tipbn Gun-powder, See >« 
nearly as 6 is to 5 ; and in that proportion was the force of the 
vent, inftead of being at the bottom of the bore, was at 1,3, 
and the velocity of the bullet was very confiderably diminifhedf 
being only at the rate of 1080 feet in a fecond, inftead of 1276 
feet in a fecond, which was the mean velocity with this 
charge, and with the vent in this fituajton when the powder 
was rammed. See the experiments N° 43, 44, 45, and 46. 
When, inftead of ramming the powder, or preftingit gently 
together in the bore, it is put into a fpace larger than it is 
capable of filling, the force of the charge is thereby very fen- • 
fibly leflened, as Mr. robins and others have found by repeated 
trials. In my 30th experiment the charge, confifting of no 
mote than 165 grains of powder, was made to occupy 3,2 
inches of the bore inftead of 1,45 inches* which fpace it juft 
filled when it was gently pufhed into its place without being- 
rammed ; the confequence was, the velocity of the bullet, 
inftead of being 1100 feet in a fecond or upwards, was only at 
the rate of 914 feet in a fecond* and the recoil was leflened in 
proportion. 
And from hence we may draw this practical inference* that 
the powder, with which a piece of ordnance or a fire-arm is 
charged, ought always to be preffed together in the bore ■; and 
if it is rammed to a certain degree, the velocity of the bullet 
will be ftill farther increafed. It is well known, that the recoil 
of a mufket is greater when its charge is rammed than when it 
is not ; and there cannot be a ftronger proof that ramming 
increafes the force of the powder. 
given charge of powder increafed by being rammed. 
In the 71ft experiment the powder was alfo rammed, but the 
Vol- LXXI. 
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