64 DETONATING SYSTEM. 



A round was then fired from each barrel of a larger 

 and heavier detonating gun of Mr. Joseph Manton's 

 (barrels by Lancaster, and of the same gauge), made 

 expressly to fire with caps, at the bottom of the breech 

 instead of through a side touch-hole : 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



In. Through. In. Through. 



120 .... 75 157 ... 78 



Which seems, as far as cursory observation will prove, 

 to confirm the opinion given after the trial on the 8th 

 instant. 



This gun, however, which, from superior weight of 

 metal, had the advantage in the foregoing trial, was 

 afterwards shot against a flint-gun of equal weight ; 

 and then the flint-gun had the advantage, not only 

 both in strength and closeness, but also in regularity 

 of shooting. 



The foregoing trials will show the very great un- 

 certainty of even the best guns at all times throwing 

 the shot alike, arid therefore prove the absurdity of 

 talking about people who " never miss," which every 

 one must often do, who shoots beyond thirty-five or 

 forty yards ; and consequently this trumpery kind of 

 reputation is only to be maintained by picking and 

 choosing every shot, and therefore losing a third, or 

 perhaps the half, of those birds, which might, other- 

 wise, be put in the bag. 



We will now treat on every principal part, of the 

 detonating system, in the same order as the flint ; and, 

 of course, as briefly as possible. 



GUN. 



To fire with detonating powder, the gun requires to 

 be much stronger than that used for a flint ; it must be 



