The Providence Journal, And Town And Country Advertiser

For The Providence Journal,

Mr. Carter,

Observing in the Providence Gazette of the 5th instant, a remark said to be made by Capt. Perot, of the Ship Vengeance, to Capt. Phillips, respecting the splitting of the shot fired by Commodore Truxton, from the Constellation, against the French ship: I am induced to make some observations on the subject, and hope, by contributing my mite of experience in the business of manufacturing and using cannon shot, to be of some use to the public.

It has been supposed by many, that any kind of cast iron, such as old pot-metal, scraps, &c. would answer to cast into cannon balls; but this is well known, by those who have had experience in the business, to be a mistake, as the difficulty of casting shot from iron which is not adapted to the purpose is so great, the workmen are obliged to make use of an art which is highly detrimental to the shot, in order to make them globular, as this hard kind of sulphurious iron, while in a state of fusion; is so turbulent, and emits so many particles, that it is impossible to fill the moulds, so as to produce a good and fair casting; and this kind of iron is so hard, that one stroke with a fledge will reduce a cannon ball into many parts. This quality in the iron is owing to the nature of the mineral of which it is made. Iron of a different quality from that described, is mild in fusion, lies perfectly still in the furnace, emits no particles, and runs like cream from the ladles: fills the moulds without bubbles; and as cast iron (contrary to all other metals) expands in cooling, fills every crevice, and produces a smooth and fair casting, which, when it is cold, is so malleable as to endure the hammer, leaving only the impression of the stroke.

It is probable, from the dispersed and scattered state in which the parts of shot are found in a battery of earth, that many of those hollow, hard and imperfect shot, are split and broken in the air, before they reach the object, by the violent concussion which they receive in the explosion from the cannon. It is evident from experience, that guns made of hard and brittle iron will not stand the proof, although they are made of an extraordinary size and weight; whereas guns made of the mild, soft, and malleable iron, stand the proof, though much reduced in size and weight, to the great easement of the ship, and convenience of managing.

In Europe; the iron melters have the art of reducing this hard and brittle iron into a soft and tough nature, by mixing with it some kind of ferruginous earth, ochre, or sand, and by applying a suitable degree of heat while it is in fusion. But the best melters of iron in the northern States have not this art, and I believe it is not known in America. If from our first essay with our Shot we find any of them defective, it is material that particular attention should be paid to them in future. It is evident that if this essential article fails, the bravery of our countrymen and the complete equipment of our ships will be of no avail.

It will be found by calculation, that if the French ship Vengeance was worth two millions of dollars, as is reported, and Commodore Truxton had been so fortunate as to have brought her into this country, he would have returned five hundred dollars, or about thirty pounds of silver, for every pound of iron expended in the action; and if opportunities ever present for exchanging iron at this rate, it is essential that our cannon and ball are of a good quality. Muller, in his tables on gunnery, calculates the diameters of the calibres of cannon, and the diameters of shot for each size, to the thousandth part of an inch, with suitable windage allowed for the shot. It is found by the nations of Europe, in their long experience in the art of war, necessary to be particular, in this respect; and as the present stock, of cannon and shot, will probably in part remain, for the future use of the country, it is highly necessary, that the agents who purchase for the public should contract for or receive none—but what are of the best quality.

Notwithstanding we have missed of recovering in part the plundered property of the American merchants by the capture of the Vengeance, we have the exulting satisfaction of remarking the bravery and courage of our countrymen, displayed in their nocturnal contest, so exemplary to our growing navy, and so essentially necessary to the establishment of our naval character: and it is hoped, that, if Commodore Truxton is permitted by Congress to go to sea in a 74 gun ship (as was proposed by a very worthy member of that honourable body) he will be supplied with ball that will pierce either royal or republican oak, when hurled from the American Eagle by legal authority; and if the Lyon of the wilderness should growl, on his return he will shake the golden chain of his medal at him, and point to the motto.

A Friend to the American Navy.