the ship had considerable motion. * * * * * * Indeed I would not hesitate in firing with a rifleman, if the ship was in smooth water. The advantage of combining the elevation and line of sight needs no further elucidation. I am, my Lords, &c.
“To the Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.”
In reply, the Secretary to the Admiralty informed Captain Tayler that the publication he alluded to “was not under the sanction of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.”
“My Lord, – Having before transmitted some practical experiments respecting naval gunnery, and which have been subsequently brought into action, I have ventured to lay before your Lordship the model of an improved gun-carriage, with some other nautical remarks; but as I have not the means of reducing it to practice, I hope your Lordship’s candour will pardon any errors it may contain, and favor me with an opportunity of explaining the advantages of this model over the gun at present in use. I am, &c.
“To the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Melville."
The above letter was accompanied with a plan for concentrating the whole broadside to one angular focus; and another^ of a platform for elevating guns on the booms.
“My Lords,– As bomb-vessels on their present construction are soon rendered incapable of sustaining heavy firing from sea mortars, and are totally unfit for sea service after maintaining a long bombardment, I have ventured to submit to your Lordship’s consideration a method of rendering bomb vessels as effective as any class of H.M. ships, after a rapidity of firing, and to enable them to carry three mortars on board each vessel, viz. – Two strong main beams under the deck, resting upon either gunwale, with a strong sleeper bolted to the cross beams. On the latter (or on either gunwale) an iron socket is fixed to receive a counterpoise beam connected with the centre mortar box, which traverse on a circular platform to fire over either side, supported on sleepers independent of the counterpoise , a spindle, fixed to the mortar box, passes down the hatchway and is fixed to an air vessel floating in a box ten feet square, which will support a ton weight (although the pressure would be optional from one cwt. to a ton). By this plan the mortar would be much higher, allowing a free expansion of the powder, whilst on the present method the shock is much increased by the mortar being so low between decks, acting like a mine when fired.
