STANCHION, OR PUNT-GUN. 339 



STANCHION, OR PUNT-GUN. 



I HAVE, by practical experiment, since the earlier 

 editions, found, that the gunmakers have another lesson 

 to learn ! Although a gun of this description must of 

 course be supported by some mechanical means, yet the 

 universal system of entirely confining the gun under 

 the barrel, so that it cannot be relieved even one inch 

 in the recoil, is the worst that can possibly be adopted. 

 It not only (when properly loaded) jars every thing so 

 much as to require extra strength, and therefore extra 

 weight to a punt, which we want as light as possible, 

 in order to go in shallow water ; but the sudden check 

 throws the muzzle so much out of the proper direction, 

 that we are frequently obliged to take level very far 

 under, or over, the mark ; according as the gun may 

 spring, from being either heaviest or lightest forward : 

 and, what is worse than all, this sudden check, at the 

 moment of ignition, materially injures the shooting of 

 the gun in every respect. This experiment was tried, 

 in my presence, by Elijah Buckle, one of the best 

 stanchion-gunners in England, and by far the best I 

 ever saw, who, some time ago, left the coast of Essex 

 for Southampton ; who has been several weeks in my 

 employ ; and to whom I am, most probably, indebted 

 for not having remained much longer in ignorance on 

 the subject. Indeed nothing but ocular demonstration 

 would have convinced me of this argument. What 

 pride and folly it is, then, for any one to hold himself 

 above being shown, even by the most humble indi- 

 vidual ! 



The gun was loaded with a pound of shot, and two 



z % 



