upon Gun-powder, &c.. % 6 g 
nearly as 6 Is to 5 ; and in that proportion was the force of the 
given charge of -powder intreafed by being rammed. 
In the 7 1 ft experiment the powder was alfo rammed, but the 
vent, inftead of being at the bottom of the bore, was at 1,3, 
and the velocity of the bullet was very confiderably diminiihed, 
being only at the rate of i oSo feet in a fecond, inftead of 1276 
feet in a fecond, which was the mean velocity with this 
charge, and with the vent in this fituation when the powder 
was rammed. See -the experiments N° 43, 44, 45, and 46* 
When, inftead of ramming the powder, or prefling it gently 
together in the bore, it is put into a fpace larger than it is 
capable of filling, the force of the charge is thereby very fen~ 
fibly leflened, as Mr. robins and others have found by repeated 
trials* In my 30th experiment the charge, confifting of no 
more than 165 grains of powder, was made to occupy 3,2 
inches of the bore inftead of 1,45 inches, which fpace it juft 
filled when it was gently pufhed into its place without being 
rammed ; the confequence was, the velocity of the bullet, 
inftead of being 1 100 feet in .a fecond or upwards, was only at 
the rate of 914 feet in a fecond, and the recoil was leflened in 
proportion. 
And from hence we may draw this practical inference, that 
the powder, with which a piece of ordnance or a fire-arm is 
charged, ought always to be prefled together in the bore ; and 
if it is rammed to a certain degree, the velocity of the bullet 
will be ftill farther increafed. It is well known, that the recoil 
of a mufket is greater when its charge is rammed than when it 
is not ; and there cannot be a ftronger proof that ramming 
increafes the force of the powder. 
Vol. LXXL 
Of 
