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failed to discover any present signs of mining
operations。
This theory of mines worked by confederates was
received throughout the civilized world； and was
universally condemned。 Even in the United States the
feeling was so strong against this apparent alliance
between the Syndicate and British traitors； that there
was reason to believe that a popular pressure would be
brought to bear upon the Government sufficient to force
it to break its contract with the Syndicate； and to
carry on the war with the National army and navy。
The crab was considered an admirable addition to the
strength of the navy； but a mine under a fort； laid and
fired by perfidious confederates； was considered
unworthy an enlightened people。
The members of the Syndicate now found themselves
in an embarrassing and dangerous positiona position
in which they were placed by the universal incredulity
regarding the instantaneous motor； and unless they
could make the world believe that they really used such
a motor…bomb； the war could not be prosecuted on the
plan projected。
It was easy enough to convince the enemy of the
terrible destruction the Syndicate was able to effect；
but to make that enemy and the world understand that
this was done by bombs； which could be used in one
place as well as another； was difficult indeed。 They
had attempted to prove this by announcing that at a
certain time a bomb should be projected into a certain
fort。 Precisely at the specified time the fort had
been destroyed； but nobody believed that a bomb had
been fired。
Every opinion； official or popular； concerning what
it had done and what might be expected of it； was
promptly forwarded to the Syndicate by its agents； and
it was thus enabled to see very plainly indeed that the
effect it had desired to produce had not been produced。
Unless the enemy could be made to understand that any
fort or ships within ten miles of one of the
Syndicate's cannon could be instantaneously dissipated
in the shape of fine dust； this war could not be
carried on upon the principles adopted； and therefore
might as well pass out of the hands of the Syndicate。
Day by day and night by night the state of affairs
was anxiously considered at the office of the Syndicate
in New York。 A new and important undertaking was
determined upon； and on the success of this the hopes
of the Syndicate now depended。
During the rapid and vigorous preparations which
the Syndicate were now making for their new venture；
several events of interest occurred。
Two of the largest Atlantic mail steamers； carrying
infantry and artillery troops； and conveyed by two
swift and powerful men…of…war； arrived off the coast of
Canada； considerably to the north of the blockaded
city。 The departure and probable time of arrival of
these vessels had been telegraphed to the
Syndicate； through one of the continental cables； and a
repeller with two crabs had been for some days waiting
for them。 The English vessels had taken a high
northern course； hoping they might enter the Gulf of
St。 Lawrence without subjecting themselves to injury
from the enemy's crabs； it not being considered
probable that there were enough of these vessels to
patrol the entire coast。 But although the crabs were
few in number； the Syndicate was able to place them
where they would be of most use； and when the English
vessels arrived off the northern entrance to the gulf；
they found their enemies there。
However strong might be the incredulity of the
enemy regarding the powers of a repeller to bombard a
city； the Syndicate felt sure there would be no present
invasion of the United States from Canada； but it
wished to convince the British Government that troops
and munitions of war could not be safely transported
across the Atlantic。 On the other hand； the Syndicate
very much objected to undertaking the imprisonment and
sustenance of a large body of soldiers。 Orders were
therefore given to the officer in charge of the
repeller not to molest the two transports； but to
remove the rudders and extract the screws of the two
war…vessels； leaving them to be towed into port by the
troop…ships。
This duty was performed by the crabs； while the
British vessels； both rams； were preparing to make a
united and vigorous onset on the repeller； and the two
men…of…war were left hopelessly tossing on the waves。
One of the transports； a very fast steamer； had already
entered the straits； and could not be signalled； but
the other one returned and took both the war…ships in
tow； proceeding very slowly until； after entering the
gulf； she was relieved by tugboats。
Another event of a somewhat different character was
the occasion of much excited feeling and comment；
particularly in the United States。 The descent and
attack by British vessels on an Atlantic port was a
matter of popular expectation。 The Syndicate had
repellers and crabs at the most important points； but；
in the minds of naval officers and a large portion of
the people； little dependence for defence was to be
placed upon these。 As to the ability of the War
Syndicate to prevent invasion or attack by means of
its threats to bombard the blockaded Canadian port；
very few believed in it。 Even if the Syndicate could
do any more damage in that quarter； which was
improbable； what was to prevent the British navy from
playing the same game； and entering an American
seaport； threaten to bombard the place if the Syndicate
did not immediately run all their queer vessels high
and dry on some convenient beach？
A feeling of indignation against the Syndicate had
existed in the navy from the time that the war contract
had been made； and this feeling increased daily。 That
the officers and men of the United States navy should
be penned up in harbours； ports； and sounds； while
British ships and the hulking mine…springers and
rudder…pinchers of the Syndicate were allowed to roam
the ocean at will； was a very hard thing for brave
sailors to bear。 Sometimes the resentment against this
state of affairs rose almost to revolt。
The great naval preparations of England were not
yet complete； but single British men…of…war were now
frequently seen off the Atlantic coast of the United
States。 No American vessels had been captured by
these since the message of the Syndicate to the
Dominion of Canada and the British Government。 But one
good reason for this was the fact that it was very
difficult now to find upon the Atlantic ocean a vessel
sailing under the American flag。 As far as possible
these had taken refuge in their own ports or in those
of neutral countries。
At the mouth of Delaware Bay； behind the great
Breakwater； was now collected a number of coastwise
sailing…vessels and steamers of various classes and
sizes； and for the protection of these maritime
refugees； two ves