CHARGES OF GREATEST EFFICACY FOR ARTILLERY AT SEA. h| 



grappled with those oftheenemy, or until they have approached 

 them so nearly as to affect in no sensible degree the first force 

 of the shot; the above paper has, it is presumed, as much 

 claiin to utility as any that has ever yet been oifered to the 

 navy in the science of gunnery : and even if the vessels be not 

 so closely in action, but are fighting at the distance of about 

 30 or 40 feet from each other, no danger would result from 

 the above charges, provided tliat the shot iujpinged pei'pen- 

 diculariy on the si Je of the vessel ; on account of the split- 

 ting of the timber in some degree, which would make 

 ample compensation for the defect of velocity occasioned by 

 the resistance of the medium. 



It is impossible to deduce charges, that shall produce Distant firnis^ 

 with certainty the effect above stated when fired at any 

 considerable distance from the sliip. The uncertainty of 

 the impact being perpendicular froru the unsteadiness of 

 the vessels renders the thing at once nugatory, without any 

 consideration of the real resistance of the medium to the 

 -ball, and the deflection of the latter from a right lined di- 

 rection. If the oblicjuity of tlie impact be given, or can 

 be determined, then, the problem being otherwise rightly 

 solved, a charge can b<^ found, which shall answer tlie same 

 purpose as those above given; but, if this he impossible 

 (which it most decidedly is), then will the problem be at 

 best but speculative upon certain hypotheses. 



I shall however give an investigation of the pioblem on 

 the principles of resistance generally allowed, and tlien con- 

 clude the subject by a few observations. 



Problem II. 



*To determme the same as in the last Proh/em, when the Engine To find tVie 

 is at any considerable Distance from the Object, and '^"'Y,^'':' ' 



the Resistance of ike Air taken into the account, execution ac i 



distance. 

 Here, as in the former proposition, the Velocity V — 

 j_ 



J — _ I is to be esteemed the velocity of impact. Now on 

 \ Tis J ^ ' 



the principle of resistance just adverted to, which considers 



the fluid as infinitely compressed-, aud the particles thereor 



perfectly 



