of the Old World. 499 



Regulation Enfield, the efficiency of the one as com- 

 pared with the other was as twenty to one : Colonel 

 Wilford saying the Whitworth was better at 800 

 yards than the Enfield at 500. Beyond 1 100 yards 

 the Enfield must cease firing even at large masses, 

 while Whitworth's can do business at 2000. Indeed, 

 rifling seems to be in its infancy, and range must 

 only cease with the power of the human eye to take 

 an aim. If Mr. Whitworth applies his peculiar prin- 

 ciple of rifling and extreme accuracy of boring to 

 a breech-loader, he will produce the most finished 

 weapon of the day. Next to the Whitworth I 

 appreciate the advantages that Mr. Lancaster's elip- 

 tical rifling has over other systems, as it gives excel- 

 lent practice, and the bore being smooth is not liable 

 to harbour rust or wear away. This rifle has given 

 admirable results, and has the great advantage of not 

 fouling nearly so easily as the Regulation and other 

 pieces, and also admits of being cleared far more 

 easily. 



I shall conclude my remarks by observing that the 

 market in the present day is deluged with arms tbat 

 are made to sell, and not to shoot ; and the public 

 should be on their guard, so as not to allow them- 

 selves to be taken in by spurious imitations ; for there 

 are unscrupulous vendors who do not hesitate to 

 engrave the names of first-class gunmakers upon guns 

 of inferior workmanship, and sell them to the un- 



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