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plane, substantially as and for the purposes set

forth.

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5. The combination with a floating battery of substantially spherical shape, of one or more guns rigidly mounted near the center thereof, arc-shaped tracks, and counterpoises movable horizontally on said tracks, whereby the center of gravity of the battery may be shifted to elevate or depress the muzzles of the guns, substantially as and for the purposes set forth."

Very many newspapers published illustrations taken from the drawings shown in patent. Many added perspective views, containing features for which I was not responsible. Foreign governments also granted me patents; and comments and prints were published by newspapers abroad.

Having received requests for further information, I have prepared, with the aid of competent naval architects, more finished sketches, showing a globular battery of 115 feet diameter. Batteries as large as this, in order that they may not draw too much water, have to be more flattened at bottom than do smaller ones, which may be of many sizes, the smallest being nearly a sphere and carrying only one large gun.

The annexed sketches show the proposed globular battery Trident, drawing 36'101⁄2" with a small quantity of coal and without water ballast; and drawing 40' when carrying 2150 tons of coal and water. The battery can be still further immersed by additional fixed ballast or by filling water ballast tanks. The shipyards at New London, Connecticut, have forty feet or more of water, right up to the docks. The displacement of Trident at 40' draft would be 11,337 tons. The total weight of armor, steel, teak, guns, machinery, counterpoises, joiner and carpenter work, outfit, equipment, and ballast would be about 8787 tons. This leaves a surplus of 2550 tons for coal, water, stores, and ammunition. This surplus can be increased by further immersion, as the first foot of further immersion would equal 260 tons displacement.

The spherical form of most of the battery gives great strength and defensive power, larger capacity for same weight of structure, and much economy in construction, many of the parts being mere duplicates of each other. No guncarriage is used to hold the large guns, which are rigidly held, so far as aim is concerned, but they may have recoil cylinders.

As the great guns extend across most of the vessel, much heavier guns can be carried. The

FLERTING BATTERY