REPORTS 
ON 
THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 
Report on the Application of Gun-cotton to Warlike purposes. By a 
Committee, consisting of J. H. Guavsrone, Ph.D., F.R.S., Prof. W. 
A. Mitirr, M.D., F.R.S., and Prof. E. Franxiann, PA.D., F.R.S., 
from Section B.; and W. Fairzairn, LL.D., F.R.S., Josern 
Wauirtworts, F.R.S., James Nasmytu, C.EL., F.R.A.S., J. Scorr 
Russeiu, C.E., F.R.S., Joon Anperson, C.H., and Sir W. G. 
Armstrone, C.B., LL.D., F.R.S., from Section G. 
Sryce the invention of gun-cotton by Professor Schénbein of Basle, the 
thoughts of many have been directed to its application to warlike purposes. 
Many trials and experiments have been made, especially by the French 
Government ; but such serious difficulties and objections presented themselves, 
that the idea seemed to be abandoned in every country but one. That 
country was Austria. From time to time accounts reached England of its 
partial adoption in the Austrian service—though no explanation was afforded 
of the mode in which the difficulties had been overcome, or the extent to 
which these attempts had been successful. 
This was the state of the case when the present Committee was appointed. 
During the year your Committee have been put in possession of the fullest 
information on the subject, mainly from two sources, F. A. Abel, Esq., F.R.S., 
the Chemist to the War Department, and Baron William von Lenk, Major- 
General of the Austrian Artillery, who is the inventor of the system by which 
gun-cotton is made practically available for warlike purposes. 
Mr. Abel, by permission of the Secretary of State for War, has communi- 
cated the information g*ven by the Austrian Government to the Government 
of this country, and the results which he has himself arrived at during the 
course of an elaborate series of experiments. 
General von Lenk, on the invitation of your Committee, and by permission 
of the Emperor of Austria, paid a visit to this country, with the object of 
answering any inquiries the Committee might make, and explaining his sys- 
_ tem thoroughly ; and for this purpose he brought over drawings and samples 
from the Imperial factory. 
1863, 3 
