MEMOIR OF DANIEL TREADWELL. 429 



doubts, and lead to their general use in our naval armaments ; and that the important fact 

 will be disclosed, that, by the adoption of these wrought-iron guns, the destructive power of 

 our ships of war may be at once doubled, and that frigates and perhaps sloops of war will be 

 able to contend successfully with line-of-battle ships as at present armed." 



The bill seems to have been lost, as there is no further mention of it. 



The war with Mexico was still going on, and the demand for lighter and more 

 efficient field artillery seems to have increased ; and a year after the introduction 

 of Mr. King's bill, and three years after the Bureau of Ordnance had recommended 

 a supply of Mr. Treadwell's guns to be placed in the arsenals for future service, the 

 Secretary of War approved the recommendation of the Bureau, and Mr. Tread- 

 well's constant friend, Colonel Talcott, thus writes : — 



To Daniel Treadwell, Esq., Camhridjc^ 31ass. 



Ordnance Office, 24 April, 1847. 



My dear Sir, — The Secretary of War has at last approved the proceedings of the Ordnance 

 Board, held in March, 1843, and amongst other projects, you know, was one for procuring a 

 supply of your cannon. Tiie opjiosition then and now existing to the measure, I suppose, may 

 be found in your neighborhood, where experiments are in progress to furnish field guns of cast 

 iron that shall meet all the wants of the service. My idea was to substitute 12-pouiider guns 

 and 24:-pounder howitzers for the 6-i)0under and 12-pounder howitzers, without a considerable 

 increase of weight, certainly not over fifty per cent. 



How do you stand disposed in relation to this matter, after so long a delay ? I suppose 

 we ought to try a couple of each before going largely into the matter, but such a course would 

 involve too much expense, perhaps. I am not aware how you proposed to make chambers for 

 the howitzers. They seem to be necessary, on account of tlic small charge used, but I am 

 not quite sure that they are indispensable. Let me hear from you when convenient. 

 Respectfully and truly, I am, dear sir, yours, etc., 



G. Talcott, Lt. Col. Ordnance. 



To Colonel George Talcott. 



Dear Sir, — Your favor of April 2-4, 1847, was received in due course of mail, but I have 

 been unable to make up my mind for a definite answer to it until now, as it required much time 

 for consideration both by myself and by the gentlemen who have been engaged with me in tlie 

 cannon manufacture. In November, 1845, the Navy having decided to give no encourage- 

 ment to me to proceed with guns for that sei-vice, and it being uncertain what would be done 

 by your Department, I was obliged to stop tlie works then in progress and discharge all the 

 workmen who had been employed by me. Tlie old machine-shop in which I had finished the 

 cannon then made, and in which I was a tenant at will, was likewise given up, and is now occu- 

 pied by another person. You perceive therefore that to recommence the manufacture I must 

 provide a new machine-shop with lathes, boring engines, and all the necessary finishing tools, 

 as well as collect again workmen in every department of the art. The question then is whether, 

 under this condition, the manufacture of guns for the field service of the United States only 



