[ 45 1 3 
of the whole Charge ; and it being found by Experi- 
ment, that the Velocities of Bullets placed in the 
fame Situation vary in the fubduplicate Proportion 
of the Charges, the Deficiency of Velocity ariling 
from the Lofs of the 77 of the Charge would be 
about — of the whole Velocity only, which, in the 
prefent Cafe, is not 75 of an Inch in the Chord of 
the Arch deferibed by the Pendulum meafuring the 
Velocity, and is a lefs Difference than what fre- 
quently occurs in the exadeft Repetition of the fame 
Experiments. 
Other Circumftances occur, which reduce the In- 
equality arifing from the unfired Powder Bill lower 5 
but it is thought, that this is fully fufficient tojuftify 
the Populate in Queftion, efpecially as, in all Cafes 
of real Ufe, the Length of the Barrel in proportion 
to the Quantity of the Charge will be much greater 
than in the prefent Inftance : Whence the Author 
prefumes, that, in computing the Velocities commu- 
nicated to Bullets by the Action of Powder, it may 
be fafely fuppofed, that the whole Charge is fired 
before the Bullet is fenfibly moved from its Place ; at 
leaft there is no Foundation, from the Experiments 
made on this Subjed by the Committee, to fufped 
that when fmall-grained Powder is made ufe of, any 
greater Irregularity will arife from the Application of 
this Suppofition, than what would otherwife take 
place from the Intervention of unavoidable Ac- 
cidents. 
It has been thought neceffary to difeufs more at 
large thefe Two Poftulates, becaufe the laft of them 
being almoft in the very Words of one of the Que- 
flions propofed to be examined by the Committee of 
this 
2 
