Terms
That for leaving France and coming to England I Should receeive ten thousand pounds
That for clearly demonstrating that Ships of war can be destroyed by my engines with more ease and less risque than by any method now in practice I demanded the Value of one first rate line of battle Ship or one hundred thousand pounds
With this demand the following Ideas were associated, First that I Should not exersise or be the cause of exersising this invention against the fleets of great Britain, Second that by not Shewing the Mechanism of the Submarine boat and adopting only a part of my plan, this government might draw advantage from it. Government can now Judge whether it is important that I should never be the means of using this invention against the British marine whether it is their interest to grant these my original terms and whether this proposal is extravagant considering the demonstrations I have made and the power I possess to render my invention Infinately more productive. In this proposal as it Stands I See that Ministers Will have one difficulty which is a Security that I Shall not be induced to use this invention against the british fleets after having receeived the sum Specified, there is but one way to give such security that is to put it in my power and make it my interest to remain tranquil or occupy myself in other pursuits equally honorable and important to my country for this purpose I propose to receive Sixty thousand pounds and my present Salary of two thousand four hundred pounds per annum for life, the Annuity to be forfeited if I break the treaty—I have already receeved ten thousand to be considered part of the above Sum.
My Lord I conceive this proposition fair you have the Interest of England to consider I have my own. I love tranquility and science in my chamber. As a man of honor my principle Is to fulfill my part of all my engagements before writing this letter I have well considered the subject on all its bearings and made up my mind to the general principles here proposed.
And I assure you that great as this demand may appear to be I am not much interested in its success, for by agreeing to let my invention lie dormant I feel that I abandon a Subject in which there is the most Philosophic and honorable fame and perhaps the interest of my country which is dearer to me than all considerations of wealth. However I hope America And England will so well understand their Mutual Interest, that it will not be necessary for me to introduce my Invention into practice for our own defence And I have no desire to use it to the Advantage of any other Nation.
I am Sir & & &
R Fulton
Fulton was not content to submit his demands to Lord Castlereagh only, but as on other occasions he went over the head of his correspondent and appealed to higher authority. In this case he forwarded a copy of the letter with some additional thoughts to the Prime Minister, Mr. Pitt:
London Jany 6th 1806
Mr. Pitt
Sir
That you may have an opportunity before you come to Town, to Judge of what I conceive my rights And the governments Interest, I have taken the liberty to send you a Copy of my letter to Lord Castlereagh, you will no doubt at the first thought consider my demand great, but there is one reflection which Usually accompanies all negotiations, whether between Nations or Individuals, that is the power which each possess to support certain claims. Now in this business I will not disguise that I feel the power which I possess which is no less than to be the means if I think proper of giving to the world a System which must from necessity sweep all military marines from the ocean, by giving to the weaker maritime powers Advantages over the stronger which the Strong cannot prevent, this power I felt before and when I came to this country but I did not think right to insist upon it nor could I expect ministers to believe it till I had given them sufficient demonstration. This is a power which is not possessed by even Bonapart. It is concentered in me and two friends who are governed by my success in this country.
Hence on Such power I have a right to set what price I think proper, but I hope I am not of a disposition to abuse the advantages which the Arts have given me either by unreasonable demands or any illiberal act. In my present terms I have not raised the Sum first proposal to Lord Hawkesbury; And It must be observed, I did not come here so much with a View to do you any material good as to Shew that I had the power and might in the exersise of my plan to acquire fortune, do you an Infinate Injury, which Ministers if they thought proper might prevent by an arrangement with me,—
I did however Zealously attempt to be of Service, I have proved that Infinate good or Injury may be done. I have written to Lord Barham two letters without receiving any Answer. I can easy conceive he has not had time to consider the position in which I Stand nor my Invention in all its consequences and might not think An Answer of any importance, However it is time that he Should See it in all its consequences and Judge of the propriety of a fair and honorable arrangement with me,
Although Sir you will be overwhelmed with business on your coming to Town yet I hope you will not let this escape your memory
I have the honor to be your most
Obedient and Very humble servant
Robert Francis
The Right Honbl
William Pitt Bath
The letter to Lord Castlereagh is in the best form of any of Fulton’s communications to the government in spite of the thinly veiled suggestion of a threat in the closing lines, but Lord Castlereagh must have been amused to learn that the foreign inventor, then without fame or position, was “perfectly satisfied with the conduct of Lord Melville, Mr. Pitt and your Lordship.” He, whose conduct was approved and from whose decision Fulton practically appealed in advance without time being given to render it, was a most important character in British politics at that time.
Lord Castlereagh lived between 1769 and 1822. He was the son of the Earl of Londonderry, and as his father was still living during the period under consideration, the son was known by the courtesy title of Viscount Castlereagh. Instrumental in securing the union with Ireland he forfeited the King’s support by urging emancipation for Roman Catholics, and to such an extent that the resignation of the Pitt government was forced. Castlereagh accepted a position in the new cabinet and on Pitt’s return to power in May, 1804, continued in office, and in 1805 became Secretary for War. It was to that official, therefore, that Fulton wrote the above letters.
On the 23rd of January, 1806, Pitt died and was succeeded in office by Lord Grenville. This necessitated new approaches by Fulton. Charles Grey became First Lord of the Admiralty in the ministry then formed. His father, Sir Charles Grey of Howick, had served as a British General in America during the revolution and was raised to the peerage as Lord Grey of Howick in 1801. In April, 1806, he was created Earl Grey, when his son adopted the courtesy title of Lord Howick. Fulton’s letters, therefore, to Mr. Gray (misspelled for Grey) and to Lord Howick are to the same person.
During February, Fulton recommenced his efforts for a settlement by writing Mr. Grey. At the same time he enclosed copies of letters previously sent to Mr. Pitt, assuming that Mr. Grey, being new to the office, it was necessary to acquaint him with what had gone before.
Ibbotsons Hotel Vere Street Oxford
Road Feby 22d 1806
Mr. Gray
Sir
In my letters to Mr. Pitt the copies of which I had the honor to present you there are some Assertions on the powers of submarine attack which men in general will be inclined to doubt, few men will believe that any plan can be carried to Such perfection as totally to annihilate the present system of Military marines and maritime war. And I presume most men in my Situation would endavour to conseal this part of the Business from every member of a Government the consequence of which depends on her marine.
But as I have been invited to this country to give Ministers full information on the nature and powers of submarine Attack, I have been disposed from the first candidly to explain every principle and mode of practice which Occured to me on the subject, And then leave Ministers to Judge for themselves Whether fleets can be destroyed by my means, and how much of my System they may practice with safety, or what part of it conseal from public knowledge I therefore conceive it the most prudent and prompt measure, first to go into a full and Satisfactory examination of the principles of Submarine navigation and attack, their practicability and consequences and from such investigation judge of what this nation has to hope or fear from the System; and on what ground I found my Claims; such a mode of proceeding will place this Subject clear before the mind. I therefore Advise that you will have the goodness to Invite such of your friends as you conceived best acquainted with Mathematical and Physical Subjects. I will meet them and explain the whole Machinery and mode of operating and from their decision ministers can Judge how to Act. This I conceive necessary for every reason, first to Obtain a clear knowledge of facts; Second to Judge of the policy of practicing my System; and third whether My deamnds are reasonable; and which demand, I presume must be setteled by the privy council council—
To go into the investigation it is not Necessary to have Many persons. 3 or 4 will be Suffecient for the less number who become acquainted with the Mechanism of the submarine Vessel, the less it will be talked of or become publicly known.
I hope Sir you will form such a committee as soon as possible and when formed favor me with a line,—
I have the honor to be your
Most Obedient and Very
humble servant
Robt Fulton
P. S. Would not Lord Sidmouth, Lord St. Vincent, Mr. Windham and Yourself Suffice for the investigation?
The Right Honorable
Charles Gray
First Lord of the Admiralty
& & &
The duties of new office probably occupied Mr. Grey’s time to the exclusion of coming to a settlement with Fulton. At any rate the latter writes again:
March the 17th 1806
Mr. Gray
Sir
After the Various changes of Ministers and Measures which have kept me in this country for near two years and the time fast approaching when I must Absolutely sail for America you will excuse me for Urging that my arrangements with this government may be finally Setteled. In the copies of my letters to Mr. Pitt which I had the honor to present you my Ideas of the powers and Consequences of Submarine navigation and Attack are fully explained and without disguise the question therefore between government and me appears to be Simply this: have I proved Sufficient to merit the 40,000 mentioned in the contract? If there be Still doubts on this point it is Stipulated to be setteled by arbitration this is Justice founded on the contract, but added to this: Is it not the Interest of government to finally settle with me and then use my mode of attack as they think proper? I beg you will have the goodness to mention an early hour when we may have a conversation on this subject and fix a plan for a just honorable and prompt Settlement, let it be morning or evening or any period most convenient to you when there may be suffeceent time for ample Explanations.
I am &
R Fulton,
Fulton’s impatience always inclined him to correspond simultaneously with more than one official, and particularly so if thereby he could reach one higher in authority. Although his negotiations begun through Lord Howick were apparently proceeding satisfactorily, he forestalled a submission by the latter to Lord Grenville by writing to the latter himself. As this letter gives a review of Fulton’s claims and forms the basis for arbitrators who were subsequently appointed, it is of peculiar interest.
Chapter IX
FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE
Demand for arbitrators. Further correspondence with Lords Grenville and Howick.
London May the 5th 1806
To the Right Honorable
Lord Grenville
My Lord
Lord Howick will have a conversation with your Lordship on the mode of finally setteling with me, As the papers which I have from time to time written to Successive Ministers and to his Lordship may not be at hand at the time of such conversation, And as a right understanding of submarine Navigation with all its probable consequences Is I conceive of much importance to this government I beg your Lordships attention to the following observations which shall be as concise as possible, And I hope it will be admitted by your Lordship that whatever may be the effect of any Scientific discovery on the interest or politics of this country, It is better his Majesty’s Ministers should be acquainted with it than remain uninformed, And I conceive Investigation the more necessary when it is considered that discoveries in the Sciences have from age to age changed the whole art of war and the politics of nations. That being slow in the operation their consequences cannot be traced by ordinary men, who being creatures of habit and Guided by existing things consider new discoveries as Visionary or trivial Such were the Ideas of the Inventions of printing, gunpowder and the Mariners Compass had their authors Shown their consequences they would not have been believed by their Contemporaries.
So my Lord when I say that I have discovered a mode of attacking Ships of war which if prosicuted to its Ultimate powers and rendered fameliar to all nations must from necessity destroy the existing system of military marines and alter the whole politics of Europe I do not expect to be believed by any but men of penitrating Judgement and Sound Sense nor do I expect them to believe me untill they have see the whole of the engines and had ample proof of the simple mode of using them and their certain destructive effects Now my Lord if this be a truth it is certainly important to know it, if it be false the conviction that it is so will be equally important for then there will be nothing to guard against, hence to place this Subject in its true light I have proposed to Lord Howick to form a committee compossed of Your Lordship Lord Moria Lord Sydmouth Lord Erskin Mr. Fox Mr. Windham Sir george Shee and Alexander Davison Esqr. the members of this committee are all friends to government to them I will exhibit all the machinery and modes of using it and Reasoning from Experiments already made endavour to Shew what may be done leaving to the committee to Judge whether my preceding assertion is true. And for Such communications I make no demand, but Should the committee find my assertion supported by facts It will be acknowledged that I have a high Interest in this produce of my own mind and that I have a right to prosecute it to the acquirement of fortune or fame, I have mentioned to Lord Howick my Views on fortune, the committee will Judge whether it be the interest of government to acceed to my proposal and whether the terms Specified are the best security which I can give that this subject shall not be further prosicuted by me My Lord I beg you to be Assured that I have every disposition to act in the most liberal and honorable manner towards this government At the Same time I must Acknowledge that I never will abandon my private interest Till satisfied by specific Stipulations and I hope my Lord that this fair proposal to investigate all the principles and this undisguised mode of Acting will inspire your Lordship and Every member of the committee with a confidence that what I agree to Shall be scrupeleusly and honorably adheared to. Should your Lordship require any private conversations on this subject I shall be happy to wait on you at an appointed hour.
I am my Lord your Lordships
Most obedient and Very humble
Servant
Robert Fulton
P. S. Just as I was finishing this letter I was informed by Mr. Tucker that Lord Howick and your Lordship had decided not to have any thing to do with the submarine boat My Lord I never wished this government to introduce such boats into practice. But it is Stipulated in my contract that if for any reason government do not think proper to practice my mode of war Arbitrators Shall be appointed and if it appears to the majority that enemies Vessels can be Destroyed by my means at less expence and Risque than by any method now in practice I shall receive 40,000 £ hence as the Submarine boat makes part of my System it must come under the consideration of the arbitrators.
Previous publications dealing with this portion of Fulton’s career have inclined to the view that consideration of his plan for a submarine boat had been discarded soon after he came to England. From the postscript to the above letter it appears that Fulton was not informed that the submarine had been rejected until May, 1806, or two years after his arrival in England. Undoubtedly it was held under serious and secret consideration. Even if Fulton did not construct such a boat for the British Government, the latter reserved the right so to do until it was decided to drop all thought of adoption, or even of further investigation of any form, of under-water attack.
On May 14, Fulton again writes to Lord Grenville:
May the 14th 1806
My Lord:
Since writing to your Lordship on the 10th Inst Lord Howick has agreed to decide on my Contract by arbitrators, I now beg you Lordship will have the goodness to give orders that my accounts which are with Mr. King may be immediately setteld. They have no connection with the final decision on my contract they have been 4 months moving from office to office and now wait your Lordships decision
My Lord when I was Invited to this country I was led to believe that every reasonable attention would be paid to my demonstrations propositions and claims. I was therefore disposed from the first to do everything in the most liberal and open manner. I have uniformly acted on this principle And I have hoped for equal attention and liberality from each of His Majestys ministers with whome I may have to act. My Lord mine is no common Case; Tis my Sincere wish and the real interest of this government which I will hereafter explain that everything relative to this business may be setteled in the most friendly manner hoping to have the pleasure of arranging with your Lordship on this principle
I have the honor to be your Lordships
most obedient and Very humble Servant
Robt Fulton
The Right Honble
Lord Grenville
From the above it appears that his previous requests to Lords Howick and Grenville for the appointing of arbitrators had met with a generally favorable response. But sometimes diplomats agree “in principle” and then avoid arriving at a settlement of such inconvenient things as defined details.
There still remained much letter writing, threats and begging before the arbitrators were actually named, during which time Fulton came very near giving public proof that he had lost his temper.
More than three weeks after Lord Howick had informed Fulton that he had decided to submit the contract to arbitration, nothing had been done as shown by the following letter to Lord Grenville’s secretary:
London June the 6th
Ibbotsons Hotel Vere Street Oxford Road
Mr. King
Sir
Yesterday Lord Howick informed me that Lord Grenville had mentioned to him two or three persons whome he thought fit arbitrators. I beg you will speak to his Lordship to decide on two as soon as possible which decision becomes urgent in consequence of my being under the necessity of sailing for America About the 10th of July—
That this business may proceed with the least possible delay, and trouble to Ministers I Conceive the best mode will be to name one person first who with my friend Mr. Davison or Mr. McArthur will [first] arrange the terms of the Arbitration bond: then they being arbitrators [proceed] associated to two others [Can proceed] can proceed to the examination of the Machinery the principles of application and a decision on the contract.
I beg Sir to hear from you on this Subject as Soon as possible
I am etc
R Fulton
On June 17th he again writes to Mr. King:
Ibbotsons Hotel June the 17th 1806
Sir
Anxious to Know the progress of my affairs and [conceiving that] conceiving that there can be no objection or obstacle to prevent the immediate naming of Arbitrators on the part of government I will take the liberty of waiting on you tomorrow between the hours of 11 and 12 to have a few minuets conversation on this subject.
I am Sir your most obedient &
Very humble Servant
King Esqr.
Robt Fulton
No reply having been received within two days, his impatience and irritation overcame his control of his nerves and on June 19th, he takes pen in hand to begin the inditing of three letters. Considering that of these letters one is addressed to the chief of the most powerful government then existing, a government that controlled the affairs of the world, another to the member of the cabinet in charge of the Navy, and both written by a man who had been for two years and still was in the employ of the government, they leave unbroken few rules for the proper conduct of official correspondence. At this time Fulton’s feelings were like the actions of a series of his bombs—a state of prolonged and violent explosions.
One of the letters is addressed to Mr. King, whose first name Fulton does not seem to know, the second to Lord Grenville, and the third a covering letter to Lord Howick. The corrections show that Fulton spent some time in composing these communications, a task of no small difficulty in view of Fulton’s position and the disturbed condition of his temper. The two dates on the Grenville letter indicate that Fulton slept on it for one night, while the lapse into his earlier degree of disregard of orthography is perhaps further evidence of his emotions. The delay of one day in transmittal saved him, as similar delays have saved others. Perhaps some kind friend came to his guidance on the morrow, or perhaps a night’s rest had calmed somewhat his troubled spirit; whatever the reason, according to the footnote to the Howick letter he refrained from forwarding any of the three.
It is not difficult to picture what Lord Grenville’s outburst would have been had he received Fulton’s letter of June 19th–20th. The man who had not feared to break with the all-powerful Pitt, and who had become premier of England, would hardly have taken kindly to Fulton’s ultimatum nor his threat to write a letter to The Times.
Mr. King
Sir
by your silence on my Several letters permit me to say that you have treated me in a most ungentleman like manner; Inclosed is a letter for Lord Grenville which you will please to read and present to his Lordship, by it you will perceive the line I mean to pursue I have more favours to bestow on this government than Ministers will ever bestow on me and I am now about to put that, to the proof should they drive me to such necessity.
I am Sir your most
Obedient R Fulton
King Esq Secretary to Lord Grenville
At the Treasury
June the 19th 1806, London
June the 20th 1806
My Lord
I wrote to your Lordship on the 5th 10th and 14th of May, And to Mr. King on the 30th of May & 6th of June, to which letters I have not received any answer nor assurance, that my [business] Claims on government shall be speedily and honorably setteled. As, time presses hard upon me for for three months past I informed Lord Howick and your Lordship that I should Sail for america In July, I am driven from necessity to urge in the strongest manner that my concerns with governmt may be immediately and finally setteled, hence Should my rights Continue to be treated with silent indifference, the letters which I may hereafter have occasion to write to your Lordship must from necessity be through the medium of the public prints, But I yet hope that so disagreeable an alternative may be avoided And that your Lordship will se the Justice and propriety of immediately naming your Arbitrators and of their immediately proceeding to a discision on my Claims,
My Lord Much [and Silent] experience has made me conscous of the powers of the engines I possess. I am also sensible of my own resources and means of Action I convinced the late Ministers of them they felt them and treated me with that attention Justice and civility which should satisfy a rational man. [And] Since the new Ministry has been formed I have repeatedly offered to your Lordship and Lord Howick to Submit the whole of my Assertions, demenstrations and claims to Men of science and Arbitration by which means [government] Ministers may become acquainted with scientific facts interesting to the nation, and Justice may be done to me, more liberal and honorable terms cannot be proposed, these terms I have a right to demand [them] and My Lord I now do demand them, I look to your Lordship and Lord Howick for prompt Justice I demand it as my right And I never will Submit to [receive] plead for it as a favour
My Lord if I have not before monday next Satisfactory Assurance that Arbitraters Shall be immediately Named on the part of Government And my [Claims] Business [immediately] proceeded upon in a prompt and liberal manner I will on the commencement of next week put this letter in the public prints and proceed to publish such details and demonstrations As will put it in the power of the nation to Judge if my rights, the Justice of Ministers And the importance of a Subject extremely interesting to [them] every Englishman.
I am my Lord your Lordships most
Obedient and Very humble Servant
Robert Fulton
Lord Grenville,
June the 19th 1806
Lord Howick
My Lord
As yet I can neither see nor heard from Lord Grenville nor Mr. King. Inclosed Is a copy of a letter which I have written to his Lordship degrading neglect, to a man in my situation, compels me to take the measures which I have adopted;
I am My Lord your Lordships
Most Obedient [and]
R. Fulton
June the 19th 1806
These three letters not delivered for the present the following two Substituted,
The two letters that he substituted were addressed one to Mr. King and the other to Lord Howick.
The copy of the King letter, now in the possession of the writer, is dated but not signed. In it he still gave vent to some of the bitterness and threats contained in the letter to Lord Grenville, but in gentler tone. As the censure is not now addressed to Lord Grenville but to his secretary the irritating character is much softened.
Ibbotsons Hotel June the 20th 1806
Mr. King
Sir
Your Silence on my several letters Is a want of politeness and an Injustice which I feel in the most sensible manner I have offered His Majestys Ministers the Most rational and honorable terms, by proposing to submit my whole plans to men of science and arbitrators if Ministers have not time or doubt their own [power] ability to Judge of the powers and consequences of new inventions how can they expect to arrive at truth or get correct Ideas but through the medium of Men of Sciences, of their own appointment, to refuse such a proposal and what is worse to treat it with contempt is injustice to the nation and to me and is [the] sufficient to sink any man or men in the opinion of the [nation] public. I hope I Shall not be driven to the necessity of appealing to the public opinion on this point but that I Shall have prompt and reasonable attention immediately paid to my claims I hope sir for your immediate answer
The letter to Lord Howick is a model of self-restraint as compared with the violent outburst of the withheld epistle to Lord Grenville:
Ibbotsons Hotel June the 20th 1806
Lord Howick
My Lord
I have not as yet seen or heared from Lord Grenville nor Mr. King nor received any assurance that my business shall be speedily setteled In a thing so Just and Simple as the naming of two Arbitrators why should such unnecessary delays and injustice be [extended to me] exercised toward me? Will Ministers necessitate me to lay my Claims before the public, and force me to such demonstrations and disclosure of facts as must be disagreeable to all parties and of serious consequence to the nation; My Lord I look to your Lordship and Lord Grenville for prompt Justice I demand it as my right and will not Submit to ask it as a favor. I am Conscious of my own Strength and resources I convinced the late ministers of them, they felt them and treated me with Justice attention and civility, I have offered to convince your Lordship and His Majesty present Ministers, of the truth of these powers by submitting the whole to men of Science and Arbitrators Your Lordship has intimated that [you] you doubted your own [capacity] power to Judge of the [power or] effect and ultimate consequences of my Inventions, then how do you expect to arrive at truth but through the medium of men of Science
My Lord this is common sense and [the Nation] Men of sense and the Nation will not approve of any other line of conduct in this Business—
My Lord 3 months ago I informed you that my plans were laid for Sailing to America In July this is still my intention the time is fast approaching. And one of the gentlemen who [was] agreed to act As my arbitrater must shortly leave town for these reasons I must [Insist on] [beg Insist] [beg] hope for your immediate decision, and answer to this letter.
I am etc.
R. Fulton
As one reads these letters beginning with the moderate request to Lord Grenville on May 5th, the unwritten matter between the lines suggests that Fulton was not very hopeful of obtaining either a satisfactory financial award or the personal treatment that he felt he was entitled to receive.
Chapter X
THE FAILURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
Arbitrators appointed. Fulton’s presentation of his case (Aug., 1806). Arbitrators decide against Fulton. He makes a last appeal to Lord Grenville, reviewing whole case (Sept., 1806). No reply.
The arbitrators were finally appointed. By that time the increasingly fault-finding note of Fulton’s correspondence shows that his fears as to the outcome had become almost certainties in his mind, because he prepared a written brief for submission, the tone of which was far from hopeful. This brief is the “Descriptions” of this book.
When the arbitrators met, those representing the government put sundry questions particularly as to whether any one would risk being caught in the submarine vessel and expose himself to being hanged in consequence of using engines not permitted by the laws of war; the sweeping of the Channel to locate floating bombs; the effect of storms on such bombs, and on the chance of a submarine being driven on shore by a storm. These questions were all met by Fulton in a very logical manner. Both questions and answers are recorded as “Notes on Observations of the Arbitrators Particularly of Captn. Hamilton and Sir Charles Blagden” attached to Fulton’s own copy of the “Descriptions.” These same notes show that Fulton made it clear that the plans he submitted to the British Government were so far in advance of anything he had proposed to the French that they constituted new plans. On this point he says:
But, it may be said that my Experiments have been so Public that no part of my plan is now a Secret, I would ask who has seen the Plans and System which I have exhibited to this Committee where is to be found did any gentleman here know them all or any part of them perfectly before I appeared,? It is true there have been Ideas of this subject scattered in the World but the impracticability of any important result has always been attached to them which Idea I perceive has much weight in this Committee.
He urged on the Arbitrators that a list of questions which he sets forth in his notes bearing on the efficacy of his bombs should be submitted to Lord Kieth, Commodore Owen, Admiral Demet, Captain Seccombe, Captain Salt, Captain King, Lieutenant Wm. Robinson and Captain Thomas Johnson of the Nile Cutter. He concludes his appeal to the Arbitrators in the following spirited language:
Now Gentlemen I beg you to believe that I have not taken these measures nor made use of these Arguments to draw from you either Capital or Annuity I am not a Man much governed by a thirst for Money, an honorabel fame is to me a much more noble feeling, But I like truth candor, and Justice to all Parties concerned with me in this Business, I have therefore used these Arguments for the following reasons.
First, That at this meeting it is right for me to Shew you in the most striking manner in my power what I conceive your danger and should you not see it as I do and future bad consequences should result to this Country the fault will not rest with me but with you and His Majesty’s Ministers, and I shall not have to accuse myself of want of Candour—
Second, I have used them to gratify two friends who have been kind to me, and who are more governed by the hope of gain than I am, I have now acquitted myself to this Government and to them, And neither this Government nor they have more to expect of me Therefore Gentlemen should your award not meet their views of Wealth, I shall feel free to act as I think proper And I will take the fame and Consequences of these Engines on myself Abandoning all calculations of a pecuniary kind, and the whole of the Drawings and Papers here exhibited shall be published within one year with all my Experiments in France and Negotiations with this Government. In fact I will do my utmost to make it a good Philosophic Work and give it to the World. I will then form a Committee of the most respectable Men in America and proceed regularly in Experiments on the large Scale publishing the result from time to time and thus drawing the attention of the ingenious and Enterprising to such Pursuits I shall hope to succeed in my first object that of annihilating all Military Marines and giving liberty to the Seas.
Gentlemen a man who has the candour to give you this in Writing has but little deception or fear in his character and will not abandon so glorious an Enterprise for trifling Rebuffs or mean consideration
At all events whatever may be your Award I never will consent to let these inventions lie dormant. Should my Country at any time have need of them, Were you to grant me an Annuity of £20,000 a Year, I would sacrifise all to the safety & independance of my Country, But I hope England and America will understand their mutual Interest to well to War with each other And I have no desire to introduce my Engines into practice for the benefit of any other Nation.
At the end of the “Notes” he adds his own views and a record that the decision, adverse to him, was signed soon after the conference was concluded.
After the Arguments used in the preceding Paper, one would have thought that Justice and Policy would have induced the Arbitrators to hear Evidence on the practicability and probable consequences of such Engines, before they would venture to decide on a Work of Art of so much consequence, they did not however call in one Evidence nor hear one opinion and to my great astonishment the Award was Signed in one Hour after I left the room. Such inconceivable blindness to the Interest of the Nation, and Injustice to me on the part of Sir Charles Blagden and Captn. Hamilton, Induced me to write the following Letter to Lord Grenville and this I did that Ministers may have no excuse to plead that they were lead into Error by their Arbitrators, and again that my two friends may be convinced that I never abandoned their Interest as long as there was one reasonable hope of succeeding to their wishes.
There is a footnote to the copy as follows:
This paper I read to the Arbitrators on the morning of this date and it is deposited with the Government.
In the letter to Lord Grenville referred to above and given at length below, Fulton, it will be seen, states that he had deposited twelve drawings with descriptions of facts in the hands of Mr. King, secretary to Lord Grenville. This is undoubtedly what he means by the statement in his notes of the paper read to the arbitrators having been “deposited with the government.” As the drawings were intricate and the paper very long, it is hardly probable that Fulton made three copies including the copy of the paper and tracings of the drawings that he brought home. As neither Mr. King nor the arbitrators had any need for the drawings and paper, it is quite likely that they were returned to Fulton, who left them with Consul Lyman as described in his letter to Barlow and which are consequently the foundation of this book.
The letter to Lord Grenville to which Fulton refers is worthy of reproduction as it is a general summary of his case written immediately before his departure for America. It is his last appeal, and in it he uses every argument that occurs to him.
Ibbotsons Hotel, September the 3d 1806
To the Right Honorable
Lord Grenville
My Lord
As the subject of which this letter will treat is of the utmost importance in as much as it may render the power and independence of Great Britain doubtful and a wrong judgement of it may not only involve the country in complicated evils but attach eternal blame to his Majesty’s present ministers of whome your Lordship is one. I Shall hope for your calm perusal and deliberate contemplation of the following facts and observations on the means which science has developed for destroying military marines and in such case what would be the fate of England? There is one suit of thinking which gains easy access to an intelligent mind, and opens the way to a right Judgement on the progress of the arts and the possibility of effecting every thing which is within the limits of physics it is that all science is progressive every year exhibits new combinations and effects, Steam engines, Cotton Mills, Telegraphs, Baloons, and submarine navigation and attack have all appeared almost within our memory, and only Vulgar minds harbour the thought that a Physical possibility is impracticable because it has not already been done. It does not require much depth of thought to trace that science by the discovery of Gunpowder changed the whole art of war by land and sea and may by future combinations sweep military marines from the ocean My Lord I have discovered the means which may produce such an effect, and by ample experiments proved them true, that is I have proved them to a degree which should convince every reflecting and unprejudiced mind, Common minds which cling to the Ideas of forefathers, or established customs are only to be convinced by demonstrations which enter at the Eyes. But if in this case the marine of England must be destroyed to convince the Vulgar of the possibility it will then be too late to reason on the consequences. It is to avoid being driven to so dreadful a proof of the power of my engines that I now take the liberty of calling the attention of your Lordship to this Subject, Of the principles of the Engines I have deposited twelve drawings with descriptions of facts and reasonings on them in the hands of Mr. King who I believe has committed them to the care of Alexander Davison Esqr. In St. Jameses square which drawings and writings were made for arbitrators who had to decide on my claims under a contract made with Mr. Pitt and Lord Melville.
Of the Arbitrators two Mr. Davison and Dr. Cartwright are of opinion that all military marines may be destroyed by the means which I have Exhibited, how far Sir Charles Blagden and Capt. Hamilton may be of that opinion I cannot tell but resting on their own judgement they never heared evidence nor called for the opinion of nautical men, on the several modes of using the machines, hence Ministers are Still in the dark as to what may be the power Practicability and consequence of such engines.
Now my Lord his Majesty’s Ministers cannot do Justice to the public nor guard their own honor untill they enter into a full examination of my system and take the opinion of many nautical men on the means by which such engines may be used for out of the opinion of the many a right thinking may arise.
I would therefore propose a meeting of His Majesty’s Ministers, Your Lordship, Lord Moira, Lord Henry petty, Lord Howick, Lord Erskine, Mr. Fox if his health will permit and Mr. Windham, or any other Gentleman whome it may be thought right to call in, And that before them the opinions shall be taken of Lord Kieth, Admiral Demet, Sir Even Nepene, Commodor Owen, Capt. Seccombe, Capt. Salt, Capt. Thos. Johnson of the nile Cutter, and Lieutenant Wm. Robinson—or such other persons as have seen the experiments and know most of the engines.
But should this mode be inconvenient a Committe of 12 Nautical men to examine and report on the plans which I have exhibited, by such means & such only Ministers can do Justice to the public and get a clear understanding of this subject And at Such committee if thought proper I will attend and explain my several modes of attack which will give gentlemen an opportunity to see what means they can devise to prevent your commerce being distressed and your marine by such engines were they in the hands of an enemy and practiced by them against this country,
There are many powerful reasons why such investigation Should be entered into.
First.
That if what I ascert be fact and Ministers refuse to take the rational and easy means here pointed out of being rightly informed and my engines should be practiced to the Injury of the commerce and fleets of England the people will not Suffer in silence but attach the whole blame to Ministers for wilfull neglect, therefore in as much as gentlemen regard their future reputation this Subject is of serious consequence to them.
Second.
If the Engines be harmless it certainly is important to be convinced on this head But will Ministers consent to be convinced on Vague reports and Vulgar opinions which accompany all new Inventions and not calmly sit down with nautical men and by examining principles penetrate into facts—? My Lord men of sense must penetrate into all the facts connected with this subject and that His Majesty’s Ministers may not have the least excuse, that they have not had a fair and timely warning on what maybe the consequence of these inventions I have Written this letter which I beg your Lordship to Communicate to His Majesty’s ministers.
In case of a Committe of investigation I conceive the principle points for consideration and to guard the interest of the nation will be as follows,
First
What is the present state of perfection of submarine navigation and attack,?
Second,
To what state of perfection is it capable of being brought
Third
With such engines in the hands of an Enemy could they injure the commerce fleets and independence of England?
Fourth
What is the general opinion of this subject and public knowledge of it,?
Fifth
Under all considerations is it policy to practice such engines or to let them be practiced,?
Sixth
Is it the interest of the nation that they should rest in their present state and is the public or European mind so little impressed with the use of Such engines that they may rest in their present state of incertitude?
Now My Lord permit me to give you my opinion It has been proved by the most satisfactory experiments, that were an Enemy in possession of all the means which I exhibited to the Arbitrators they could at any time in two months embarrass the commerce of England in the most distressing degree, Or should they think proper to persevere in the practice of such Engines they could destroy the whole British Marine And I thing it cannot be doubted that The french Emperor whose most ardent wish is to get freedom for his commerce would practice such engines were he acquainted with them, knew the modes of using them and the immense advantages they would give him, That he has not such a Knowledge is in some degree proved by his not making any move in the manufacture, practice or use of them,—For although I made some experiments in france they were always thought more curious than useful and the French never were impressed with the Idea that any advantage could be drawn from what I had done, which opinion prevails in this country at present, The feilure at Boulogne has also spread the Idea that the engines are harmless, but the want of success at Boulogne was in consequence of not having experience, and no defect in the principles of the Engines, hence under these impressions in france and England I believe these inventions may lie silent for many years—
From this I infer that it rests with me and my friends in America whether these inventions shall sleep or or be rendered fameliar to all nations, of this Gentlemen can Judge on investigation
When I was invited to this country a prospect of emolument was held out to me in some degree proportioned to the Value of my engines but in consequence of Lord Melville going out of office, The death of Mr. Pitt the change of Ministers and opinions on this subject the agreement with me has not been fulfilled. Therefore My Lord after Seven Years Labour, Experience Expence and Successful experiment It is reasonable and right that I should convert my inventions to my own use in every honorable way, your Lordship or any other man in my situation would act in like manner, And it is right now to assure your Lordship that I never will Suffer these inventions to rest till I Succeed; But as I have no desire to introduce these inventions Into practice unless my country should have need of them and which I hope will not be necessary as long as England and America understand the true interest of their commerce I still offer my neutrality to this government on Condition that Ministers will meet the Ideas held out to me on coming to England,
This my Lord is placing the security of the Commerce and fleets of England in the Balance against a few thousand pounds Or an Annuity, which Annuity to be continued to me only so long as such engines are not used by France or any other nation against England, The resting my pecuniary hopes on such conditions is perhaps the best proof which can be given of my conviction that such engines are not yet sufficiently known to be turned against this nation. In Such an arrangement It should be a condition that government Should not permit such engines to be used by any british subject least they should be made known, and turned against this country Or should the present or future ministers use them they should fulfill the terms of the contract for fourteen years as Stipulated in Said contract—
But Should terms to this effect not be Acceeded to I must from necessity place the whole system in such a position as will give it to the world I must also publish this letter, the nation will then Judge whether I have acted frankly And whether Ministers have done Justice to the public and to me,
My Lord having made you this communication your honor and future fame is involved in this question, the high situation which you hold as one of his Majesty’s Ministers and your Consequent responsibility to the nation together with my full conviction that what I have here said is not only practicable but easy is the reason I have taken the liberty thus to address you,—
I now beg your Lordship to believe that although this business has been treated in a manner extremely disagreeable to my feelings and I have been much disappointed in not finding the calm and rational investigation which I hoped for, yet I have not one feeling of enmity towards this nation or any one of his Majesty’s Ministers I make every allowance for established opinions and Ideas of art which particular education fix on the human mind And my wish ever has been that this subject should be one of reason and not of passion or prejudice And for this reason I again submit it to your Lordship and His Majesty’s Ministers before I leave the Country which will be in a few days.
September the 3d 1806
Believe me my Lord impressed
with the greatest respect for
your high Character and
Sense of right
Robert Fulton
The above is an argument. Fulton placed his facts, which were summarized as a series of questions put by him to the arbitrators, or by them to him, and recorded by Fulton in a—
Second Letter
To the Right Honorable Lord Grenville
On Questions, Answers doubts and Considerations at the Arbitration on the powers of Submarine navigation and attack
After exhibiting the Engines to the arbitrators and the Various modes of using them I put the following questions to the four arbitrators,
First
Will the explosion of a submarine Bomb of one or two hundred pounds of powder under the bottom of a Ship of the line destroy her?
Answer, we believe it would the blowing up of the Brig Dorothea in walmer roads being indubitable proof—
Second
Were an instantanious bomb anchored under water and a Vessel to run against it so that the bomb should strike any place under her bottom and explosion there take place would it destroy her?
Answer, we believe it would.
The power of the engines being thus acknowledged the following opinions were started by Capt. Hamilton as difficulties in the way of using them.
First
Where can men be found who will have courage to use such engines, who knowing that were they caught they would be liable to suffer death for using engines not admitted by the laws of war hence what advantages could the enemy draw from Such engines?
My Answer
Englishmen have had courage to run four times among the Enemy in Boulogne roadstead with such engines and have courage to do so again. Then is it suffecient security for England to rely on that frenchman have not courage to take advantage of dark nights to anchor submarine bombs in the waters near Boulogne where the blockading squaderns usually cruise or near the Black rocks or ushant where the brest Blockading squadern usually cruise or off cape Grinez or half channel over In the waters where British fleets now cruise without a feeling of danger, Should the French Emperor adopt such a system and Issue a proclamation that he would retaliate man for man who would hang a Frenchman? This is for Ministers to consider;
Second objection of Capt H.
Were ten thousand of such bombs anchored the first storm would drive them on shore and destroy them.
Answer
The Buoys to mark shoal water are held in the Same spot in all weathers yet Buoys are of a large Volume and exposed to the shock of the surface of the water which is much more violent than the action ten or fifteen feet deep, therefore if Buoys be held by sufficient anchor and cable, a bomb of not one fortieth of the Buoys Volume may be held also, but to decide on this doubt let a bomb without a lock be anchored in Dover Roads and if it be not found there next Spring I will give up this point.
Third objection of Capt. H.
A few vessels with cables stretched could sweep the channel and destroy the Bombs.
Answer,
What would be the situation of a commercial country like England were she obliged to lay an embargo on her trade and keep her Ships of war in port till 3,000 square miles of channel were swept once a month? for while sweeping the Channel in one part, the enemy could be laying down bombs in several places, Suppose for example that the Enemy had anchored 500 or 1000 bombs from the lands end to the humber they who were to sweep them not knowing where they were laid would be necessitated to sweep the whole channel to find them, and another difficulty occurs, for not Knowing the number which were put down who could tell when exactly every one was taken up?
Will Capt Hamilton have the goodness to point out to his Majesty’s ministers a certain mode of keeping the channel free from such engines so that the British commerce and fleets may move with all the security and confidence which they at present enjoy*?
*When a few hundred of such bombs are anchored it is impossible to clear the Channel of them nor give confidence to navigation till they destroy themselves in the given time for which they were set, That is from one to twelve months. This I know how to do, Therefore the danger may be laid down for any time from one to 12 months and the trade destroyed for any period which the french might think proper.
Fourth Objection.
And one to which I believe all the arbitrators Yielded but which they did not give me an opportunity to answer and which I shall now do.
That such a system of Attack would not only destroy English but all neutral commerce, and even the commerce of france that consequently Buonapart would not use it—
Answer
When any port is blockaded the commerce of all neutrals as connected with that port is distressed But as the existance of England depends on her uninterrupted commerce while France is more Agricultural, and as france could lay down such engines in the channel so as to distress British commerce yet leave Brest, Bordeaux and the Medeterranian free to her own trade unless England laid down bombs also in which case maritime war would become a war of Bombs in which France would have the advantage in consequence of her trade with Spain and her own frontier, the Question then would be which of the two nations England or France could bear such interruption of their trade for the greatest length of time and which must finally yield to the dictates of the other In such a contest where everything is to be gained Nepolion is not of a temper to consult the temporary Interest of Neutrals and it will not be wise in his Majesty’s Ministers to risk it.
Questions put by me to Capt Hamilton and which I desired might be put to Lord Kieth, Admiral Demet, Commodor Owen, Capt. Seccombe, Capt Salt, Capt. King, Capt. Thos. Johnson of the nile Cutter, and Lieutenant Wm. Robinson, but which was not done, Consequently an injustice has been done to me and to the Government by leaving ministers ignorant of the facts connected with this subject.
First Question
Were you informed that two hundred or more of Such Bombs were anchored in any particular Channel would you venture to Sail through it and among them,
Answer by Capt Hamilton no
Second.
Had the Enemy three or four hundred good row boats with six or seven thousand men exersised to them and such boats were established along their coast in tens or twenties, from Ostend to Brest with a magazine of bombs at each place how could they be prevented anchoring bombs in such places as would endanger the commerce and fleets of England,?
Third
If while sailing in a fleet you saw two or three of the headmost Vessels blown up by such invisible engines would it not destroy your confidence in sailing in such waters?
Fourth
Is there any enemy so distressing to the mind of a seaman or so calculated to destroy his confidence as one which is invisible and instantanious destruction and which cannot be avoided but by forsaking the Seas where they are?
Fifth
As each bomb will cost 14 say 20 £ and fifty thousand of them may be made for a million sterling is the expence compared with the advantage which is would give France any consideration to prevent the adoption of such a plan as one thousand Bombs would distress the trade for one year—50,000 would extend their terrors to 50 years,
Now my Lord I appeal to common sense whether the objections started by Capt Hamilton are suffecient security for the great interest which this nation has at Stake against such engines,?
I am my Lord your Lordships
most obedient and very humble
servant
Robert Fulton
Sept 3d 1806