Robert Fulton and the SubmarineParsons, William Barclay
History
Robert Fulton and the Submarine
Parsons, William Barclay
Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815; Submarines (Ships)
Breakfasted with Mr. Pitt at his country house Near Putny common, Sir
Home Popham only present Lord Melville expected but did not arrive,
after my being Introduced Mr. Pitt demanded of Sir Home if he and Mr.
Francis had agree’d on terms Sir Home replied in the affirmative and
told Mr. Pitt his perusal and Signature were only wanting. He then
read and Signed the papers, delivering them to Sir Home, with orders
to call on Lord Melville for his signature.
At Breakfast some general principles of Submarine navigation and mode
of attack explained, which appeared to give pleasure; and make a
Strong impression. When Sir Home Popham went into an ajoining Room,
Mr. Pitt, remarked that this is an extreordinary invention which
seemed to go to the distruction of all fleets; I replied that It was
invented With that View, And as I had no design to desceive him or the
government I did not hesitate to give it as my opinion that this
invention would lead to the total annihilation of the existing System
of Marine war,
But in its present state of perfectionment Said Mr. Pitt those who
command the seas will be benefited by it while the minor maritime
powers can draw no advantag from what is Now known, Answer, true
unless plunging or submarine Vessels were introduced into practice;
that it probably would be some years before any nation could bring to
perfection such a Vessel, that it is not the interest of the British
government to use such Vessels that consequently there was not at
present much danger to be apprehended from that part of my System; at
all events there would be, time to fit future politics to future
circumstances, if at present the french preperations can be destroyed
by Submarine attack, it will convince Bonapart and the whole world
that frenchmen never can make a descent on England for any future
fleet prepared by them may be burnt in like manner manner—
Little more passed it was agree’d to make the Submarine attack on
Boulogne as soon as the engines could be prepared, returned to town
with an appointment to meet at the same place on the following Week,
From the above it will be seen that Fulton and Sir Home had come to an
agreement between June 30, the date of Fulton’s letter, and July 20.
While at work on his submarine he did not permit his political ardor to
cool. He has left a copy of a letter about 2600 words in length written
“to the right Honorable Lord Viscount Melville,” dated London, Jany the
20th, 1805, giving his “Observations on Bonaparte’s pacific
Communications.” This long letter is in the flamboyant style that Fulton
used when writing on political topics. After dilating upon economies
that would flow from peace and how such savings from war disbursements
might be turned to establishing canals, iron works, manufactures and
improving agriculture, he speaks of Napoleon:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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