450 Miltary Breech-Loading Small Arms. 
although some few and important difficulties have been ex- 
perienced in its introduction, has been proved on the whole, 
admirably successful, according to the reports of the troops 
of Canada, Hythe and Aldershot, to whom this arm has 
been supplied ; the computation being that out of 50,000 
rounds which have been fired in the course of his immediate 
knowledge, the percentage of failures has not been greater 
than in 300 rounds. The lecturer in conclusion, stated 
that, having provided an army with an effective weapon in 
the Snider for immediate use, we are in a position to discuss 
calmly although not to leisurely, its future equipment ; and 
the best breech-loading rifle which England, or any other 
country may be able to produce. The competition which 
is to determine this point, will commence next month. 
We subjoin an account of the sums voted and the sums 
expended upon Small Arms in each financial year from 
1851-2 to 1865-6; also the number of such Arms manufac- 
tured or converted respectively in those years, The “sums 
voted” and “sums expended” in this table include the 
cost of repairs to small arms, and of buildings and ma- 
chinery. The term “Small Arms” comprises, in addition 
to fire-arms, swords, bayonets, lances, boarding-axes, nipples, 
snap-caps, nipple-wrenches, re-browning arms, &c., &c., and 
Spare parts of arms. 
L a : ee Game ee or ee or 
° . arbin 
er aa ones Expended Manafienell Convenes 
| BS 
1851-3. 81,475 39,833 21,597 2,183 
1852-3 . 82,994 69,540 17,192 LI,TIG 
1853-4 . 142,992 49,972 22,996 4,464 
1854-5 303,516 285,049 20,581 17,201 
1855-6 . 866,796 740,370 148,116 15,489 
1856-7 . 1,108,581 783,890 150,509 7,967 
1857-8 . 363,416 | 348,741 105,064 2,803 
1858-9 412,616 490,048 122,861 — 
1859-60 484,633 478,399 152,812 Gia 
1860-1 . 808,564 793,185 256,003 -- 
1861-2 . 721,475 554,016 195,430 as 
1862-3 . 559,009 | 352,199 | 155,915 == 
1863-4 . 317,013 | 292,265 59,147 6 
1864-5 . 190,581 119,608 40,259 — 
1865-6 . 200,274 120,147 10,070 84 | 
