X. Description of fame Improvements in the Arms and 

 Accoutrements of Light Cavalry, propofed by the 

 Earl of Ancrjm, Colonel of the Mid-Lothian Regiment of 

 Tencibh Cavalry, and F. R. S. Edin. to his Excellency 

 Marquis CORNWjiLLIS, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, ISc'iJc. 

 in a Letter -/o Captain T'atlor, Military Secretary to 

 his Excellency. ' ■ 



\Read, March 4, 1799.] 



I R, Hillfhro' Dec. 23. 1798. 



I^Ome time in the month of July 1797, I had a carabine 

 made at Drogheda, of different dimenfions, and of a differ- 

 ent conftrv;(5lion from that of our Light Dragoons : the mode 

 of carrying and of uling it is Ukewife different ; and, as I have 

 had confiderable experience of this carabine fince that period, 

 I take the liberty of recommending it to the notice of his Excel- 

 lency the Lord Lieutenant, in order that a trial may be made, 

 whether the adoption of fuch an arm might not be of advantage 

 to the Light Cavalry. 



The barrel is twenty-one inches in length, (Pi. IV. fig. i.) and 

 of carabine bore. The weight of the carabine is not more than 

 five pounds. The length of the bayonet-blade is thirteen inches, 

 (fig. 2.) and there is a fpring on the ring of it, to prevent the pofli- 

 bility of its flying off the barreh The touch-hole is of a conical 

 fhape J the bafe of the cone opening into the pan, the fummit into 

 the barrel. The breech-plug is made to flope down towards the 

 touch-hole, fo that the carabine primes itfelf, the powder run- 



I i 2 ning 



