involved in the Construction of Ai'tillery. 423 



The preceding list is not to be understood as aiming at completeness : it merely embraces 

 such works as have come under my notice: I omit all French works, as complete cata- 

 logues exist of their magnificent military literature. A very considerable body of ordnance 

 and pyrotechnic literature exists in Italian and Spanish, of which almost nothing is known 

 in England. Tiic works in the former language are chiefly ancient, and historically impor- 

 tant; but the scientific treatment of artillery and gunnery, by recent authors, in Spain, 

 appears to be in a much more advanced state, than the isolation of their meagre literature 

 lias enabled us to appreciate. 



It is an unhappy indication of our own neglect and ignorance, that a few months ago 

 (perhaps even yet) many of the most important standard works, historical and otherwise, 

 in Continental languages, were unknown to us, and not to be found in any of our great 

 libraries. General Marion's great work on the History of Artillery was not in the British 

 Museum, nor in any other public library in England or Ireland to which I had access: the 

 few books on the subject in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, quite accord with the 

 venerable title they are classed under, "DeMachinis Bellicis ;" and almost no modern foreign 

 books on artillery exist in the Library of the United Service Institution, London, nor in 

 any of the Royal Engineer libraries that I am acquainted with. 



How desirable it would seem to form at Woolwich a complete historical and scientific 

 military library, at the public charge, and collect there all that has been written, in every 

 language, on the subject of Arms, in the widest sense (not, perhaps, excluding the military 

 art as a whole, strategics, &c.), and not only give professional access to it, but permit every 

 man, known to be really interested and engaged, in the advancement of any branch of the 

 subject, the freest possible admission. The nucleus of such a collection exists already in 

 the Library of the Royal Military Academy; and, while the position itself is good, perhaps 

 no officer in the Service could be found so admirably suited, by learning, taste, general ability, 

 and desire of progress, to direct its formation and control its use, as my friend. Colonel Port- 

 lock, R. E., the Commandant. I hope he will pardon my thus venturing, without his sanc- 

 tion or knowledge, to connect his name with the idea. 



