580 [ASSEMBL.7 



Engineer Lemuel Serrel moved that Mr. Peel be requested tc 

 give his paper for publication. Carried. 



Engineer L. M. Serrell moved that the Secretary be requested' 

 to write to the editor of the N'evv Haven Palladium for one of the 

 volcanic pistols. Carried. 



Engineer Maynard proceeded to illustrate on the black board 

 his views of the Minie expanding bullet and breech loading guns 

 (the subject before the club). He called attention to tlie course- 

 maintained by any elongated bullet fired from a rifle in its flight, 

 showing that when fired at an elevation it maintains tlie same 

 angle until it falls to the level of the target, which it pierces at 

 the same angle, &c. Some speak of the Minie rifle. It is the 

 bullet and not the gun. 



Mr. Hall thought that the English ball was better than the- 

 Minie — that the expansion of the ball in a uniform bore is better. 



Engineer Fisher illustrated the French arm, bal-a-tige on the 

 black board. 



Mr. Maynard reminded gentlemen that the grooves in the rifle 

 for firing Minie bullets are deepened gradually from muzzle to 

 breech. 



Mr. Streble explained the Sharp rifle, two of them being on the 

 table for examination 



Mr. Penfield, agent of the company, was requested to explain 

 fully the peculiar properties of that arm, which he did thoroughly^ 

 answering all questions. He remarked that the peculiar merit is 

 in the ball, although the Sharp rifle is well made to carry it. 

 This barrel is 21 inches in length, has an almost insensible dimi- 

 nution of calibre from breech to muzzle, perhaps equal to the 

 thickness of writing paper. When a true horizontal aim is taken 

 the ball will ascend above the point blank proportionally with- 

 that little angular difference. Our object was safety, accuracy 

 and durability. We perfectly test every gun before delivery y. 

 and we have one of them discharged with our uniform load 

 many times every day (it is the office of one of our men to do it)^ 

 and we find the arm as good as at first, after having been fire 



