202 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



quick, burn clean, and be very strong ; and ought not 

 to lose much of its strength, if properly kept, even for 

 years. These properties prevail in Mr. Harvey's in a 

 very eminent degree, particularly the last : Some of 

 his powder which went out to India in the Earl 

 Spencer, part of which was brought back, proved, af- 

 ter the most minute investigation, very nearly as 

 strong as when sent out, though it had been kept 

 merely in the ship's magazine, and tried immediately 

 on its return without re-drying. It would appear, 

 that some manufacturers have supposed that gun- 

 powder could not be too finely granulated ; but this 

 is quite a mistake : I tried some of this excessive- 

 finely granulated powder last November, (1815,) 

 against Mr. W. G. Harvey's, and found, in the first 

 place, that it did not burn so clean, and secondly, that 

 it was very unpleasant to use : the most gentle breeze 

 imaginable blew it away in loading, and it even insi- 

 nuated itself into the inside of my gun-locks, though 

 they fit apparently very close to the stock. It. was 

 not so strong as the Battle powder, left more feculent 

 matter after burning, and was very susceptible or' 

 moisture from the air. 



It need hardly be mentioned, that gunpowder can- 

 not be kept too dry : if by any means it has imbibed 

 moisture, it should be re-dried if by the heat of the 

 sun the better, otherwise by putting it on a pewter 

 plate, after the latter has been warmed at the fire ; or 

 indeed any metal utensil or other thing that will re- 

 tain heat sufficient for the purpose. No person would 



