5000 boats, one hundred dollars each 500,000 dolls.
5000 Torpedoes, one hundred and fifty dollars each 750,000
5000 harpoon-guns, thirty dollars each 150,000
---------
Total 1,400,000 dolls.
This is equal to 315,000_l._ sterling or about the value of three ships
of 80 guns; it is equal to 7,560,000 livres, a sum of little importance
to France, it being not equal to the expences of her government for one
day; the men she has, and three times the number if required; the powder
for the Torpedoes and arms for the men, are in her magazines.
Suppose the boats and Torpedoes prepared, the harpooners exercised,
and the men practised to the oars. The intrepidity of the French, in
an assault, has been so often proved, that there can be no question as
to their courage to rush on to the attack in any case where there is a
reasonable hope of success. It is obvious, that the British ships could
not put out a sufficient number of boats to oppose five thousand Torpedo
boats; consequently, they have not other means of resistance than to
manoeuvre and defend themselves from their ports and decks, in the best
manner they can devise.
It is now necessary, in calculating the chances of success, to examine
various modes of attack and defence; I therefore beg of the reader,
never to lose sight of the facility with which the whole of the French
boats can be run into the water, manned, and ready for action, or again
drawn up on the shore, and with how much ease every advantage may be
taken of calms and favourable circumstances; he must also separate from
his mind the idea of boats attempting to fight ships; such an attempt
would be absurd; it is Torpedoes, those instruments of instantaneous
destruction, which are to decide the contest; the boats are but the means
of harpooning and attaching the Torpedoes to the ships: this is the whole
object of the attack.
In defence, it is to be considered by what means a ship or ships could
prevent the boats approaching so near as to harpoon them in the larboard
and starboard bow, and make good their retreat? I will name the calm
months of June, July, and August, as most favourable for the enterprise.
Let it be recollected, that in all attacks of this kind, the boats row
at the rate of five miles an hour, or one hundred and forty-six yards
a minute; at the distance of four hundred and thirty-eight yards or
three minutes from the ship, they will risk random round shot[L]; at two
hundred and nineteen yards or one and a half minutes from the ship, they
risk one discharge of grape; at one hundred yards or forty seconds from
the ship, they risk one volley of small arms, before they harpoon. After
harpooning, it is probable the ship's crew would be more occupied about
their own safety, than in standing deliberately to fire at the boats.
And thus, each boat will not be more than four minutes within the line
of the ship's random shot: such rapidity and decision in attack, gives
incalculable advantages to the boats.
[Footnote L: All shot from cannon, carronades, or howitzers, against
boats, must be random: a boat is too small and moves too quick to admit
of taking aim; and in the night, musket shot will be random also.]