Experiments with Cannon, &c. 177 



favourable an opportunity to make trial of some of the 

 plans for the improvement of artillery which had been 

 recommended by professional men of eminence ; or that 

 had been the result of my own experiments and medi- 

 tations. 



The following Memoir, that accompanied a model of 

 a Bavarian field piece, with its ammunition waggon, 

 which, with the permission of the late Elector, I had 

 the honour to present to the United States of North 

 America (my native country), will give the reader a 

 general idea of some of the alterations that were in- 

 troduced, in the construction of that species of ord- 

 nance, in my attempts to improve Field Artillery.* 



The model above mentioned was upon a large scale, 

 being one quarter of the full size in length, diameter, &c., 

 and it was finished} and mounted in the most complete 

 manner, and fitted for actual service or experiment. I 

 brought it with me to England, from Bavaria, in the 

 autumn of the year 1798, and before it was shipped for 

 America, I had the honour to shew it to his Royal 

 Highness the Duke of York, commander-in-chief of 

 his Majesty's forces in Great Britain ; and to leave it 

 several months for the inspection of the officers of the 

 Royal Artillery. 



" MEMOIR, in which some account is given of the new 

 Bavarian Field Pieces, lately constructed at Munich, under 

 the direction of Lieutenant-General Count Rum ford. 



"In contriving these guns (which are 6 pounders, 18 

 calibres in length), the following objects were had in 

 view : 



* This gun, with all the details of its carriage, drawn to a scale, are represented 

 in the (annexed) Plates VII., VIII., and IX. 

 VOL. I. 12 



