Miktary Breech-Loading Small Arns. 439 
with the utmost precision and regularity, either in straight 
lines, or in lines crossed at any selected angle, giving effects 
precisely similar to those got in steel engraving. If I have 
made any false lines, I indicate them with a dot, and they 
are removed in the engraving process. 
(Tg be continued.) 
CAPTAIN MAJENDIE ON MILITARY BREECH- 
LOADING SMALL ARMS, 
eee a meeting of the Royal Institution on the Ist ult,, 
Captain V. D. Majendie, R.A., delivered a lecture “On 
Military Breech-loading Small Arms.’ He remarked that 
every military power with one exception, has been content 
until lately, to rely upon a muzzle loading musket for the 
general equipment of its troops, a condition of things which 
has been due in part to the fact that only recently has the 
subject been fairly faced and considered, and, in a great 
degree, to the disfavour with which cartridges containing 
their own ignition, were, until about ten years ago, regarded 
for military use. All real progress in breech-loading and 
in the consideration of the question dates from the removal 
of these objections. 
Breech-loading carbines were supplied to two regiments 
of cavalry in the British army ten years ago, of Sharpe’s 
pattern. The retention however, of the percussion cap; 
the considerable escape of gas; the flash from the spilt 
powder from the cartridges, together with the difficulties of 
loading constitute grave objections to these arms, which 
however, are not yet altogether absolute. Captain Majen- 
die informed his deeply attentive audience, that breech- 
loaders were determined upon for the Infantry nearly three 
years ago, and that the actual pattern of the arm. was de- 
cided on quite a month before the battle of Ko6nigsgratz, 
The lecturer then exhibited various kinds of breech-loaders, 
and among them a pair with the same breech action as the 
“Snider” which he brought fourth in the shape of two 
clumsy fire-arms, of as early a date as that of Henry VIII. 
H e howed the various systems of breech-loading cartridge, 
the needle gun, the rim fire, the pin, and the central fire,” 
Captain Majendie further stated, that the new Snider, 
C.sOu 2 
