56 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



lock, is constructed upon principles similar to the pistols known as 

 Colt's Kevolvers. The following is the description of this weapon, as 

 given in the catalogue of the institution: "1160. A Snaphaunce 

 self-loading petronel, probably of the time of Charles I. The contriv- 

 ance consists of a revolving cylinder, containing seven chambers, with 

 touch-holes ; the action of lifting the cock causes the cylinder to revolve, 

 and a fresh chamber is brought into connection with the barrel. Six 

 of the seven chambers are always exposed to view, and the charges are 

 put in without the aid of a ramrod.'' 



COLOSSAL INDIAN GUN. 



A VERY curious and colossal piece of Indian ordnance has been lately 

 discovered in the bed of the Bhagretti river, in Bengal. Unlike any 

 cannon of the present day, this piece consists of two separate portions 

 the huge cylinder that forms the barrel, and the smaller piece, or 

 breeching, which alone was loaded, and, when required for' use, was 

 lashed on with ropes or chains to the hinder part of the large cylinder, 

 and fired. The holloAV cylinder (for it is open at both ends) is of 

 wrought-iron, and of very coarse workmanship, being constructed of 

 iron hoops, embracing longitudinal bars, but, by rust and age, all 

 appearing to be one and the same uneven mass. The cannon has been 

 vastly strengthened by eleven powerful and massive rings, that encircle 

 the cylinder at the distance of ten inches apart. An attempt has been 

 made to ornament the face of the vent and last muzzle ring ; the former 

 by a rude Vandyke edging to the vent, the latter by a row of round, 

 bead-like excrescences. Between the muzzle and the last vent-ring are 

 a quantity of bronze or copper longitudinal small bars let into the iron 

 of the gun, probably for side sights, perhaps for ornament. 



As no attempt ever appears to have been made to bore the gun, the 

 cylinder is anything but smooth, the bars rising and falling in some 

 places a full perpendicular half inch. How a cannon ball would behave 

 passing over or out of such a bore, it is hoped experience never informed 

 the maker, as nothing but the most disastrous consequences could 

 possibly result from firing such a dangerous machine. Many large guns 

 exist in India, that have, at different periods, been cast by kings and 

 princes, but have never been fired ; the present gun may be one of the 

 many. The whole length of the hollow cylinder is 12 feet 2 inches ; 

 bore, 18.| inches ; length of detached breeching, 4 feet 3 inches. No 

 interest is attached to the gun, but it is believed by some to have been 

 manufactured and intended to be used against the Mahrattas, who, in 

 days gone by, after having traversed nearly the whole of India, were in 

 the habit of making descents upon the city of Moorshedubad. 



SCIENCE OF GUNNERY. 



Lv the new edition of Sir Howard Douglass' work on Naval Gunnery, 

 he attributes the success of the Americans at sea, during the last war, 

 not to better firing, but to superior guns. He says : " When we came 

 into collision with the Americans, our equals in seamanship and cour- 



