PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 511 



If neither can work perfectly alone, together they can do all that 

 is required for such bottom as that in the Southern ports; but I 

 think that either of them will work well alone. 



If in this way embankments can be made under water, to fill 

 up channels, they can certainly be removed in the same way, and 

 the concerns of our English cousins, on behalf of mankind, in 

 future ages, may be calmed. 



Whether there is the least chance of a trial of this plan I do 

 not know. Chance or no chance, I deem it our duty to say what 

 we think of it. It is not for us to say that the powers that be 

 are not wise enough to try it, and therefare we may spare our- 

 selves the trouble to speak of it, except for our amusement. I 

 am so visionary in these matters, I have no faith in politicians, 

 or even small associations of men ; but my want of faith is not 

 my rule of action. If I think a measure good, I recommend it, 

 and do my part to promote it. 



The chief object I had in proposing the subject of blockading 

 was to broach the foregoing views. But I deem it proper to 

 speak of the ships lately built for blockading. They are all 

 unfit for the purpose — all too slow to catch common merchant 

 steamers. Their machinery is inefficient, costly, and exposed to 

 shot. Several locomotive builders tried to get contracts to put 

 locomotive engines into those vessels, but could not get permis- 

 sion to deviate from the plan of the department, even on stipula- 

 tion that their engines should work as well as those on the 

 prescribed plan, and twenty-three vessels were built in one 

 experiment, and all are one failure. 



It is now proposed to build an experimental batch of iron-clad 

 steamships of war, of twenty or more, while the experimental 

 ship built by the Stevens' is left untried. We, who are not poli- 

 ticians, may remonstrate against this jobbing, with as little 

 influence as the charms of a Greek tragedy exercised over the 

 calamities it predicted; but it is our dury to declare that such 

 folly will prevent our success in this civil war, unless folly equally 

 gross on the other side shall balance it. 



If we are to have the best iron vessels they must have the best 

 machinery, which is that developed by locomotive builders. The 

 marine engineers are thirty years behind them. They neither 

 originate improvements, nor appreciate the great improvements 

 originated by the locomotive engineers. 



