5793. NAVY, Submarine boats.—
I have
ever looked to the submarine boat as most
to be depended on for attaching the torpedoes,
and * * * I am in hopes it is not
abandoned as impracticable. I should wish
to see a corps of young men trained to this
service. It would belong to the engineers if
at hand, but being nautical, I suppose we
must have a corps of naval engineers, to
practice and use them. I do not know
whether we have authority to put any part
of our existing naval establishment in a
course of training, but it shall be the subject
of a consultation with the Secretary of the
Navy.—
To Robert Fulton. Washington ed. v, 165.
Ford ed., ix, 125.
(M.
Aug. 1807)
