VOL. XLri.J PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SgQ 



Other experiments were afterwards made before the committee by firing a 

 fowling-piece charged with 5 dwts. of powder, against a sheet of whited-brown 

 paper, at the distance of 2 or 3 yards ; the paper was found pierced with several 

 hundred holes, and the jags of the paper appeared on the backside. In a 2d 

 trial with 10 dwts. the paper had more holes in it. A 3d trial was made with 5 

 dwts. of powder and ball, and then few holes appeared in the paper. In a 4th 

 experiment, made with a short screw-barrel pistol, with a charge of 1 dwt. 2 

 grs. of powder and a ball, several holes were found in the paper.* 



But the irregularities in this manner of collecting the powder unfired, giving 

 reason to suspect, that some powder escaped sideways, beyond the paper laid to 

 receive it, it was proposed to have a machine made, which being close every- 

 where, except at the end where the muzzle of the piece was to be placed, might 

 thereby hinder the powder from being dissipated. Such a machine was con- 

 trived by Mr. Ellicot, and by him presented to the committee, being a frame 

 of wood in shape like a truncated quadrangular pyramid; at the smaller end was 

 a board to receive the shot, and the 4 sides of the machine were covered with 

 thick paper strongly pasted together, and so prepared as to prevent its taking 

 fire. This machine, supported by props, was placed on one of its angles, the 

 carriages for fixing the barrels was placed close to the greater base, which was 

 left open. The results of the several experiments were as follows: 



The first 3 experiments were made with a barrel -j- of an inch diameter of 

 the bore, and the length of the chace 5-i- inches. The charge each time was 

 6 dwts. of powder, without ball; the quantities of powder collected were res- 

 pectively, 1 dwt. IQ grs. 1 dwt. 21 grs. and 1 dwt. 20 grs. 



Three other experiments were made with the same piece, and with a 12 dwt. 

 charge, without ball. The quantities of powder collected were 4 dwts. ] 8 grs. 



4 dwts. 2-i- grs. and 4 dwts. 22 grs. 



The next 3 trials were with the same piece, the charge 6 dwts. with a ball 

 weighing 1 oz. 4 dwts. being a mixture of lead and tin, and fitting the piece 

 exactly. The quantities of powder collected each time were respectively, i dwt. 



5 grs. 1 dwt. 5 grs. and 1 dwt. 1 1 grs. 



The last 3 experiments with the same piece, were made with a charge of 12 

 dwts. the weight of the ball as before; and the quantities of powder collected, 

 were found to be 1 dwt. 12 grs. 1 dwt. 9 grs. and i dwt. 8-i-grs. 



The waddings used in all these and the following experiments were of thick 

 leather cut round, to fit the bore of the piece. 



* That the paper in these experiments was pierced by the unfired powder, appears, because several 

 grains were found lying behind the frame, to which the paper was fixed, and some few stuck in the 

 paper. — Orig. 



