Lead. 
341 
spoonfuls to a ton, in an iron vessel, turning on an hori- 
zontal axis, like a barrel-churn. It does not appear that 
any higher degree of perfection than that which is thus 
attained remains to be desired. The argentine brilliancy 
of the shot when newly made, the beautiful accuracy of 
its form, and the curious instance of inanimate tactics 
which it presents when scattered on a plate, render it even 
an agreeable object of contemplation. 
Rifled Shot . 
In the latter end of the year 1789, I was, by various 
considerations, induced to think, that the effect which is 
produced by rifling musquetry might be produced in ar- 
tillery by giving a suitable figure to the shot. It is almost 
needless to explain this effect. When a bullet is driven 
along the bore of a piece, it must be acted upon by the 
internal surface so as to cause a rotation, the axis of which 
motion will lie across the line of direction. In conse- 
quence of this, the re-action of the air will be stronger on 
one side of the bullet than on the other, and it will devi- 
ate from the intended course according to no certain rule. 
The method of rifling consists in cutting one or more spi- 
ral grooves in the hollow surface of the musquet, into 
which the ball is either forcibly rammed down, or else 
conveyed to its place by an aperture at the breach, or 
near the chamber. The lead is thus made to fit the in- 
ternal screw, and usually takes about half a turn during its 
course through the barrel. The axis of this rotation be- 
ing parallel to the line of direction, it must follow that the 
resistance of the air will be equal on all sides of the bul- 
let, and it will fly with more certainty to the object of 
aim. It seemed to me, that if a cylindrical shot, with 
hemispherical ends, were thrown out of a common bai% 
re!-, it might be possible, by means of certain spirals cut 
