THE FOWLING-PIECE. 183 



ported their credit among sportsmen ; whilst the 

 pretended improvements have all experienced but a 

 very temporary reputation, and are now entirely 

 neglected. 



There remains yet one observation to be made on 

 this subject, which is that of overcharging. That 

 this is frequently the cause of the shot scattering too 

 much I have not the smallest doubt. Every barrel, 

 according to its calibre and weight, should have a 

 certain quantity of lead, and a suitable one of powder* 

 which will be attended with greater certainty and 

 effect than any other; and these can be ascertained 

 by repeated trials alone. If we increase the quantity 

 of shot above this, we lessen the force of the dis- 

 charge, and at the same time increase the recoil; 

 and if we increase the charge of powder, that of the 

 shot remaining the same, the recoil will be greater, 

 and the shot more dispersed than before. In every 

 species of fire-arms, large charges of powder are 

 found to disperse the shot very much, whilst with 

 smaller charges than are generally used, it is thrown 

 more steadily and closely. If therefore the object we 

 are about to fire at be at too great a distance for the 

 shot to take effect, and it happens that we cannot 

 approach nearer it, we ought not to increase the 

 powder with a view to the shot being thereby thrown 

 farther, as, by so doing, the increase of the range will 

 be very trifling, whilst the dispersion of the shot will 

 be augmented. The only expedient in this case is 

 tp employ shot of a larger size ; the quantity of it, as 



