24 ELEVATION. 



ELEVATION 



OF a single gun is readily obtained, by the additional 

 thickness at the breeching, by placing which in a line 

 with the muzzle, the caliber is, of course, so much 

 elevated, as to bring the centre of it full up to the 

 line of .aim* which, were the barrels of the same size 

 at each end, would of course be completely under the 

 mark. 



With the elevation of double guns, we remained 

 for many years rather in ignorance. The groove 

 between the barrels was considered, by many, as an 

 easier sight, than that of a single gun. This may 

 be for a sitting shot, or a bird flying straight from 

 you ; but, for a cross shot, I consider it a dis- 

 advantage : as, when this sunk groove is levelled 

 before the object, that object becomes so far obscured, 

 by the barrel next to it, that, if a moment is lofet 

 in firing, we are ignorant how for we are pointing 

 before it. 



In order to prevent shooting under, it became 

 necessary to what was called set up barrels ; that is, 

 to bend them upwards at the end of every season, 

 which, to say the least of it, contributed so much to 

 their wear and tear, as to make them, in a few years, 

 somewhat doubtful as to safety. 



All these objections, however, were at last admirably 

 remedied by Mr. Joseph Manton's elevation, which, 

 although abused by other gunmalfcrs, has been so 



