GUNS. 3 



which, after all, you might not be pleased with, you 

 may here, at once, suit yourself; and, sometimes, full 

 as well as if you had spared no expense. You should, 

 however, first try and examine it, as the gunmakers 

 themselves, as well as the broken-down gentry, are 

 frequently obliged to have a little commerce with 

 pawnbrokers. 



By having here mentioned only the names of the 

 two Mantons and Purdey, I do not mean to cast any 

 reflection on the rest of the trade; as no one can 

 dispute that most of the leading makers, both in town 

 and country, have turned out some excellent guns : 

 and I am induced to mention one of the country 

 makers, as an encouragement for others to follow his 

 example Mr. Parsons, of Salisbury, who has his 

 barrels from the same man, and closely imitates Mr. 

 Manton ; by which lie has given much satisfaction 

 in the West of England. Mr. Parsons has, of late, 

 become quite a star among the country gunmakers, 

 as I always thought he would, because he was never 

 above being told any thing. 



By having named Mr. Parsons, let it be understood 

 Hint I am far from meaning any thing against his 

 competitor, Mr. Rhodes, who is also a gunmaker of 

 good repute in the same town. 



The barrel-maker that I have alluded to is Mr. 

 Fullerd, who, for forging, is one of our best artificers. 

 Mr. Charles Lancaster is the other justly celebrated 

 man. Mr. Lancaster receives his barrels in the rough 

 from Birmingham (where the coals for the forge are 



