This subject of Fulton's submersible was part of a perfectly disastrous historical fiction Hot Mess, The Tide Watchers by Lisa Chaplin, which had more errors per page than one can imagine. And in this book Napoleon was also an arch villain, evil, shady, and downright mean. Not to mention that he traveled incognito to Boulogne-sur-Mer in a carriage escorted by Swiss Guards. And the Treaty of Amiens had a clause restricting the number of ships the French could build, or inspectors from the Tribunal of Europe would levy a fine.

And now Ms. Baldwin, author of decidedly veddy British and fluffy Regency Romances, would have us believe that if only (!) Bonaparte had ordered a fleet of these three-man submersibles, he could have invaded England. True, but if he began in late 1803, the last French soldier would disembark--or be ejected from his itty bitty sub--sometime in 1813.

Thanks much, Tom, for finding these amazing jewels for my amusement and opportunity to dispense a bit of deserved snark.