GRAVITATING STOPS. 39 



tainly defied the weather longer than any others at 

 that time invented ; though, perhaps, from the effect 

 of the atmosphere on the oxygen, they might not be 

 proof against a continual pour of rain. The inven- 

 tion is certainly of infinite merit, and has, of late 

 years, been so much improved on, that scarcely any 

 thing is now thought of but detonating guns. I 

 have, in consequence, been making trials in every 

 way that appeared necessary, in order to be able to 

 give a few directions solely dictated by the result of 

 experiment. 



I shall, therefore, after dismissing every thing 

 concerning the flint-lock, treat exclusively on " de- 

 tonaters." 



GRAVITATING STOPS. 



AN insurance from accidents, with a double gun, 

 is completely effected by Mr. Joseph Manton's gra- 

 ntating stops, which act of themselves, to remedy 

 the serious danger of loading with a barrel cocked ; 

 and, with these stops, you may, by holding the gun 

 downwards, carry both barrels cocked, through a 

 hedgerow, with little or no danger, if any circum- 

 stance could, justify such determined preparation. 



The gravitating stops, I should not omit to men- 

 tion, require to be kept very clean, as, with rust or 

 dirt under them, they will not fall so readily, and 

 thereby prevent the gun from going off. This I 



