342 STANCHION, OR PUNT-GUN. 



reaction of the spring. The loop should be made of 

 horse-nail stubs, and forged on to the barrels. Mine 

 is not so ; therefore if this part fails, the fault lies 

 with Mr. Fullerd, and not with me. Suppose this 

 was to give way ? which would be almost im- 

 possible, if done as it ought to be then you have a 

 ring in the stock (all of which, except a moveable 

 but, is of cannon metal} with a reserve rope that takes 

 up the recoil immediately. 



It was the opinion of a distinguished officer in the 

 navy, before whom I fired this gun several times, 

 that my plan for easing the recoil would answer ex- 

 tremely well for the carronades in His Majesty's 

 service ; and I therefore had made a rough model 

 for the inspection of himself and friends. If, how- 

 ever, the Lords of the Admiralty should honour me 

 so far as to think the suggestion worthy of notice, I 

 have only to say that Mr. Westley Richards, of Bir- 

 mingham, is the mechanic who so ably manufactured 

 the one I have, after the model and instructions that 

 I sent him. 



Here is an outline of the plan in question, which 

 has so amply repaid me for the trouble I have 

 had, in overcoming all obstacles, that I shall, under 

 the next head, give directions for it, assisted by ex- 

 planatory engravings. 



Before this gun, &c. was found to answer every 

 purpose, it went through several hands : Mr. D. 

 Egg; Mr. Fullerd; Mr. Joseph Manton; Mr. 

 Westley Richards; Mr. Parsons, of Salisbury, and 



