made no fmall additional expenfe. I therefore gave over 

 the purfuit for that time, and waited for a more favorable, 

 opportunity, which never arrived. 



Other 'Experiments made with a dejign tojire Shipping. 



In the year 1777, ^ made an attempt from a whale- 

 boat, againft the Cerberus frigate, then lying at anchor 

 between Connecticut river and New London, by drawing 

 a machine againft her fide, by means of a line. The 

 machine was loaded with powder, to be exploded by a 

 gun-lock, which was to be unpinioned 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 demolifhed the fchooner 



and 



