THE ARMS TRADE OF BELGIUM. 
203 
steel cannon manufactured of blocks derived from the principal steel- 
works in England, Germany, and Belgium. The result was so decidedly- 
favourable to Krupp's steel that all the small guns have since been pur- 
chased of him. They are supplied by his works at Essen, in Prussia, 
in the rough state, then rifled and fitted with their breech-closing appa- 
ratus in the royal foundry . A 6-pounder of this kind has been fired 
5.000 times with full charges, and showed no signs of giving way 
either in the grooves or at the breech. Ail the experience of the Belgian 
Artillery has induced a firm conviction of the incomparable superiority 
of their sun. 
Statement of the number of Cannon and Small-Arms manufactured in the 
Royal Foundry and Small-Arms Factory during the following Years. 
Cannon. 
Small-arms. 
For Belgian 
Government. 
For Foreign 
Governments. 
Fire-arms. 
Lances. 
Sabres. 
1850 . 
31 
_ 
3,795 
300 
1851 . 
18 
177 
3,193 
— 
215 
1852 . 
32 
336 
3,828 
621 
185 
1853 . 
119 
102 
5,101 
2,117 
901 
1854 . 
118 
136 
6,000 
1,200 
400 
1855 . 
76 
38 
6,972 
652 
1,100 
1856 . 
63 
225 
9,441 
508 
450 
1857 . 
15 
221 
6,824 
199 
772 
1858 . 
28 
226 
5,338 
200 
686 
1859 . 
85 
52 
11,440 
102 
551 
I860 . 
103 
63 
10,782 
— 
636 
1861 . 
not divulged. 
none. 
9,440 
— 
462 
1862 . 
j> 
» 
14,512 
— 
400 
1863 . 
J> 
» 
15,216 
— 
401 
1864 . 
» 
?) 
11,201 
1,000 
400 
The new ordnance comprises 4, 6, and 12-pounders of Krupp's 
steel ; 12 and 24-pounders of cast-iron* The foundry has trans- 
formed on a new principle a great number of old iron 12-pounders, and 
has cast a great number of new ones. The former have proved excel- 
lent guns, quite equal to the latter. The different solid and hollow shot 
required for all these guns are made both in the foundries of Liege and 
Antwerp, as also by the trade. They are finished and coated with lead 
in the royal foundries alone. An immense workshop has been newly 
* These terms afford only approximative indications of the real diameter of 
the new Belgium ordnance. These diameters vary somewhat from those of the 
old guns, and are not made public ; I am not therefore at liberty to record them 
here. 
VOL. VI. X 
