The Hon. B. Moran, United States Secretary of Legation in London had forwarded the following piece of information that he believed was worthy of preservation to Captain Jeffers, of the Naval Bureau of Ordnance. The covering letter stated in part: "I enclose herewith a very curious sketch of certain inventions which Mr. James McHenry found in an English magazine of more than a century ago. It confirms the biblical saying that there is nothing new under the sun. He must have known all we know on the subject at this day."

"Authentic Copy of an extraordinary Proposal, privately delivered at the houses of Persons of distinction …by a Gentleman, who wishes to put an end to the American War.

The particulars are as follows
First, To fix gunpowder in the water, if a ship or vessel should touch the same, it will be instantly blown up. - 2d, to convey a cannon along the bottom of the sea, and fire the same at a distance of one mile and a half from the land, under a ship's bottom. - 3d, To convey a floating battery the same distance from the land, along side of a ship, and fire balls into her under the surface of the water. - 4th, To convey fixtures the same distance, along the bottom of the sea, - which will catch ships moorings and drag them on shore. N.B. - These inventions are to be made use of, when an enemies shipping comes to cannonade or bombard a town."