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4 THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT
for the construction of a boat and the conducting of experi-
ments.
The Nautilus was finally built according to Fulton’s
plans and tried out on the Seine, but of course, like Bush-
nell’s Turtle, it was propelled by hand power and could only
be operated at a very slow speed. This vessel was in-
tended for offense against the English fleet and was to be
capable of crossing the English Channel. Several attacks
against the blockading English fleet were unsuccessful,
however. The English by keeping themselves posted
about what was going on simply kept out of range of
Fulton’s sorties. Bonaparte, therefore, in a fit of impet-
uous rage and disgust, decided that the Nautilus was of
no military value and dropped the entire matter, calling
Fulton a hair-brained fool.
Fulton next took his idea to England, where he was
cordially received by William Pitt,who at once grasped the
significance of the device and believed, with Fulton, that
it would annihilate the naval supremacy of nations.
The Admirality, however, refused to encourage the
development of any device which they believed would, if
broadly taken up, relieve England of her naval supremacy.
They offered Fulton a sum of money to suppress the inven-
tion and to prevent the enemy from using it. This offer
Fulton refused, but finding that at this time he would be
unable to accomplish anything further with his submarine,
he returned to the United States and devoted all his
energies to the development of the steamboat.
The next sixty years saw nothing of any practical value
in the development of the submarine, until during the
period of the Civil War the Confederates built a number
of small boats which they called “Davids.’" These vessels