Fair Play's a Jewel; a Narrative of Circumstances Connected with My Mode of National Defence Against the Whole World1849 - 154 pages |
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Admiral Sir Admiralty appointed battery Board Board of Admiralty Brighton Capt Captain Warner Captain Warner's invention Colonel Chalmer command Commissioners Cowper destroyed destruction discoveries Don Pedro doubt England expense experiment explosive expressed favour feel fleet Government gunpowder honour House of Commons importance interview inventor Invisible Shell John of Gaunt Keats and Sir knew letter Lieut Lieutenant Webster Long Range Lord Brougham Lord Ingestre Lord Melbourne Lordship Majesty's Marquis matter ment miles mind mode nation naval officer navy noble Lord offered operation opinion Oporto Ordnance persons possessed present Prime Minister proposed remuneration rendered reply secret ship Sir Byam Martin Sir Charles Sir Francis Burdett Sir G Sir George Murray Sir Howard Douglas Sir Richard Keats Sir Robert Peel Sir Thomas Hardy Sir Thomas Hastings steamer thing tion told trial vessel Walesby Wanstead Park warfare whole William wish
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Page 42 - ... distance in the adjacent fields. Our informant examined many pieces, and found the huge nails snapped like carrots; the mast looked like a tree riven by lightning, and never before, as he assures us, has he witnessed so sudden and complete a destruction, though he has seen shell and rocket practice on the largest scale. Such seemed to be the unanimous opinion of all present. How this mighty effect was produced was of course not disclosed to so numerous a party, but two naval officers present...
Page 41 - ... spike nails. This filling in was made under the inspection of Captain Britten, who stated the fact to the distinguished gentlemen we have mentioned, and also that the inventor never went near the workmen employed, that no suspicion might be entertained of any combustible materials being lodged in the hold of the vessel. Several of the gentlemen were on Saturday rowed in a punt to the vessel, and examined for themselves, so that every doubt might be removed as to the cause of destruction being...
Page 110 - The expression on the countenances of the multitude generally seemed to say — What was it ? An illusion ? A dream ? A magical trick ? A work of destruction so sudden, so frightful, so stupendous, appeared impossible for a moment even to the thousands and tens of thousands that witnessed it. It was like an awful mystery. There were none of the ordinary circumstances which accompany similar catastrophes. There was no smoke, there was no fire, there was no noise, save the low groan of the rending...
Page 43 - ... weight. Our informant has handled it and kicked it round a room when charged with its deadly contents, so portable and at the same time so safe is it — a point of vast importance, when we remember the daily accidents that are occurring from the detonating shells now used in our service. At Acre most of those employed burst before they reached their object, and they are liable to explode when rolling about a ship's deck, as was proved by the fatal accidents on board Her Majesty's ship Medea,...
Page 79 - ... distance; two experienced and distinguished officers, Sir B. Martin and Sir H. Douglas, were ready to witness the experiments, and the secret was not to be divulged. With these facts before the House, I confess I am at a loss to understand how hon. members can agree to a motion thus reflecting upon ns.
Page 41 - Captain Britten, Captain Webster, and some other gentlemen, who all appeared very much astonished at what they saw. By the kindness of the inventor our informant occupied a position that enabled him to command a view of all that took place. A boat, 23 feet long and 7 broad, was placed in a large sheet of water, the boat had been the day before filled in with solid timber, four and a half feet in depth, crossed in every direction, and clamped together with eightinch spike nails.
Page 41 - Lord Ingestrie, Colonel Gurwood, Captain Britten, Captain Webster, and some other gentlemen, who all appeared very much astonished at what they saw. By the kindness of the inventor our informant occupied a position that enabled him to command a view of all that took place. A boat, 23 feet long and 7 broad, was placed in a large sheet of water, the boat had been the day before filled in with solid timber, four and a half feet in depth, crossed in every direction, and clamped together with eightinch...
Page 84 - ... warfare, the country against which its terrible agency is directed will be Little comforted in its crippled condition by discovering too late the source from which its destruction has issued.
Page 41 - An experiment was tried on Saturday afternoon, of one of the inventions to which we alluded last autumn, which a friend on whom we have reliance had an opportunity of witnessing. The trial took place in the grounds of Mr. Boyd, in the county of Essex, a few miles from town, in the presence of Sir Robert Peel, Sir George Murray, Sir Henry Hardinge, Sir Francis Burdett, Lord Ingestre, Colonel Gurwood, Capt.
Page 42 - ... surface he noticed a coruscation precisely resembling forked lightning. A column of water was lifted up in the air like a huge fountain, from which were projected upwards for many hundred feet the shattered fragments of the vessel, which fell many of them several hundred yards' distance in the adjacent fields.