1 88 Experiments with Cannon, ^c. 



muzzle upwards. The cartridge is then put into it, and 

 by its weight falls into its place ; the ball, grape, or can- 

 nister, with which the gun is loaded, falling into the 

 conical opening of the chamber, there sticks fast, and is 

 firmly fixed and confined in its place. By means of an- 

 other strap, or rope, the breech of the gun is raised, 

 with the strength of one man, and the piece is brought 

 again into an horizontal situation (or to any given ele- 

 vation) ; where, by means of a rack (in the form of the 

 limb of a quadrant) and a catch, it is confined, and 

 ready to be again discharged. Upon drawing back this 

 catch, after the piece has been fired, the gun falls again 

 into a vertical position. 



• The carriage is so constructed that the gun may, with 

 great facility, be pointed several degrees, either to the 

 right or to the left of the line of the direction of the 

 march, without altering the direction in which the horses 

 are going on. 



The gun requires no priming, being fired by means 

 of a pistol, constructed for that purpose ; the flame of 

 which is impelled with such violence through the vent 

 of the gun, that it never fails to pierce the thick woollen 

 bag, which contains the powder, and to set fire to the 

 charge. 



This piece carries cannister-shot with great efi*ect, but 

 the charge, which to me appeared to be most formida- 

 ble, and best calculated to intimidate an enemy, was a 

 grape, consisting of 9 two pound iron bullets ; for as 

 these balls are sufficiently large to rebound from the 

 ground, or recocheter^ several times, especially when the 

 gun is not much elevated, they bound on to a great dis- 

 tance; and as they exhibit all the appearances of cannon 

 bullets to the spectators who see them arrive among 



