THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
329 
gun is much more “ grazing” than that of the smooth-bore) with the 
accuracy of the rifled gun; a combination which in action is of enormous 
advantage.* 
2. The difficult problem above-mentioned was solved in the most happy 
way, although it was one that not only nobody in Europe had the courage 
to undertake the solution, but was held by everybody to be insoluble. 
The solution of this question has rendered it possible to reduce the weight 
of the projectile from 4J kilogrammes (10 lbs.) to 2*1 kilogrammes 
(4*63 lbs.); and thus by that sole fact each gun, with its 300 projectiles 
which it takes into the field, has been lightened by 750 kilogrammes 
(15 cwt.); and despite of that, the effect of the shot, thanks to the increase 
of charge, is greater than that of any existing artillery. 
Experiments have effectively demonstrated that firing the new and old 
guns, under identical circumstances against stone walls, the new guns had 
the greater penetration. 
Eiring a large number of rounds at a large upright target at a known 
distance, it resulted that the area of the target enclosing all the shots from 
the new gun was equal to one-fourth of the area similarly enclosing those 
of the service gun; consequently the new gun shoots four times more 
accurately than the service gun. 
But besides the above diminution of weight, which may be termed capital, 
it naturally involves diminution in other respects. 
The gun can be made lighter: all the wagons, in consequence of the 
weight to be carried being smaller, can be made lighter; and, finally, the 
great progress made in the last few years in iron-construction enables us to 
obtain, with comparatively lighter weights, an amount of strength which 
may well be said to be above proof. 
Moreover, the substitution of iron for wood in the materiel of the 
artillery is very advantageous from other points of view. In the first place, 
timber ever perishes, whence it is calculated that the service carriages of 
the artillery do not last more than eight years; thence it follows that every 
year we have to renew one-eiglith of the materiel of our field artillery. 
Now the value of the existing artillery is about four millions of lires or 
francs (£160,000) without counting guns; it comprises about 4000 
carriages at 1000 lire each (£40), consequently to renew one-eighth every 
year 500,000 lire (£20,000) must be spent. We may calculate without 
fear of error that iron carriages will last at least three times as long as 
those of wood, thus the money spent in renewals will be reduced from 
500,000 to 166,000 lire (£20,000 to £6666). Besides, construction 
in wood involves a handsome stock of that material, so as to be certain 
that when it comes to be used that it is sufficiently seasoned. On the other 
hand, iron in these days may be procured at the moment it is wanted for 
use; it is not necessary then to have capital in a form which gives no 
interest and which in some cases may be lost altogether. The use of wood 
in such constructions further involves having large storehouses made in a 
form specially adapted for ventilation to receive the rough timber and the 
carriages made of it. The use of iron saves such costly buildings. 
* See note, p. 833. 
