192 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



same security from half-cock as a common gun-lock, 

 but can also be put in such a position, that, though 

 it should happen to be cocked, and the trigger pulled, 

 yet no inflammation can be produced." 



I have not yet used this new-invented gun-lock; 

 but I saw it at the shop of the inventor, in the month 

 of March (1811). It certainly appears to possess 

 most or perhaps all the properties ascribed to it 

 above ; nor do I think there can possibly be more 

 than one objection urged against it, and that proba- 

 bly not well founded 1 mean on the score of dan- 

 ger. The cavity for holding the priming, situated in 

 what is called the magazine, is capable of containing 

 chemical powder sufficient for twenty-five primings, 

 which number, I understand, is to be put into it at 

 once. From the small space allotted for these twenty- 

 five primings, the powder of which they consist must 

 be consequently very strong, and it instantly struck 

 me that it might be possible for the whole of the 

 priming to explode at once, and thus be attended with 

 infinite danger. On communicating this idea to the 

 young man who showed me the lock, I was informed 

 that the possibility of such a circumstance had been 

 anticipated, and provided for accordingly. In case 

 the Whole became iniiamed, a bit of cork (fixed for 

 die purpose) would be driven out, and thus give vent 

 to the elastic fluid. 



The material for priming is what the inventor calls 

 chemical powder ; and when one of these locks is pur- 

 chased, a prescription is given for making it. 



