Gentlemen, As the Defence of this City and suburbs from an attack by Water is at present the Concern of its Inhabitants, I beg you will excuse one of them for offering with the greatest Deference to your better Judgment, a Model for a Boat or Gundalo.
This Model is nearly proportioned to a boat of 45 feet Keil, 11 feet Beam & 3 feet 6 inches deep in the Clear from Ceiling to the top of her Gunnels, and towards her stern to have erected a Parapet or Breastwork to be made Cannon proof, (if it should not prove too heavy) with a porthole in it for an 18 or 24 pounder, and on the Top of the Breastwork to have 2 Wall pieces fixt and 2 Swivels on the Bow for keeping off Boats, &c, and to have as many oars as may be found convenient, & to row either end foremost as may be required. A Boat of this kind I presume whould be kept as near right ahead or right astern of an Enemy as possible, and to keep her stern to the Enemy. If there should be any Batterys on the Banks of the River when the Enemy is nearly opposite to such Battery would be a Convenient time for these boats to attack them because a Ship could not bring her Broadside to bear on the Boats without being in danger of being Raked fore and aft from the Battery. I do not mean to reflect on the Construction of the Boats already built, nor the manner in which 'tis proposed to fight them, But if they are to fight only from behind Islands as I have heard some people say, I fear the Enemy will get abreast of them before they can get many Shot at her, and they will be too much exposed to the Enemy's Broadside, which may prove fatal to the men and boat. A Boat thus fortified (if it should be found practicable) may not only keep in the Channel as long as she can fight, but may venture nearer an Enemy than those where the Men are so much exposed. The Breastworks in the Model is proportioned to about 4 feet thick, 19 feet long, and 4 feet above the Gunnels. I would propose the logs to be of Cedar or some other light wood and the Middle part to be filled with Cotton, Wool, Cork, or something light, I do not mean to prescribe the Dimentions of the Boat nor any thing about her, but only with submission, to offer a Sketch of one for your Consideration; that if it meet with your approbation it may be improved upon by better Judges than me. And if you disapprove of it, I hope you will ascribe my boldness to the anxiety I have for my Country, and please to Return the Model to,
Your very Humble Servant,
July 26, 1775