STANCHION, OR PUNT-GUN. 345 



short, this plan forms, as it were, a kind of oval to suit 

 the shape of the object : and thus, at the moment that 

 one part of the birds are being killed by the detonater, 

 the others are just conveniently opening their wings for 

 the flint-barrel, though they have not time to rise ; be- 

 cause I have here eased the recoil, and got the barrels 

 together so as to do the business point blank. 



The mode of easing the recoil is by means of a long 

 loop, worked on, between, and under, the barrels ; and 

 the swivel-pin going through a slider, on which rests 

 the whole weight of the gun. The space within this 

 loop (about eight inches), with the exception of an inch 

 and five-eighths that is taken up by the slider, is filled 

 with a spiral spring, which has a play of rather more 

 than two inches ; (and if it had even four or five inches 

 of play, I should think it would be all the better.) 

 Consequently, before any jar can take place to inter- 

 rupt the point blank delivery of the charge, the shot 

 has left the gun, which is, afterwards, brought forward 

 again by the reaction of the spring. The loop should 

 be made of horse-nail stubs, and forged on to the bar- 

 rels. Mine is not so ; therefore if this part fails, the 

 fault lies with Mr. Fullerd, and not with me. Suppose 

 this was to give way ? which would be almost impos- 

 sible, if done as it ought to be then you have a ring 

 in the stock (all of which, except a moveable but, is of 

 cannon metal] with a reserve rope that takes up the 

 recoil immediately. 



It was the opinion of a distinguished officer in the 

 navy, before whom 1 fired this gun several times, that 

 my plan for easing the recoil would answer extremely 

 well for the carronades, or at all events, for the ships' 

 swivels, in His Majesty's service; and I therefore had 



