3oe dDantott 97 



"The copper cap is now in general use all over the 

 world ; and therefore many gunmakcrs attempt to 

 claim the invention as their own. 



I do not mean to say that I was the inventor of 

 it probably not : but this I must beg leave to state : 

 when Joe first brought out his detonators, in Davies- 

 street (those which were discarded from giving so much 

 trouble), he made me the most perfect gun I ever saw ; 

 and doubting whether such another could be got, I set 

 my wits to work in order to simplify the invention. 

 At last the plan of a perforated nipple, and the de- 

 tonating powder in the crown of a small cap occurred 

 to me. I made a drawing of it, which I took to Joe. 

 After having this explained, he said he would show 

 me something in a few weeks' time ; when, lo and 

 behold ! there was a rough gun altered precisely on 

 my own plan ! His factotum, poor old Asell, assured 

 me that the whole job was done from my drawing. 

 Thus Joe, who led the fashion for all the world, sent 

 out a few copper-cap guns, and I know, with some 

 degree of reluctance. The trade, finding that he had 

 then deviated from his own patent, adopted this plan ; 

 and it proved to answer so well that we now see it 

 in general circulation. So much, and no more, have 

 I to say about the wished-for discovery of the copper- 

 cap inventor. But if Mr. This and Mr. That have any 

 fancy to claim the invention they may safely fire their 

 ammunition into all the periodicals they please, as I 

 shall not indulge them with any paper war on the 

 subject." 



And yet, oddly enough, Colonel Hawker, the best 



7 



