294 Mr.. T«oMPsa ^ Experiments 
pear upon infpecling the curvature of the line m , ?/, fig. 16. 
But 1 forbear to infill further upon this matter. 
As I have, made an allowance for the refinance of the air in 
thefe experiments, it may be expected that 1 flrould do it in aii' 
other cafe but, I think, it will appear upon enquiry, that 
the diminution of the velocities- of the bullets on that account 
was in general fo-inconfiderabje that it might fafely be ueg- 
ledied : thus, for inftance, in the experiments with an ounce 
of powder, when the velocity of the bullet was more than 
1 750 feetin a fecobd, diminution turns out no* more than 
about 25 or 30 feet in a- ifecond, though- we fuppofe the full 
re fi fiance to have begun* fid near as two feet from the month of 
the piece ; and in all Gaffes where the velocities were lefs, the 
effecbof the refiflance was lefs in a much greater proportion : 
and even in this inftance there is reafion to think, that* the di- 
minution of the velocity as we have determined it is too great ; 
for the flame of gun-powder expands with f'uch an amazing 
rapidity, that it is fcarcely to be fuppofed but that it follows 
the bullet, and continues to afl upon it more than two feet, or 
even four feet, from the gun, and when the velocity of the 
bullet is lefs, its action upon it mu ft: be fenfible at a frill 
greater diftanse. 
With 218 grains of powder the recoil appears to have been 
very uniform ; but if the velocities of, the bullets are deter- 
mined from the recoil in the 40th and feven following experi- 
ments, when this chargevvas made ufe of, and from the recoil 
without a bullet in the 73d and 73d experiments, the velocities 
will turn out confiderabiy too fmall, as we Avail fee by making 
the computation. 
The 
