110 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERT. 



known as haubans, attached to iron pickets. The lances could 

 be lengthened by attaching two or more, end to end, by hicans 

 of rings called anneaiix de rallonr/e, littod with chimp-scrcws. 

 Insulators. — Wilh spires of India-rul)ber m.idc hollow so as to 

 lit over the end of the lances, and surmounted by a small cylinder 

 of the same material. The wires were attached to the insulators 

 by a couple of turns. Iron cramps were also supplied which 

 could be driven into the ground, or into the walls and trees en 

 route to support the cable Mhen used in place of wires. The 

 work was very arduous of laying the wire. The average rate 

 obtained on the most favorable ground was two kilom. the hour 

 wilh suspended wires, and i) kilom. with cable. In 2)assing vil- 

 lages, etc., double tho above time proved requisite. For taking 

 up the line, 5 or G men marching in inverse order were sufficient. 

 The rapidity with which this manoeuvre Avas executed equalled 

 and sometimes exceeded that of ordinary route marching. In 

 joining the iengths of cable, the covering was lirst removed and 

 an elastic India-rubber tube slipped over one length ; the wires 

 were then spliced and the India-rubber tube drawn over the joint 

 and secured by tying down the ends firmly with twine. This 

 was found to answer ])erfectly ; but, as the tying process took up 

 some little time, small cylinders were sometimes substituted for 

 the India-rubber tube. These contained two India-rubber discs, 

 having holes in them for the passage of the cable, and hollow 

 screws at each end working against them. Tiie screws were 

 made hollow so as to allow of the passage of the cable through 

 them. The splice was made in the cn-dinary way, the tube drawn 

 over the joint, and the discs compressed round the cable by the 

 action of the screws. A joint could be thus made in 30 seconds. 

 It was found, however, that the vibration of the cable loosened 

 the screws and allowed water to leak into the joints. — Van Kos- 

 trand'^s Engineering Mag. 



THE PALLISER GUN. 



Some particulars are at hand relative to the practical working 

 of a number of guns converted upon ^Major Palliser's system. In 

 1806, 8 cast-iron 24-pounder and 32-pounder smooth-bore guns 

 were converted by Major P. into oU-pounder and C4:-pounder 

 rifled guns, with a view of ascertaining whether our large stock 

 of cast-iron guns could be advantageously converted into rifled 

 cannon. Of these 8 experimental guns, one was tested for en- 

 durance, by firing continuously, with shot of 64: lbs. weight, 

 imtil it had completed 2,285 rounds, of which 2,170 were wilh 

 8 lbs. weight, 88 were with 14 lbs., two with 12 lbs., one with 10 

 lbs., and 24 with 16 lbs. and 86 lbs. shot. The jiower of endur- 

 ance of the converted guns was thus thoroughly proven. Six of 

 the remaining guns were issued for service to home and foreign 

 stations, in order that the royal artillery might have an oj^por- 

 tunity of practising with them. The preliminary reports' have 

 now arrived from these stations, and are, on the whole, very sat- 



