Robert Fulton and the SubmarineParsons, William Barclay
History
Robert Fulton and the Submarine
Parsons, William Barclay
Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815; Submarines (Ships)
Lord Melville with whome I contracted was Very friendly to my
enterprise and I have now no doubt would have wrought it into a form
to produce the greatest possible effect, Since his leaving the
Admiralty I have waited from month to month, hoping Lord Barham would
follow Lord Melvilles measures, but I have reason to believe he
disapproves of the whole plan or is indifferent to it which is the
same thing in effect, however as to my private Interest and the
situation In which I Stand In this country I consider that of little
consequence, though it may be of some importance to the nation,
My contract states a certain reward for every Vessel of an enemy which
shall be destroyed by my engines in 14 years and His Majesty’s
Dockyards and Arsenals are to furnish me the necessary means of
applying the carcasses to the destruction of the enemy hence if they
do not give me reasonable and efficient means, government do not
fulfill their part of the contract, the enemy cannot be attacked nor
destroyed however good and simple the engines may be, and my time is
consumed to no purpose;
As a Neutral in this country I cannot have a command so as to direct
my own enterprise, nor do I desire it nor have I a right to press my
plans and opinions on the Admiralty, but I have a right to convert the
result of my studies to my own emolument And having demonstrated their
certain effects to the conviction of every reflecting mind I cannot
undertake to contend with opinions or prejudices nor wait the
indeterminate time which maybe necessary to produce a conviction of
their utility to this country, I must therefore in justice to myself
and in conformity to all my engagements with this government beg leave
to state my final resolution, The Submarine mode of warfare must be
organized so as to render it effecient, or I must abandon it and
direct my attention to other pursuits equally Interesting to me, The
principles on which I came to this country were changed from the first
week of my arrival I came by the invitation of Lord Hawkesbury to
satisfy ministers as to the truth of whether I had or had not invented
a destructive engine which might be wielded, either for or against the
fleets of this country, and on proving that the engine has powers
superior to the methods at present in practice, I was to receive an
adequate reward, leaving government to use or bury the invention in
oblivion as they might think proper,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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