Robert Fulton and the SubmarineParsons, William Barclay
History
Robert Fulton and the Submarine
Parsons, William Barclay
Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815; Submarines (Ships)
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 Capt^n. 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—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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