Poxp.—Notes on the firing of Torpedoes by Electricity. 165 
fire of the fuse and sudden explosion while drilling out or putting in an 
adjacent shot, through the smouldering fuse suddenly completing the work 
for which it was intended. One difficulty would be experienced at first in 
insulating the copper wire with a material that would withstand the heavy 
blows generally administered in tamping, but when charges of lithofracteur, 
dynamite, or nitro-glycerine are used in the same places, this difficulty 
would be obviated by the use of water, mud, or soft material for tamping ; 
and especially in those instances where simultaneous firing is required, the 
moment of explosion and the number of charges to be dealt with is so 
completely under control, that I am surprised so little has been done as 
yet in the more frequent use of electricity for this purpose. 
But passing to a more serious consideration of this subject—the firing of 
torpedoes—I trust I may be excused if I bring before the members of this 
Institute the extreme and increasing interest taken in this weapon at home 
and the enormous strides which are being taken, first to bring this arm into 
use for the defence of ports and the attack upon ships, and secondly to 
guard, as far as possible, against the disastrous consequences of a successful 
attack with this weapon. And when we think of the fearful effects caused 
by the explosion of a well-charged torpedo when placed in its most favourable 
position for damaging a vessel, and take cognizance of the wonderful powers 
and varied character of the respective torpedoes, each fraught with the same 
object, it should do more than interest us, and cause us to enquire in what 
way these weapons may be of service in the defence of our ports, and 
whether we have to deal with the Whitehead torpedo, with its complicated 
and secret machinery, with its evolutions so wonderful that Lord Salisbury 
lately remarked at a public meeting ‘that it could do almost anything but 
talk,"—the Harvey torpedo, which may be towed parallel to the towing 
vessel and at a long distance from her, and thus be brought to bear in a 
speedy manner upon the enemy—or the still more deadly, because hidden, 
torpedo, moored in the track of ships and ready to be fired by the electric 
wire, it behoves us to examine and, as far as possible, decide in what way 
we could be guarded from the attack of armed cruisers, who having levelled 
black mail upon us, would probably return again at another convenient 
season. With this object I have brought before you the points which I 
consider should be guarded and the means of so doing, and I may add that 
when we see the neighbouring colonies taking this matter in hand with the 
same object, I think we should be up and doing while there is time and not 
be in the sorrowful position when too late of knowing that 
** Of all the sad thoughts of tongue or pen 
The saddest are those, it might have been.” 
Owing to the many entrances to our spacious harbour, it becomes a 
