Robert Fulton and the Submarine

by William Barclay Parsons

And First as to Economy,

The Boulogne Flotilla has cost the french treasury more than three millions Sterling, for this sum, more than Two hundred thousand instantanious Bombs might be made; with such a Magazine at Boulogne or Calais and 100 good row boats the Enemy might each dark night throw some hundreds of Bombs in the channels of the Thames in the Downs or along the coast, to the total destruction of the British Commerce, And if her commerce cannot be protected what is the use of her Marine?

I will now Shew that were this Simple System organized in France, it is not in the power of the whole British marine to prevent the practice of it to any extent which Bonapart might desire, and he certainly would desire the annihilation of the British Marine,—

For example. Suppose the French boats were to anchor 500 Bombs in one night in the waters before Boulogne; where the Blockading squadern usually cruise; some of the cruising squadern would most certainly be blown up, and the fleet would be obliged to Keep at a greater distance. The Bombs being anchored 6 Feet under water at low water, would admit of row and sail boats to pass over them without danger; while vessels drawing from 15 to 20 feet of water and running among them would be destroyed, The french Boats passing over the Bombs or knowing the line in which they had anchored them; could the next dark night anchor another 500 still further out, and compel the blockading squadern to keep at a still greater distance; In fact 1200 Bombs would lay a whole line from Calais to Dover, allowing an interval of only 30 yards between each, and 12,000 which would only cost 168,000 £ would lay ten lines from Dover to Calais which would render it impossible for any Vessel to pass without certain destruction, and thus a Blockade of the whole Channel would be formed of which plate the 11 will give some Idea;

Plate 11

I have before observed that the french boats could not be prevented depositing the bombs in this manner; Ships of war could not prevent them Because they dare not approach where the Bombs are anchored; British boats could not prevent them because they could not always be on the watch; and Second because the french boats can or may be encouraged to combat any boats whatever; And the moment this System or any other reduces the British marine to Boat fighting, the revered Sovereignty of the seas will be for ever lost; Colonies must be Abandoned and the whole influence which England holds in the scale of nations will Vanish, This is the natural and obvious consequence of this system when reduced to practice and prosicuted by a powerful nation with energy and Spirit; Ten lines of Instantanious Bombs or even a less number anchored in the British channel would cut off the greater part of the commerce of London and of England, The wealth of England and the existance of her fleets depend on her immense and uninterrupted commerce, But should France ever possess a means to cut off or interrupt such trade, England would be obliged to submit to any terms which Bonapart might think proper to dictate, I think I have here shewn that the plan described would give him such power, Gentlemen will deliberately consider it and its consequences consequences—

PLATE THE TENTH

When Mr. Pitt saw the sketch of this engine of simple construction, easy application, and powerful effect, he observed that if Introduced into practice it would lead to the annihilation of all military marines, It was therefore agreed not to use it,—But when I speak of my interest and that of my friends in these inventions, I must call the particular Attention of the Arbitrators to this engine to Shew that while in france I might have brought forward this system to the infinite Injury of England; I did not bring it forward but came to this Country by Invitation to explain the engines to government; and receive what might be considered a fair equivalent for inventions of such magnitude, leaving them to government to use or not as they might think proper; It must therefore be considered that my negative to France is a Positive advantage to England, and out of these Ideas will arise considerations on such sums or annuity as a Great nation can afford to pay for her own security, and which should in reason satisfy men possessed of inventions the consequences of which are incalculable,

After what has been said on the practice of the instantanious Bomb, it will be seen that the submarine Vessel is not of much importance nor necessary to Carry such engines into effect from England against France, or from France against England, but it would be of the first importance to the Sweeds, Danes, Dutch, Spaniards or Portuguise in a War against England for with such vessels they could come without risque and anchor instantanious Bombs in the British channel in the mouth of the Thames in the roadsteads and, along the coast, and distress the commerce to as great a degree as before described,

Each submarine Vessel constructed in the best manner would cost about 8,000 £. 10 of them could be built for 80 Thousand pounds, and each of them requiring 6 men to Navigate them, the total would be 60 men. Each Vessel could carry 30 bombs the ten could convoy 300, Besides the Bombs each could carry water and provisions for 6 men for 6 weeks, they are therefore calculated to navigate all the narrow seas of Europe and might anchor Bombs in any channel or roadstead where it might be thought necessary; Thus it is that this invention of submarine navigation and Submarine Bombs, gives to the minor maritime powers a decided advantage over the Major maritime Nations,

The manner of attacking a single ship with two clockwork bombs has been explained in plate the tenth; which mode I conceive will be allowed to be less expensive than fire ships and attended with less Risk than Bordage or any mode now in practice

But suppose an enterprise to send such Bombs in among the Shipping at Brest or any other open port; the tide running at the rate of two miles an hour, the clockwork being set to two hours would make it practicable to set the Bombs afloat at four miles distance from the Enemy; and they would arrive among the shipping about the time the explosions commenced; It would of course be advisable to get as near the Enemy as possible before giving the Bombs to the tide, and in allmost all cases it is possible to near them within two miles or a mile and a half in the night time; the clockwork should be set accordingly.

Plate 12

Plate the 12 will Shew how the hooks are arranged to pass the Buoys and yet hook in the Cable; in all cases where the line of the Bomb may cross one; it is a round ended hook filled in with cork to keep it from sinking being round at the end it cannot hook in the Buoy, but if the line crosses a cable it will glide along till it comes to the hook and be caught, the Bomb will then drift alongside, and sheer under the ships bottom, this being a mode of attack it is to be considered what would be the risk of 10, 15 or 20 Sail were 2 or 3 hundred such bombs floated among them in one night.

But as Ships at anchor cannot follow or even fire to advantage in the night on boats which are 4 or 5 hundred yards off; it [necessarily] reduces the enemy to the necessity of defending themselves against boats, by boats—, this being the Case what could prevent 40 British Boats running with the flood into the harbour of Brest, there throw their Bombs across the Bows and retire with the ebb of night;? 16 oard cutters each with 4 or 5 marines and two swivels would complete such an enterprise with little risk for as the objects of the British Boats would not to fight but run: the oars would never be interrupted and their Velocity together with the fire of the marines would clear their way through any of the enemy’s boats which could be ready to oppose them; but they would have another advantage for the explosion of the first bomb or the Blowing up of the first ship, would occupy all the enemy’s boats In saving the men which would leave little or no opposition to the British Boats; I Leave to nautical Gentlemen to consider whether such an attack with such engines whose operation is instantanious; Is not practicable for British seamen in Brest harbour; and if at Brest, it is also practicable at Cadiz and other ports, and presents a more effectual mode of destroying the Enemys fleets than any method now in practice and with less risk, But I do not expect Gentlemen to decide in favour of this mode of attack without first contemplating Galleys or cutters of the best construction, and picked men, habituated and exersised to the System and practice of the Bombs,—For as a morter is not given to the management of a lighthouseman, but to a Bombadeer, so these engines should not be confided to officers or men till they had been practiced in the use of them,

PLATE THE ELEVENTH

I have now described the leading principles of this mode of warfare; it is well known that all new inventions, and particularly those connected with a government, require years to perfect them, to render them fameliar, effecient; and introduce them into general practice; men must be exersised establishments must be made, and the plan whatever it is Should be pursued with System,

But when ever any invention, or project is within the limits of Physics and evidently practicable, it is to be reduced to simple operations and fameliar practice by time; and the inducement to perfect it is always in proportion to the magnitude of the object in View;

Every principle her ascerted has already been proved by practice, what then is wanting to make them productive of all the consequences here contemplated? only time and perseverence, even talent is hardly necessary; for all the principal defficulties have been overcome, the question therefore on the policy and true interest of this government concerning these inventions is whether they Should rest in their present state or be left to the proprietors to convert to their own advantage as they think proper;

As gun powder, Cannon, muskets, gun locks, and even flints, all had opponents prejudices and established habits to encounter; yet have in time totally Changed the art of war and the relative strength of nations:—So these inventions on submarine navigation and attack may now be considered as the Embryo of a total change in the military marine system; and the existing relative power of States; it, is therefore a subject not only of simple arbitration but one on which the Arbitrators as men of science should deliberate with the utmost care For it is now and by their means, that the present and future Ministers, the guardiens of the interests of Great Britain; are to get exact Ideas on this subject, and fully make up their minds, whether there is anything to be hoped or feared from this system; Vulgar men see and admit only of such things as time and practice has rendered fameliar to all Mankind; Men of Sense and science penitrate from principles to future and certain effects.

Robert Fulton

London,

August 10th 1806