The skilful operator could swim so low on the surface of the water, as to ap proach very near a ship in the night with out fear of discovery, and might, if he chose, approach the stem or stern above water with very little danger. He could sink very quickly, keep at any depth he pleased, and row a great distance in any direction he desired, without coming to the surface ; and when he rose to the surface, he could soon obtain a fresh sup ply of air, when, if necessary, he might descend again and pursue his course.
The projector found some time and at tention to be requisite for the gradual in struction of this operator, and after va rious attempts he found one on whom he thought he could depend. He sent this man from New York to a 50 gun ship, lying not far from Governor's Island. He went tinder the ship, and attempted to fix the wood screw in her bottom, but struck, as he supposed, a bar of iron, which passes from the rudder-hinge, and is spik ed under the ship's quarter. Had he re moved a few inches, which he might have done without rowing, the projector has no doubt but he might have found wood, where he might have fixed the screw ; or, if the ship were sheathed with copper, he might easily have pierced it ; but not be ing well skilled in the management of the vessel, in attempting to row to another place, he lost the ship : after seeking her in vain some time, he rowed to some dis tance, and lose to the surface of the wa ter, but found day-light had advanced so far that he durst not renew the attempt.
He says he could easily have fastened the magazine under the stern of the ship above the water, as he rowed up to the stern, and touched it before he descend ed. Had he fixed it there, the explosion of 150 pounds of powder (the quantity contained in the magazine) must have been fatal to the ship. In his return from the ship to New York, lie passed near Governor's island, and thought he was discovered by the enemy on the island ; being in haste to avoid the danger he feared, he cast off the magazine,• as he imagined it retarded him in the swell, which was very considerable. After the magazine had been' cast off an hour, the time the internal apparatus was set to run, it blew up with great violence.
Mr. Bushnell made some other trials, which may be seen on consulting the mi.
gi nal, or Nicholson's Journal, quarto, iv. 229.