Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/492

 My object, I beg you to assure their Lordships, is not to get an award of money. I am fully repaid in the gratification I experience whenever any of my plans are found beneficial to that service whose well-being I have so much at heart, the navy; but I do earnestly request, as I feel myself the first inventor of this improved mode of firing a broadside, that their Lordships will do me the justice to simply admit me to be the inventor, and the first person who transmitted them the plan for concentrating the fire of a broadside of a man-of-war. I feel confident their Lordships will pardon my feelings when they know that I have been subjected to the mortification of my plans being transferred to others on a similar occasion. On the 11th Feb. 1815, I transmitted the method of combining the elevation and line of sight for ships’ guns, as now in use, and which was brought forward by Sir Howard Douglas as a military invention, under the sanction of the Admiralty, several years after the date of my letter. I am. Sir, &c.

(Signed)“.”

“To the Hon. George Elliot, &c.”

“Devizes, 4th Nov. 1831.

“Sir,– I have lately observed with some surprise and great regret, that Captain Smith, of the royal artillery, has obtained the credit of being the projector of the plan of concentrating the broadside of a man-of-war to one angular focus; which method was communicated by me to the Board of Admiralty, in a book of observations on the best method of raking an enemy and discharging broadsides.

“I therefore, being anxious to claim this as a naval invention, refer their Lordships to my book, which accompanied the gun-carriage I had the honor to transmit to them; and I beg you. Sir, to move the Board of Admiralty to do me the justice of awarding me as a naval officer the credit which is justly due to me, of being the inventor of this improved and effectual mode of firing. I am, &c.

(Signed)“.”

“To the Hon. George Elliot, &c.”

“Devizes, 5th Feb. 1832.

“My Lords,– Having submitted several inventions to the late Board of Admiralty, amongst others a traversing carriage, in 1824, I may venture to state that the improvement I have now added to the old carriage, so admirably adapted to co-operate with the army, simple and efficient, whilst its celerity of motion, by a train wheel, elevating screw, improved truck, &c. enables half the number of men to work the gun. The marksman has complete controul over the elevating and pointing of the gun, and can guide it to the object during the operation of running out, a most important acquisition to the science of gunnery; whilst the side is perfectly clear for loading; the awkward handspike, long side tackles, and crow bar, being entirely done away with.

“I have also completed a percussion lock for great guns, a water-proof