66 DETONATING SYSTEM. 



on the centre of a hammer is less likely to strain 

 the hammer-bridle; but then the communication, 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 way. 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 

 of, but as I have found it. I afterwards had a double 

 gun "detonated" to my order (with new breechings, 

 &c.) by Mr. Parsons. I then 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. I have occasionally used this gun 

 ever since, and no work can stand better, or do more 

 credit to any tradesman, than this job does to Mr. 

 Parsons of Salisbury. 



A new patent self-priming detonater was completed 

 by Mr. Joseph Man ton, previously to his failure in 

 Hanover-square ; and, what with doing, undoing, new 

 tools, &c., cost him perhaps not less than ^200. He 

 brought it to show me, and I told him it would never 

 answer; and, as some proof that I was right, I need 

 only state, that this gun was bought at the sale for a 

 mere nothing (Lancaster told me ^14), and then I 

 believe was discarded by the purchaser. It is but seldom, 



