MUZZLE-LOADERS AND BREECH-LOADEES. 37 



Personally, the writer has always preferred British 

 to French or Belgian guns, although chance has 

 compelled him to own as many of the latter as the 

 former. The English gun is made for work ; even 

 when cheaply manufactured, it will be found effec- 

 tive where efBciency is necessary ; and it is far more 

 beautiful to the eye of a true sportsman, with its 

 plain blued lock-plates, and total deficiency of orna- 

 ment, than the Continental weapon, covered with 

 engraving and ornamentation, but defective in some 

 of those minutise that lend nothing to its beauty, 

 but add much to its usefulness. This is particularly 

 the case with breech-loaders, which, if not manu- 

 factured carefully, are almost useless, and which, 

 although originally invented in France, are at this 

 day produced in more serviceable style — unless 

 where the highest-priced article is obtained — in Eng- 

 land than in the country of their origin. Great dis- 

 credit was brought upon breech-loaders among us at 

 their first introduction, in consequence of the impor- 

 tation of inferior articles, and they still labor under 

 the disadvantages of that failure, although rapidly 

 overcoming all objections. 



There are a few implements that a.re necessary to 

 the use of a breech-loader, which are much simpler 

 than they at first appear. To load the cartridge is 

 required either a short ramrod and a machine for 

 turning over the edges of the case upon the wad, to 

 retain it in its place, or an apparatus, also invented 

 by Jeffries, that combines all the requisites for load- 

 ing, and by the aid of which a hundred cartridges 



