Experiments with Cannon^ ^c. iij 



favourable an opportunity to make trial of some of the 

 plans for the improvement of artillery which had been 

 recommended by professional men of eminence ; or that 

 had been the result of my own experiments and medi- 

 tations. 



The following Memoir, that accompanied a model of 

 a Bavarian field piece, with its ammunition waggon, 

 which, with the permission of the late Elector, I had 

 the honour to present to the United States of North 

 America (my native country), will give the reader a 

 general idea of some of the alterations that were in- 

 troduced, in the construction of that species of ord- 

 nance, in my attempts to improve Field Artillery.* 



The model above mentioned was upon a large scale, 

 being one quarter of the full size in length, diameter, &c., 

 and it was finished, and mounted in the most complete 

 manner, and fitted for actual service or experiment. I 

 brought it with me to England, from Bavaria, in the 

 autumn of the year 1798, and before it was shipped for 

 America, I had the honour to shew it to his Royal 

 Highness the Duke of York, commander-in-chief of 

 his Majesty's forces in Great Britain ; and to leave it 

 several months for the inspection of the officers of the 

 Royal Artillery. 



"Memoir, in which some account is given of the new 

 Bavarian Field Pieces', lately constructed at Munich, under 

 the direction of Lieutenant-General Count Rumford. 



*' In contriving these guns (which are 6 pounders, 18 

 calibres in length), the following objects were had in 

 view : — 



* This gun, with all the details of its carriage, drawn to a scale, are represented 

 in the (annexed) Plates VII.,'VIII., and IX. 

 VOL. I. 12 



