118 Observations on the 



fire only one shot with certainty, than two with the chances of 

 throwing away both. 



We contend, therefore, that an experiment with the gun 

 proposed of the cahbre of 38, and the present 32-pounders 

 bored out to the same calibre, as also the 32-pounder carronade 

 similarly converted, should be made to ascertain whether it be 

 not possible to introduce the calibre of 38 pounds into our 

 naval service as the sole arm for all ships of the line and 

 heavy frigates ; and that such an opportunity as the present 

 should not be allowed to escape us without making the 

 attempt. 



M. Paixhans, in his ** Nouvelle Force Maritime," proposes 

 the calibre of 36 pounds^ as the only one for naval service ; but, 

 in adopting his suggestion, we are necessitated, in the smaller 

 vessels of war, to make a sacrifice of range by employing lighter 

 guns than we propose : thus, in the 64 gun frigate he would 

 be obliged to employ the 36-pounder of the same weight as 

 the 24.-pounder it would supersede, but of less power of range, 

 because projecting a heavier shot with only the same charge as 

 the latter gun. This deficiency would become still more ap- 

 parent in the next class of frigates, where he proposes to em- 

 ploy a 36-pounder of the same weight as the 18-pounder, 

 which is the present arm ; and it becomes a matter of grave 

 consideration whether, in such cases, it would be prudent to 

 give up power of range for the increase of calibre, as derived 

 from his system. 



In advancing our proposition, we do not pretend to original- 

 Kty, as it is only a modification of that of M. Paixhans ; but 

 we possess a singular advantage over him, in point of economy ^ 

 inasmuch as with only one new nature of ordnance we can ob- 

 tain all the advantages to be derived from an unity of calibre, 

 with a corresponding increase of force over our present sea- 

 service ordnance, by taking the maximum calibre at a higher 

 point ; whereas this author is obliged to go to the great ex- 

 pense of introducing two new descriptions of ordnance, besides 

 throwing aside those of 24 and 18 already in use. It may also 



* This author adopts .the present French 36-pounder, and two others; 

 one of which is 142 times the weight of the shot, and the other 1 1 6 times. 



