Shells and Shell-Guns. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856. Excerpt: ... VIII. INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. Sinope.--Odessa.--Bomarsund.--Petropaulovski.--Sevastopol.--The Vladimir.--Sveaborg.--Kinburn. The contest just terminated, is the first that has been waged between any great maritime powers since shells and steam have become elements of naval warfare. As a natural consequence, its varied incidents will be closely scrutinised by professional men, in order to discover how far the theories and speculations which they advocate or oppose, may have been confirmed or confuted by the stern verities of battle. The story of the time, however, has yet to find its Napier, and this may not be shortly, for the actors in the eventful drama are too recently from its thrilling scenes to be inclined to the sober duties of the chronicler. Meanwhile, we are without any authentic statement save those of the official reports which, are mostly so scanty, as to be unintelligible if it were not for the brilliant sketches of the public correspondents, who have so graphically limned the general picture. The absence of precise technical results, is a serious disadvantage in the present case, when one feels almost compelled to refer to them under the persuasion that some illustration of the kind is indispensably necessary to any conclusion upon the subjects which have just been treated of. In such a dilemma a European writer would be enabled to find some substitute in the personal narrative and opinions of those around him which, if at times to be received with qualification, are yet valuable as the origin of the tradition that for a while will fill the place of history. Here, remote as we are from the actors and the scenes, no such resource is accessible. It is with some misgivings, therefore, that we ventured on the task, hoping to have the opportunity ...