44 War Science. ' * [January, 



instance of this we may mention the subject of gun-cotton, 

 which has only recently, after many weary years of experi- 

 ment and research, been accepted into the service as a 

 reliable explosive. Austria, it is true, gave the matter some 

 consideration, and contributed, indeed, much towards its 

 further trial and adoption as a military element, but the 

 French and Prussian Governments contented themselves 

 with making a few hasty experiments therewith, and in 

 abandoning the material without the semblance even of a 

 fair probation ; in England, on the contrary, our authorities 

 perceiving the matter to be one of some promise, ordered a 

 thorough and exhaustive investigation to take place, and the 

 consequence is that, after a study of some seven years, a 

 most valuable war agent has been secured, which when 

 employed in torpedoes for harbour defence, as also in mines 

 and other engineering works, is simply without a rival. 



This, however, only by way of example ; and that the 

 reader may form an adequate idea of the great assistance 

 and support which modern warfare really derives from science, 

 we cannot do better than pass in review some of the matters 

 in which it plays an important part in the various branches 

 of the army. It is well known that there exist among our 

 troops two scientific corps, the Royal Artillery and Royal 

 Engineers. The duties of the former body are at once 

 clearly defined, for although the calculations and problems 

 arising in the elaboration of gunnery science are occasionally 

 of an abstruse and profound nature, still they always lie 

 within well marked boundaries. It is different, however, 

 with the Royal Engineers ; with them it is no longer one 

 particular science that requires to be mastered, but rather 

 half a dozen, a tolerable acquaintance with almost every 

 applied science being insisted upon in all officers of the corps. 



For the purpose of imparting this knowledge of the many 

 duties devolving upon the Royal Engineer, a special college 

 has been founded at Chatham, under the name of the School 

 of Military Engineering. At this establishment professors, 

 all of whom are senior officers of the corps, are engaged in 

 the tuition of juniors in mathematics, chemistry, physics, 

 mineralogy, fortification, &c, together with the practical 

 application of such sciences as telegraphy, photography, 

 topography, and other kindred subjects. A course of instruc- 

 tion at this school invariably forms the prelude to an officer's 

 career, who, although very well educated before obtaining 

 his commission, must furthermore go through this prescribed 

 training. The advantages of this proceeding need scarcely 

 be pointed out, but the striking illustration of the value of an 



