Experiments with Caniion, if^c. 185- 



The guns cast were i pounders, 3 pounders, 6 

 pounders, 12 pounders, and one 18 pounder; and to 

 make the comparison with brass artillery the more 

 striking and satisfactory, they were all — except the 

 I pounders and the 18 pounder — made of the same 

 lengths, and of the same weight, as brass guns of the 

 same calibres. 



These iron guns were all cast solid, and were bored in 

 an horizontal position ; and while the gun was boring, 

 the swelling of its muzzle, and the first reinforce ring 

 (at the breech) were neatly turned. The forms of all 

 these guns were simple, and not inelegant. Their trun- 

 nions were placed in such a manner that a line passing 

 through their axes meets the axis of the bore of the gun, 

 and cuts it at right angles. The trunnions were turned, 

 and their forms and dimensions made perfectly true, by 

 means of a particular machine, contrived for that purpose. 



To protect the trunnions and the gun-carriage from 

 the violence of the blow which the carriage receives 

 from the gun in its recoil, the trunnions were covered 

 with thick sole leather, greased with tallow ; and the 

 trunnion plate was made to fit the trunnion — when 

 thus covered with leather — as accurately as possible. 

 The elevating screw was so attached to the cascable that 

 the gun was completely confined, and prevented from 

 kicking up, which probably contributed not a little to 

 the protection of the carriage. 



When these iron guns were mounted, — and not be- 

 fore,* — they "^QTQ proved ; and they all sustained, with- 



* As it is not common to mount guns before they are proved, it is right that the 

 reader should know why this usual and necessary precaution was neglected in this in- 

 stance. It was done to surprise and confound those who were disposed to criticise, 

 and prepared to oppose. It was, no doubt, a bold measure, but bold measures are 

 sometimes the most prudent. The iS pounder was not submitted to these severe trials. 



