Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1845 - 1846 - 1847

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George Heath Serjeant-at-Law  - age 66/67               1779-1852

Julia Anna Harrison (ne Heath) - age 38/39              1807-1879
Rev. John Moore Heath - aged 37/38                        1808-1882
Douglas Denon Heath - aged 34/35                          1811-1897
Dunbar Isidore Heath - age 29/30                             1816-1888
Leopold G. Heath R.N. - age 28/29                          1817-1907
Emma Jane Heath (later Whatman) - age 24/25       1821-1884

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24. - 8 April 1846 - Leopold Heath to Captain Mundy, re concentrating ship's broadside
File 0802

Letter draft

Sir, 

I beg to submit for your consideration (cross out - the following) a plan for concentrating (cross out - a broadside) which will I think be found more correct as well as (cross out - much) more simple than any of the methods at present in use.

Let the rear axeltree of each gun be fitted as in figure 1. and when the ship is in smooth harbour (crossed out - let a boar with her masting stepped be anchored at the required distance and in the required direction, and let all the guns be carefully pivoted at the mast) let the guns be carefully pointed at an object in the required direction and at the required distance, then place the bars or battens AVs on the deck at a (crossed out - convenient distance from the rear  - and rule lines. this distance must be regulated by the depth of the sweep piece) such a distance from the rear axeltree so that when the gun happens to be close over to one side of the post and consequently more inboard than when in other positions the (bar AS ?) may still be more inboard than the rear axeltree itself) Rule lines corresponding to the pass and fix them permanently in the deck either by cutting them in with a board chisel and paying them with pitch, or by a row of copper beads. 

These lines might of course be drawn by the rules of trigonometry but the practical method will do away with any error which might arise from the rear axeltree not being at right angles to the (axis?) of the gun. 
(Crossed out - Figure 2 - represents a detached pair of parallel rulers)

Should it be supposed that the apparatus I have described would be liable to be damaged by being attached to the gun, a pair of parallel rulers may be made for each gun as described in figure 2 and the deck marked as before.

The deck and guns are now fitted for concentrating upon that point and in whatever part of the port the gun may happen to be when the order is given, the handspikes will quickly (clear, clean?) the gun until the batten AB coincides with the line marked on the deck, and the guns are then concentrated and with considerable accuracy because of the great length of the lines thus brought to coincide. 

I would now suggest that (crossed out - should the above plan) if it be found that guns can be readily trained by the above means, a system of concentration might be introduced which would (in conjunction with sidescales) greatly increase the chances of hitting an enemy so obscured by smoke that his mastheads only are visible.

Let the deck be marked for concentration on these point, viz.

300 yards, 2 points before the beam.
300 yards, 1 point before the beam.
300 yards, abeam
300 yards, 1 point abaft the beam
300 yards, 2 points abaft the beam,
and let the winship gun be always the directing gun. 

Set the picket (which are recommended to be fitted in the "Questions in Naval Gunnery Page) to either of the abover directions and steer the ship carefully so (cross out - that) as to keep them bearing upon the enemy's main Top Gallant masthead (or that part of the enemy corresponding to the position of the pointers) and let the Captains of the guns lay their guns to the corresponding mark on the deck and continue firing in that direction whenever the smoke obscures the enemy. 

Should it be necessary to alter course alter it by whole points at a time and send down word to (crossed out alter the training of the guns accordingly.

(crossed out - It is then evident that every shot must go in the direction of enemy or some part of the enemy.)

It is then evident that supposing the sidescales to have been properly attended every shot must hit some part of the enemy as long as the distance is within 300 yards and even beyond that distance it is only the foremast and aftermast guns which will go wide.

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File 0809 - Letter describing 2 methods of concentrating a ship's broadside

To - Captain Mundy R.N., H.M.S. Iris.
H.M.S. Iris, 
Trincomalee, 

8th April 1846

Sir.
Sir Thomas Hastings having called the attention of the students on board H.M.S. Excellent to the importance of devising some more simple and correct method of concentrating a ship's broadside than any of those which were then in use, I beg to submit the two following methods.

I would in the first place suggest for the sake of simplicity that the usual concentration at 200 and 400 yards should be merged into one concentration at 300 yards.

1st Method

Let the rear axletree of each gun be fitted as in figure 1. and when the ship is in a smooth harbour let a boat with her mast stepped be anchored directly abeam of the midship gun and at the distance of 300 yards from it, and let all the guns be carefully pointed at the mast, then let a line about 4 feet in length be chalked on the deck so as to coincide exactly with the bar AB when at a convenient distance from the rear axletree, this distance must be regulated by the depth of the sweep piece so that when the gun happens to be close over to one side of the port and consequently more inboard than when in other positions the line thus chalked may still be more inboard than the rear axletree itself.

This line must be permanently fixed in the deck, cutting it in with a broad chisel and paying it with pitch is a good practical method but a wire sunk in and pinned down or a line of small cupper beads would look neater and also be more correct.

This is the beam concentration, and in whatever part of the port the gun may happen to be when the order to concentrate is given the handspikes will quickly slew it so as to bring the batten or bar AB to coincide with the line thus market on the deck, the guns are then concentrated and with considerable accuracy because of the great length of the line thus brought to coincide.

For the bow and quarter concentration the guns must be pointed at a boat and the deck marked in a similar manner.

2nd Method

Let parallel rulers be made as in figure 2, and let the deck be marked as described in the 1st method, then butt the vertical arm of the rulers against the rear axletree and train the gun until the flat arm coincides with the line on the deck.

In either of these methods the lines ought be drawn on the deck by the rules of trigonometry, but the experimental method will destroy inaccuracy that might arise from the rear axletree not being accurately at right angles to the axis of the gun.

I have the honour to be, Sir
Your obedient Servant, L.G.Heath, Lieutenant H.M.S. Iris. 

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14 August 1846
Charles Heath to Alexander Johnson

My dear Sir,
I am so much engaged today and tomorrow that I cannot properly have the pleasure of waiting on you.
Will you be so kind as to send the picture by the Bearer.
I hope to find a use for your picture of Lady Anne.
You will receive Proofs of your Plate of "Cordelia" when it goes to press - we always return some Proofs to the Artist.

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29 October 1846
Charles Heath, 6 Seymour Place, London - to Dawson Turner

My Dear Sir,
I have the pleasure of sending you the Proofs for the next year's "Keepsake" and "Book of Beauty" and I likewise send you Proof of the year 45 as I have little doubt they never reached you - for I have discovered lately that my Clerk who had the management of all these things had been robbing me to a great extent and that none of the Proofs I sent to friends last year arrived - he having sold them. Should, however, those intended for you have arrived, perhaps you will oblige me by returning these now sent.

I know it gratifies you to learn that I am now doing as well, indeed much better than ever, that I am engaged in several works all of which augur well and that soon after Christmas I shall send you the first part of the most splendidly illustrated "New Testament" ever produced, the whole engraved in wood. The designs drawn in Paris - the engraving executed in London. It is a most elaborate production and I have been engaged on it for the last 18 months.

With best wishes believe me,
My Dear Sir, Yours most sincerely,
Charles Heath

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December 1846
Richard Brinsley Peake to Charles Heath. (R.B.Peake - dramatic writer for the stage.)

My dear Heath,
I apologise to you for having kept the Books so long. I have dramatized Monte Cristo, and it is accepted at the Adelphi: but as they had no actor for the hero, I was obliged to set to work on "Colomba," which has proved quite successful. I enclose a ticket for 2 for Monday next, and if you have not seen it, I promise that you shall be amused.
Poor Charles Peake's death was caused by a disease known as the "Softening of the Brain."

Wishing you and yours health and happiness,
I am, Yours very truly,
R.B.Peake


(23 December 1846 - Theatre Royal, Adelphi - This evening - On Saturday next will be produced a new grand romantic drama, called Colomba, The Corsican Sister: or, The Twelfth of August)

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1847

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