DETONATING SYSTEM. 69 



In the mean time, while under this head, let us in- 

 troduce another new, or at all events newly adapted, 

 breeching. 



Mr. Wilkinson's Breeching. 



To show the necessity of retarding the powder, in 

 detonating guns, in order that it may be all ignited, I 

 will only beg the favour of any one, who may doubt 

 this, to call on Mr. Wilkinson, in Pallmall, and look at 

 an ingeniously contrived machine that he has invented 

 for the purpose of proving it. By this experiment you 

 will see the detonating flame pass through a whole 

 charge of even fine powder, the greater part of which 

 he will afterwards pour out on a sheet of paper, and 

 thus prove to you that it has not exploded. This has 

 induced him to invent what he calls a " counter-para- 

 bolic " breeching ; or, as high-flown language on sub- 

 jects of this kind savours too much of the cock-loft 

 style, suppose, by way of variety, we go to the other 

 extreme and say " Jack-boot" breeching. Vide Sketch. 



Contraction, to jj|j retard powder. 



Back-screw. R Ante-chamber. 



This breeching, as will be seen by the annexed re- 

 presentation of it, has a chamber somewhat like that 

 of Mr. Wilkinson's relation, the celebrated old Henrv 



