142 Mounting of Naval Ordnance* 



but little^ even in detail, from that in use upwards of three 

 and a half centuries ago ; — that is, the gun is placed between, 

 and allowed to rest by, its trunnions, on the edges of two 

 upright thick slabs of timber, extending from a little beyond 

 the trunnions to the hind extremity of the gun, and con- 

 nected with and supported by two massive axletrees, on 

 which iron trucks or small wheels are placed *. The part of 

 the gun in the rear of the trunnions, which slightly prepon- 

 derates, is supported by a smaller slab, placed on the axle 

 under the breech, and the elevation or depression is regu- 

 lated by a wedge inserted between this and the breech. 



It is most probable that the guns used on board ship were 

 at first entirely of the lighter natures ; for, until the inven- 

 tion of port-holes, their use was confined to firing over the 

 gunwales of the gallies in intervals left between the oars. 

 Such were merely lashed on a skid, or block of wood, hol- 

 lowed out to receive them — a method of mounting which 

 probably continued down to the middle of the sixteenth cen- 

 tury, the lighter natures of the ordnance of that famous 

 English ship, the Harry Grace de Dieu, built in 1515, being 

 mounted in that rude manner. 



When the invention of port-holes had rendered it possible 

 to carry heavy guns on one or more decks between the gun- 

 wale and the water, it is clear that, as these were capable of 

 being transported through the greatest distances by the ship 

 itself, the requisites necessary to the mounting of guns for 

 shipboard would appear very naturally to be those belonging 

 to garrison-guns, with some obvious additions, for the pur- 

 poses of restricting the recoil, and for working and securing 

 the guns in an agitated sea. 



Such were, doubtlessly, the reasons which introduced the 

 land gun-carriage, used in permanent defences, on board ship, 

 with the addition of two or three ring and eye bolts in its 

 sides for the breeching-ropes and tackles used in the service 

 of the gun, and with its iron trucks exchanged for wooden 

 ones ; and, strange to say, that not an improvement of im- 

 portance has been made since their first introduction, more 

 than three centuries ago. They remain in principle just as 

 they were : a few necessary alterations in the detail may have 

 been made, but that is all. Upon this singular fact. Captain 

 Marshall, in his introductory remarks, very naturally observes, 



'* That either the established carriages answer, in the most 

 effective manner, all the purposes required of them, or that, from 

 the principle upon which guns are mounted, they are incapable 

 of improvement." 



* See diagram in page 146. 



