CHAPTER IX.

THE HISTORY OF SHIPS AND SHIPPING INTERESTS (_continued_). The Ironclad Question—One of the Topics of the Day—What is to be 138 their Value in Warfare?—Story of the Dummy Ironclad—Two real Ironclads vanquished by it—Experience on board an American Monitor—Visit of the _Miantonoma_ to St. John’s—Her Tour round the World—Her Turrets and interior Arrangements—Firing off the Big Guns—Inside the Turret—“Prepare!”—Effects of the Firing—A Boatswain’s-mate’s Opinion—The _Monitor_ goes round the World safely—Few of the Original American Ironclads left—English Ironclads—The _Warrior_—Various Types—Iron-built—Wood-built—Wood-covered—The Greatest Result yet attained, the _Inflexible_—Circular Ironclads—The “_Garde Côtes_”—Cost of Ironclads—The Torpedo Question—The Marquis of Worcester’s Inventions—Bishop Wilkins’ Subaqueous Ark—Fulton’s Experiments—A Frightened Audience—A Hulk Blown Up—Government Aid to Fulton—The _Argus_ and her “Crinoline”—Torpedoes successfully foiled—Their use during the American War—Brave Lieut. Cushing—The _Albemarle_ Destroyed—Modern Torpedoes: the “Lay;” the “Whitehead”—Probable Manner of using in an Engagement—The Ram and its Power