118 COLONEL HANGER TO 



if they wifl not give me a direct, barefaced 

 and impudent assertion ; but give me a 

 positive proof, accompanying their assertion, 

 to the following question, which I shall 

 put to them. I think, for certain, I may 

 be in no fear, when I say I will give my- 

 self up to be crucified, with my head 

 downwards (poor fellow) as St. Peter was, 

 provided they give me a positive proof in 

 solving my question. The question :— An 

 experienced gun-maker shall bore twenty 

 barrels, all of the same weight, length, and 

 caliber, and the iron exactly the same qua- 

 lity, paying equal attention to each barrel ; 

 why shall one barrel, amongst the tioeniy, 

 when they come to be shot at a mark, be 

 found to carry the shot much closer than 

 all the others ? This does not often hap- 

 pen ; indeed, hardly ever. One instance 

 of this I saw in a gun of Joseph Manton's, 

 which gun he sold to Lord Camelford : 

 this gun carried the shot so uncommonly 

 close, to what all others did, that it really 

 astonished me. Now, pray, Messrs. Gun- 

 makers, solve me this question ? I believe 

 this will give you as much trouble as it has 



