involved in the Construction of Artillery. 383 



think about one-half, were trimmed at the end, the others not ; though the bars in the faggot, 

 with which we commenced, reached to the extreme end of the breech, and was then drawn 

 down from twenty inches diameter to about half that size, and then cut off; by which means 

 the fag ends were effectually got rid of, and, at the same time, the fibre of the iron drawn 

 round the end of the breech, to give it strength. 



" ' 4. No substance whatever was used to assist in welding. Forlij-five and a quarter 

 'turns,' or days' ivork, were expended on the gun, from the time of commencement to its 

 completion; during which time it was, of course, kept more or less healed; and the average 

 time in getting a welding heat, when at the full size, was, on the breech, about four hours, 

 and, on the small end, two and a half to three hours. 



" ' 5 and 6. The work was commenced with thirty bars, of dimensions the same as before 

 described, laid up in the usual manner of a faggot. These were heated and welded together, 

 and, when so done, rounded up, forming a shaft from twenty to twenty-one inches in dia- 

 meter. Iron was then laid on to enlarge the size, being for the most part prepared in the 

 form of segments, partly from scraps of our own working, and partly from bars, and made 

 of different thicknesses, to suit the position for which they were intended on the gun. The 

 weight of them must have varied from about 200 to 800 lbs., the heaviest ones being put 

 on the breech, on which were laid two tiers, or strata, the one being first welded, and then 

 the other upon the top of it. They were of such length usually, that three of the segments 

 reached round the body of the gun. 



" ' 7. We have but two small pieces of the gun, which we had chiselled off from one 

 of the fragments, and which we wish to preserve. We would send them, however, were 

 it not easy for you to get supplied in the same way. 



" ' In conclusion, we beg to remark, the iron was such as we had on hand when the 

 gun was ordered, and was not made with any special reference to it. It was what we 

 agreed to use in it, and was recommended by us as iron of a good and suitable quality; 

 and of this fact we have evidence the most ample. We had no time for preparation of 

 any sort; the order for the gun being given on or about the 4th of July, and the work 

 commenced in two or three days afterwards. The iron appears, to some extent, crystal- 

 lized, though we have seen instances of good iron, broken by a sudden and violent blow, 

 appearing much more so. With regard to its density, no doubt this will vary slightly 

 in different parts of the gun ; some parts having been expanded, by long heating, after it 

 had become of such a size that no hammers, at present known, could afl^ect it much, — 

 though the hammer under which this piece was made weighs 15,000 lbs. The weight of 

 the gun, before being bored, was 27,390 lbs. Iron, when long heated, and not much 

 drawn, we apprehend, in all cases loses something of its fibrous properties, and assumes a 

 more crystalline appearance. 



" Your Committee, we trust, are aware that the gun stood a charge of 49-;% lbs of 



3d 2 



