312 SUB-MARINE VESSEL. 



and three men — and blew the only one left alive, over- 

 board, who was taken up very much hurt. 



After this, 1 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, above the Englilh Ihipping at Philadelphia, in 

 December, 1777. I was unacquainted with the river, 

 and obliged to depend upon a gentleman very imperfeilly 

 acquainted with that part of it, as i afterwards found. 

 We went as near the fhipping as he durft venture ; 1 be- 

 lieve the darknefs of the night greatly deceived him, as it 

 did me. We fet them adrift, to fall with the ebb, upon 

 the fhipping. Had we been within fixty rods, I believe 

 they muft have fallen in with them immediately, as I de- 

 figned ; but as 1 afterwards found, they were fet adrift 

 much too far diftant, and did not arrive, until after be- 

 ing detained fome time by frolf, they advanced in the 

 day time, in a difperfed fituation, and under great difad- 

 vantages. One of them blew up a boat, with feveral per- 

 fons in it, who imprudently handled it too freely, and 

 thus gave the Britifli that alarm, which brought on the 

 battle of the Kegs. 



The above VefTel, Magazine, &c. were projected in 

 the year 1771, but not completed, until the year 1775. 



D. BUSIINELL. 



ne 



