He further stated what is undoubtedly true, that the main idea in the turret, that of a circular revolving fort, antedates the Nineteenth Century as a whole, and its origin is lost in the uncertainties of early tradition.  It is simply one of those early ideas which naturally must have been known in essence since time immemorial, and as such it was the common property of the engineering practice of the century.  It belongs neither to Timby nor to Ericsson, and no claims regarding priority in this respect are worthy of serious consideration.  The question is not who first conceived the idea of a revolving fort, but who designed and built the “Monitor” as she was, and as she met the “Merrimac” on the 9th of March, 1862.  The answer to the latter is too well known a part of the history of the times to admit of question or to call for further notice.  Ericsson’s claim for recognition in this respect rests not on any priority of idea regarding the use of a circular fort, but rather upon the actual “Monitor” as she was built and as she crushed at one blow the sea-power of the South, and representing as it did a completely and carefully designed whole, dating back to the earlier dealings with Napoleon III. in 1854.  This is an age which judges men by what they do, and judged by this standard Ericsson’s claims in connection with the monitor type of warship are never likely to be seriously questioned.

Taking Ericsson’s life and work, what portion remains as a permanent acquisition or as a part of the practice of the present age?  This is a question which merits at least a moment’s notice.

We should not make the mistake of thinking that permanency is necessarily a test of merit, or that the value of his services to the world should be judged by such parts of his work as are plainly apparent in the practice of the present day.  A piece of work must be judged by the circumstances which brought it forth, and by the completeness and perfection of its adaptation to the needs and possibilities of its age.

We have then the steam fire-engine; compressed air which he early employed in England, and which has become an instrument of enormous importance in connection with the industrial progress of the age, although this is in no especial degree due to his efforts; the surface condenser, distiller, and evaporator are a permanently and absolutely essential part of modern marine practice; the screw-propeller has almost sole possession of the field of marine propulsion; modern marine engines and boilers in naval practice are always placed below the water-line and are protected by deflective deck armor and frequently by coal as well; the turret has become a permanent and accepted part of the practice of the age, while the monitor type in its essential feature seems to be evanescent.