584 [Assembly 



Nearly 50 years ago, a London tradesman patented a chambered 

 breech gun. (Paixhan since.) 



The rifle is said to have been invented in Germany. Those 

 made by Kuchanrieter, senior, of Ratisbon, are most esteemed. 



^]iril 17, 1855. 

 Present — Messrs. Fisher, Nash, Backus, Hall, E. A. Serrell, 

 Page, Godwin, Hon. R. S. Livingston, Edge, Connel Cowdin,, 

 Wells, and others — 22 members. 



The President not being present, 



Mr. Backus was appointed pro tempore, 



H. Meigs, Secretary. 



The minutes of the last meeting, March 2, were read and 

 aflirmed. The subject of breech loading guns was considered. 

 The chairman and Mr. J. Hall, Edward Serrell, Meigs, Godwin, 

 Page, Prentiss and Fisher, took part in the discussion. 



Isaac Edge, of Jersey, Pyrotechnist, exhibited and explained 

 his new patent rocket, in which the fire issues from the head 

 backwards, and also as usual from apertures at the tail. Mr. 

 Edge claims for it great steadiness in flight and capacity to con- 

 vey an inch line half a mile to wrecked vessels. 



On motion of Mr. Fisher, the gun question was ordered to lay 

 on the table indefinitely. 



Mr. Serrell proposed, as a question for next meeting, " What 

 is the best kind of iron for making horse shoes and wheel-tire for 

 use on New- York city pavements'?" Carried. 



Mr. Serrell moved that Prentiss' gun be also considered at the 

 next meeting. 



Mr. Fisher moved the following subject, viz.: " Have the im- 

 provements in locomotive engines, within twenty-five years past, 

 been such as to warrant the belief that steam power may be ad- 

 rantageously used on common roads." Carried. 



