120 Observations on the Force of our Ships of War, 



the size of the projectile and its weight, become again so con- 

 siderable *, that it will require two men to carry it ; and if the 

 sea be agitated, this inconvenience will be still more feltt. It 

 is on this account, chiefly, that it requires to be decided by an 

 actual experiment at sea, whether there would result any real 

 advantage from having an entire battery, say of 68-pounders 

 even, over one of 38-pounders. The former, we apprehend, 

 could only fire, from their relative lightness J, single shot ; 

 whilst the latter would pour in double shot, and more than 

 twice the weight of metal at each discharge, besides making two 

 large breaches, instead of one. We do not say, however, that 

 the 68-pounder may not be advantageously employed when 

 partially adopted, as at present, on the lower decks of our 

 ships of the line ; but the practice brings along with it the evil 

 of having two calibres on the same deck. We should prefer 

 them in midships, and weighing as much as 55 or 60 cwt. 

 Three or four, or perhaps half a dozen, of a side, although 

 slow in their service, would prove, when discharged at a critical 

 moment, for which they might be reserved, a tremendous auxi- 

 liary to ordnance already advanced to the greatest calibre, with- 

 out sacrificing the necessary celerity in working, and powers of 

 range ; and if a separate magazine in midships were con- 

 structed for the ammunition of these pieces, confusion might 

 be avoided in the hurry of action. 



We shall abstain from making any further remarks on the 

 subject of hollow projectiles for sea-service, because the idea 

 has not yet been sufficiently put to the test of experiment, and 

 certainly not at all to that of actual service. 



The force of a ship of war is, as we have already said, the 

 first element to be considered in its theoretical construction ; 

 and we might here proceed to explain its influence on the pro- 

 portions and sailing qualities ; but this will more properly be a 

 subject for future consideration. 



* The weight of an English ten-inch hollow shot, when filled, would be 

 95 lbs. ; and when empty, about 85 i lbs. 



t M. Paixhans himself seems to be fully aware of the magnitude of 

 these difficulties. 



% The new 68-pounder gun introduced by General Millar, weighs only 

 82 times its shot. ' ^ 



