IF you expostulate with an old wildfowl gunner on 

 the danger of his piece, he may retaliate on that of your 

 spring powder flask ; while he (with a cow's horn, 

 stopped at one end with a piece of oakum, and at the 

 other with a bit of ood) can fill his backer-pipe, and load 

 with more safety than yon gemmenl 'Tis very true! 

 Many serious accidents have happened from sportsmen 

 not having had the precaution to detach their charge 

 before they put it into the barrel, which may have a 

 fatal spark remaining ! A spring powder horn should 

 have a cap to it, from which you can load, and by 

 means of which you keep all dead leaves, and other dirt, 

 that may fall in the pocket, from crumbling into the 

 top of it. 



Having pushed back the spring, to fill the top or 

 charger, let it gradually close again on the thumb, 

 instead of allowing it to fly back and snap. I mention 

 this in consequence of an accident, which happened to 

 one, who, in doing the latter, had his hand dreadfully 

 mangled by the explosion of a flask, which it is sup- 

 posed was occasioned by the adhesion of a piece of 

 flint. 



Mr. Egg and Mr. Sykes have each invented powder 

 flasks, in which, if a charge is blown up, all communi- 

 cation is so effectually prevented, that no farther damage 



