Mifcellanea Curiofa. 325 



tain, that in large Shot of Metal, whoie weight 

 many Thoufand times furpaffes that of the AW % 

 and whofe force is very great, in proportion to 

 the Surface wherewith they prefs thereon ; this 

 Oppefuion is fcarce dhcernable \ For by feveral 

 Experiments made with all Care and Circumfpe&i- 

 on wirh a Mortarpicce, Extraordinary well fix'd 

 to the Earth on purpote, which carried a folid 

 Brals Shot of four Inches and a half D'ametcr, 

 and of abour fourteen Pound Weight, the Ran- 

 ges above and below forty five Degrees were found 

 nearly equal ; if there were any difference, the 

 under Ranges went rather the farrhefr, but thofe 

 differences were ufually ie/s than the Errors com- 

 mitted* in ordinary Practice, by the unequal 

 Goodnefs and Drynels of the fame fort of Pow- 

 der, by the Unfitnefs of the Shot to the Bore, 

 and by the Loofhels of the Carriage. 



In a frnaller Bra (s- Shot of about an Inch and 

 half Diameter, call: by a Crofs-Bow which ran- 

 ged it, at moft about four Hundred Foot, the 

 Force being much more equal than in the JVlor- 

 terpiece, this difference was found more Curioufly : 

 and Conftantly and molt Evidently, the under 

 Ranges out- went the upper. From which Tri- 

 als 1 conclude, that although in fmall and light 

 Shot, the Oppofition of the Air, ought and mull 

 be accounted for ; yet in Shooting of great and 

 weighty Bombs, there need be very little or no 

 allowance made; and fo thefe Rules may be put 

 in practice to all Intents and Purpofes, as if this 

 Impediment were abfclutely removed. 



