Beschreibung:

FULTON, Robert (1765-1815). Autograph letter signed (with his alias 'Robert Francis') to Viscount Melville [first Lord of the Admiralty], London, 27 November 1804 , writing on the proposed use of his torpedoes against the French, 'a tempting opportunity for annoying the enemy during the winter should not be suffered to pass...I am anxious that one or two transports should be properly arranged to carry the necessary engines and materials, the one to act in the Channel at a minutes warning the other to be sent to Brest, Rochfort or elsewhere if need require'; mentioning the importance of 'proper vessels' as transports, referring to his ideas for a floating battery which Mr Pitt may have mentioned; and reporting news from a friend in Paris that the night of the 2nd of October has aroused a dislike of the project of invasion among the French, and made it a subject of ridicule, alarming the government 'as the military can no longer be deluded with the hope of sharing the gold and silver of Lombard Street'; and concluding by emphasising his preoccupation with ways and means to destroy the fleets of Boulogne and Brest, 'two glorious enterprises, which I think much within the limits of science supported by courage and highly practicable', 3 pages, 4to . Fulton, born in Pennsylvania, had devoted himself to mechanical engineering and experiments from the 1790s, studying in England and France. An enthusiastic advocate of the freedom of the seas, he applied his genius almost exclusively to the development of the submarine mine and torpedo. He first conducted experiments with these in France under the Directory but in 1799 his plans were rejected. Then, encouraged by Napoleon, he built a submarine vessel, the Nautilus , but its performance against the English failed to impress. In May 1804, finding the form of government now imposed by Napoleon incompatible with his own republican views, he arrived in London under the assumed name of Francis, and contacted Matthew Boulton Shortly afterwards, he agreed terms with the Admiralty on the use if his torpedoes, to be made at Portsmouth, against the French fleet. His terms included a salary of £200 a month and the value of any vessel successfully sunk. The new submarine 'bombs' or 'coffers' were like those tried out in France. On 2nd October 1804 (the night referred to in the letter) Lord Keith on his flagship sent five explosion vessels and two catamarans towing the 'coffers' into Boulogne Harbour. Only one torpedo fired, and the remainder were blown up by the French. Ten days after the present letter was written, an assault was carried out under Sir Home Popham in Calais Harbour. It was a complete failure, as was a further attempt at Boulogne in 1805. Fulton's contract with the Admiralty came to an end in 1806 and he then returned to New York, where under the auspices of the Congress, his talents were more fruitfully used in designing and building steamboats.