THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 127 



yet firm, affirmation was the reply. Now 

 it so happened that this was a noted little 

 gun, the barrel of which was of Damascus 

 make. A bonus of twenty-five pounds 

 was promised to Mr. D , the con- 

 tractor, if he could produce a barrel of 

 English manufacture, and of the same 

 weight and calibre, which would stand 

 the test of proof against it on trial. 



The offer was boldly and eagerly ac- 

 cepted by the contracting party, and a 

 day appointed for the experiment, in the 

 East India Company's ground. At the 



hour named, Mr. W. D was there, 



with a gun turned out by his employers, 

 at Birmingham, corresponding, to a frac- 

 tion, in weight and calibre, with the 

 " master-piece." 



The usual proof-charge of powder was 

 apportioned to each of the guns, under 

 the superintendence of an umpire. They 

 were severally tried with one, two, three. 



