[ 45 ° 3 
Powder is not fired in the progreifive Manner ufually 
fuppofed j for when the fhort Barrel was charged 
with 12 dwt. and with 6 dwt. relpe&ively, the 
Quantity of Powder which was collected unfired from 
1 2 dwt. did not exceed by 3 Grains, at a Medium, 
what was colle&ed from 6 dwt. although the Bullet 
was a lefs Time in palling through the Barrel with 
12 dwt. than with 6 dwt. it having a lefs Way to 
move ; confequently the Quantity remaining unfired 
of the 6 dwt. did not continue unfired for want of 
Time, fince, when the Piece was charged with 12 
dwt. the additional 6 dwt. was confumcd in a fhortcr 
Time. 
And again, when the Barrel was fo fhortened, that 
the Bullet, being placed clofe to the W ad, lay with 
its outer Surface nearly level with the Mouth of the 
Piece, fo that it had not more than half an Inch to 
move before the Flame would have Liberty to expand 
itfelf j yet, even in this fhort Tranfit of the Bullet, 
only 2 dwt. 1 - gr. was collected unfired, at a Me- 
dium $ which is about £ of the whole Charge, or, if 
properly reduced, not more than ~ of the Charge : 
An obvious Confutation of the gradual Firing of 
the Powder in its Palfage through the Barrel, and 
an eafy Proof, how fmall an Error will be occa- 
fioned by fuppoling the whole Charge to fire in- 
ftantaneoufly, fince the Error in the Velocity of the 
Bullet, arifing from a Deficiency of of the Charge, 
is 4 of that Velocity only. 
I fay, that the ■§• of the Charge, which remained 
unfired, amounts to no more than ~ when it is re- 
duced at it ought. This Reduction is founded on 
the 
