[ 448 ] 
moved from its Place 5 and they have at the fame 
time afligned the Quantities remaining unfircd under 
different Circumftances. 
Thefe Determinations of the Committee are mod 
true; but the Author muft obferve, that from the 
Experiments recited by them, and the Quantity of 
unfired Powder, which they colleded, it may be con- 
cluded, that in a Barrel of a cuftomary Length, 
charged with the ufual Quantity of Powder, the De- 
ficiency of Velocity occafioned by the Powder remain- 
ing unfired will be fcarcely fenfible; and in the 
fhorteft Barrel ever ufed by the Author, where the 
Space the Bullet was impelled through was not Five 
Inches, and where of courfe this Deficiency of Velo- 
city ought to be the greateft, it cannot amount to 
One-thirtieth Part of the Whole ; and confequently 
this Populate, though not rigoroufly true, may yet 
be fafely afiiimed, in the inveftigating the Effeds of 
Powder. But before this is more particularly exa- 
mined, it is neceffary to explain the Opinions, which 
have formerly taken place on this Subjed. 
Thofe who have hitherto wrote on the Manner in 
which Powder takes Fire, have fuppofed it to be done 
by regular Degrees; the Firft Grains firing thofe 
contiguous, and they the next fuccefilvely ; and it 
has been generally thought, that a confiderable Time 
was employed in thefe various Communications: 
For Mr. 'Daniel Bernoulli , in his excellent Hydro - 
dynamica , has concluded from fome Experiments 
made at Betersburgh , that the greateft Part of the 
Charge efcapes out of the Piece unfired, and that the 
fmallPart, which is fired, does not take Fire till it 
is near the Mouth. Many Theories too have been 
com- 
