X. Description of fome Improvements in the Arms and 

 Accoutrements of Light Cavalry, propofed by the 

 Earl of AncRAM, Colonel of the Mid-Lothian Regiment of 

 Fencible Cavalry, and F. R. S. Edin. to his Excellency 

 Marquis CORNWALLIS, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, &c* &c. 

 in a Letter 'to Captain T^AYLOR, Military Secretary to 

 his Excellency. 



[Read, March 4. 1799.] 



SIR, Hillfbro' Dec. 23. 1798. 



SOme time in the month of July 1797, I had a carabine 

 made at Drogheda, of different dimensions, and of a differ- 

 ent conftruction from that of our Light Dragoons : the mode 

 of carrying and of ufing it is like wife different ; and, as I have 

 had confiderable experience of this carabine fince that period, 

 I take the liberty of recommending it to the notice of his Excel- 

 lency the Lord Lieutenant, in order that a trial may be made, 

 whether the adoption of fuch an arm might not be of advantage 

 to the Light Cavalry. 



The barrel is twenty-one inches in length, (PI. IV. fig. 1.) and 

 of carabine bore. The weight of the carabine is not more than 

 five pounds. The length of the bayonet-blade is thirteen inches, 

 (fig. 2.) and there is a fpring on the ring of it, to prevent the poffi- 

 bility of its flying off the barrel. The touch-hole is of a conical 

 fhape ; the bafe of the cone opening into the pan, the fummit into 

 the barrel. The breech-plug is made to flope down towards the 

 touch-hole, fo that the carabine primes itfelf, the powder run- 



I i 2 ning 



