Experiments with Cannon^ ^c. 179 



" A bare inspection of this carriage, and a comparison 

 of it with the carriages of field pieces on the common 

 construction, will shew the various means that have 

 been used to attain this important end; and that these 

 means have been effectual has been abundantly proved 

 by the uncommon strength which those carriages 

 evinced when they were submitted to the most severe 

 trials. Several of these 6 pounders were fired repeat- 

 edly with 3 lbs. of the best powder and three fit bullets, 

 without receiving the smallest injury ; while other 6 

 pounders of the same weight, mounted according to the 

 common method, seldom failed to break and disable 

 their carriages, when exposed to this trial, although the 

 common carriage was 100 lbs. heavier than the new Ba- 

 varian carriage, — namely, 80 lbs. in iron, and 20 lbs. 

 in wood. 



" The flasks of the carriages of field pieces are com- 

 monly much weakened by being made crooked ; and 

 also by the number of holes that are bored in them ; 

 but the nev/ Bavarian carriage is free from both these 

 defects. The Bavarian carriage is moreover much pre- 

 served by the collars of thick sole leather, which sur- 

 round and cover the trunnions of the gun and the 

 pivots of the elevating machine; for this soft and elas- 

 tic substance, being interposed between the gun and the 

 carriage, serves to deaden the blow of the gun against 

 its carriage in the recoil. 



**3. Several new contrivances were introduced with a 

 view to expedite the management of the gun in service ; 

 and to prevent accidents and mistakes in the use of the 

 handspikes, ram-rods, &c. 



"The handspikes (of which there are two, in order 

 that one may remain if the other is shot away) are at- 



