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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
from their envelope by the bursting of the charge. This charge is just 
strong enough for that purpose, and yet not strong enough to give the 
contents of the projectile much lateral spread. Further, for these bullets 
or segments to fly any distance, and to have sufficient force to kill a man, 
the projectile at the moment of bursting must have considerable velocity. 
Again, if projectiles would only fly perfectly horizontally through the 
air, there would be no difficulty in hitting an object at every round; 
unfortunately, that pestilent gravity persists in acting on the projectile; 
thus, the shorter time gravity can act on the shell while it is flying from 
the muzzle to the point hit—that is, the greater its velocity—the closer 
the path of the projectile approaches the straight line, and the easier it 
is to hit the object aimed at. 
If, now, we compare the 7-pr. gun with the 9-pr. muzzle-loader, we 
find that the shell of the former leaves the piece with a velocity of 
672 feet per second, while the initial velocity of the latter, with B.L.GL 
powder, is 1381 feet per second. The 9-pr. shell, after flying 2000 yards, 
will be still going at a considerably higher rate than 672 feet, the initial 
velocity of the 7-pr. 
It will be seen that the 9-pr. shell starts with more than twice the 
velocity of the 7-pr.; the shell travels faster from the muzzle to the point 
hit ; gravity having all the less time to act on it, the chances of hitting 
are increased pro tanto; while the bullets or segments of the 9-pr. shell, 
when released after a flight inside the shell of about 2400 yards, travel 
at the same pace as those of the 7-pr. shell if burst at the muzzle. 
I need hardly remind you that a range of 2400 yards will cover the 
depth of any battle field. 
I think I have shown that any comparison between these guns as to 
efficiency, is vastly in favour of the 9-pr. of 8 cwt .; and as I have shown, 
its weight is quite within the power of horse artillery teams. 
12. As to the field batteries, what should be the nature of the gun? 
I think it a good plan to see what others have done in this matter. 
The Prussians have two field guns, termed the 4 and 6-pr., which fire 9 lb. 
and 151b. projectiles—I will call them by their English denominations 
■—with charges of -Jth and -^th respectively, and consequently with 
high trajectories as compared with the. Indian gun, which fires with a 
charge of ^th. With reference to these pieces, the Prussian “ Officers 5 
Handbook 55 states that:—- 
“The 9-pr., as regards practice, is in no way inferior to the 15-pr.; but it is 
obvious that an individual 15-pr. projectile must do greater damage on any fixed 
object which it may strike, such as a house, a wall, &c., than the 9-pr. For this 
reason, to cannonade such an object the 15-pr. would be preferable; whilst against 
troops, generally speaking, the one calibre has no advantage over the other. The 
sole advantage of the 15-pr. is the greater moral effect it has under certain circum¬ 
stances. The advantages the 9-pr. has over the 15-pr. consists chiefly in the 
larger supply of ammunition, whereby the former is more independent of its wagons. 
Another advantage lies in the fact that its pace is faster, and can be longer kept up. 53 
According to this view, the Indian 9-pr. will do all tkat is required 
of a field battery gun in the way of man-killing. I am satisfied that 
