THE FOWLING- PIECE. 185 



Elevated Breech. 



There lias been lately invented what is called an 

 Elevated Breech ; which is a piece of iron running 

 longitudinally along the top of the barrel, raised the 

 eighth of an inch perhaps at the breech end, and 

 gradually diminishing to the muzzle of the barrel, 

 with which it forms a line. Man ton, I understand, 

 is the inventor ; and the purpose for which it is in- 

 tended is to throw the shot a little higher than the 

 common barrel, which it will certainly effect. For 

 those who are apt to shoot below or under the object, 

 the elevated breech will be found of service ; and I 

 believe this is the case with some indifferent shooters, 

 but most particularly with persons beginning this 

 delightful recreation. To an old sportsman, who 

 knows the trim of his fowling-piece, and who seldom 

 misses a fair shot, the elevated breech can be of little 

 or no use. It is a simple matter, and I would recom* 

 mend it to bad shots; but simple as the invention is, 

 it is capable of being made more so ; a bit of iron 

 placed at the breech, raised the eighth of an inch 

 above the barrel, or more or less, as the method of 

 the person's shooting, and the trim of his gun, re- 

 quire, will answer the purpose just as well as if the 

 piece of iron ran along the whole length of the bar- 

 rel. The bit of iron should be nearly or quite half 

 an inch broad at the top ; and if made a little con- 



