Bomb Vessel, or Mortar Boat, is the expression in use for the 
more modern class of ships constructed to carry mortars. Up to 
the Russian war,’ those built for the British service drew 8 or 9 
feet water, and carried, beside their 2 10-inch mortars, 4 
68-pounders, and 6 18 Ib. carronades. When the Russian war 
made naval warfare in shallow waters and intricate channels a 
necessity, and mortar boats were required on account of the 
strong sea-fronts of the Russian fortresses, which defied any direct 
attack by ships, a new class of bomb vessels had to be devised. The 
new boats thus built are about 60 feet long, with great breadth of 
beam, round bows like a Dutch galliot, flat bottoms, drawing 6 or 
7 feet water, and propelled by steam. They carry 2 mortars, 10 or 
13-inch calibre, and a few field-guns or carronades to repel 
boarding parties by grape, but no heavy guns. They were used 
with great effect at Sveaborg, which place they bombarded from 
a distance of 4,000 yards.'” 

Written between September 29 and Oc- Reproduced from The New Ameri- 
tober 6, 1857 can Cyclopaedia 

Cyclopaedia, Vol. III, 1858