VALENTINE'S MANUAL

Some Famous American Naval Prints

Henry Collins Brown

In the pages of that delightful repository of antiquarian
lore concerning New York of an older period—Valen¬
tine's Manual—one may see an old-time print or two of
exceeding interest, not so much for what they are as for
the tremendous developments which they foreshadowed.
One is dated October 14, 1814; others a Httle later; and
it required the passing of a full century before their full
significance could be realized.

The first scene is laid in the palace of the Tuilleries.
Napoleon has granted an audience to a young Ameri¬
can inventor who is enlarging upon the merits of an
idea which he claims would destroy the British fleets
and lay the shores of Albion prostrate before the soldiers
of the Empire. It is an important matter and the greatest
strategist the world has ever known calls to his aid the
most eminent body of scientists in his dominion, the
French Academy. That august body deliberates at
length and also experiments with the result that they
report that power enough to propel a small toy might
be developed, but to force a vessel across the Channel
and discharge this strange missile called a "torpedo"
with sufficient force to destroy an enemy ship, was not
to be seriously considered. Napoleon therefore declined
to entertain the matter further. Proceeding to England,
the inventor prevailed upon Lord Chatham to witness a
practical demonstration of his torpedo, and in front of
the Prime Minister's house in the harbor of Deal, and
in the presence of a large number of persons, he launched
one of his torpedoes against the hull of a large derelict

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