Charges of greatest Efficacy for Artillery at Sea. 287 
Scholium. 
This question is not only of the utmost importance and 
practically useful in naval engagements, but in several 
instances also of military operations ; as the bursting 
open gates of besieged cities with promptitude and effect, 
and breaking up all fortifications composed of wooden 
materials; especially those of a splintering nature, to 
which the above charges apply most correctly. In the 
case of a naval action where the object to be penetrated 
is of oak substance, the ball by having a small motion 
when it quits the ship’s side tears and splinters it exces- 
sively, breaking away large pieces before it, which are 
not so easily supplied in the reparation : whereas on the 
other hand, if the shot had any considerable velocity 
when it quitted the side, the effect produced would be 
merely a hole, which would be stoppetl instantly by the 
mechanic employed for that purpose ; and indeed in a 
great measure by the springiness of the wood itself ; for 
I have seen in his majesty’s dock-yard at Woolwich, 
captured vessels having a number of shot-holes in them, 
almost entirely closed by the wood’s own efforts ; and 
.that required nothing more than a small wooden peg or 
a piece of cork to stop them up perfectly : all the da- 
mage, therefore, the shot can do under such circumstan- 
ces of swift celerity is merely killing those men who may 
chance to stand in the way of their motion. 
If any object to be destroyed be so thick that it cannot 
be completely pierced by any common engine ; or if it be 
of a very brittle nature, such as stone or brick, then that 
charge is to be used which will give the greatest velocity 
to the shot to produce the maximum effect. But in many 
cases of bombardment this charge is by no means to be 
preferred : for though the effect produced each mdividtn 
