DETONATING SYSTEM. 69 



one of the hammers. I am ready to admit, that a 

 nipple on the centre of a hammer is less likely to 

 strain the hammer-bridle ; but then the communica- 

 tion, by placing it there, is so much longer, that the 

 discharge of the gun can never be depended on. I 

 had my hammers done in this way at first, and when 

 on salt water, the gun, on an average, missed fire 

 every eight or ten shots ; and, in field-shooting, about 

 once in twenty shots. Several sportsmen, however, 

 have assured me, that their guns have gone well for 

 a whole season, after being altered in this w r ay. Far 

 be it from me to doubt their word ; but still it is my 

 duty to the public to speak of this, and every thing 

 else, not as I have heard oj\ but as I have found it. 

 I have since had a double gun " detonated" to my 

 order (with new breechings, &c.) by Mr. Parsons. I 

 have tried sixty shots with it, and part of the time 

 in showers of rain. It did not miss fire once ; and it 

 is but justice to observe too, that the alteration is 

 done in as workmanlike a manner, as if it had been 

 turned out of hand at nearly double the price in 

 London. 



Mr. John Manton has a patent that I particularly 

 admire, and am confident must be one of the best as 

 yet brought out: and Mr. Purdey (a rising gun- 

 mnker of extraordinary merit) is acquitting himself 

 most admirably in the detonating system, as well as 

 in the very neat and elegantly finished style of his 

 work. I deal with neither, and have, for that very 



