THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
459 
that of throwing shells so as to make them of that use and consequence 
which they were intended for. I have been at a siege where (in consequence 
of orders), I have expended near 13,000 shells; whereas, had I been left to 
my own will, I do not believe I should have expended 3000. Shells in my 
opinion were intended for two purposes only—viz. the heavy to pierce the 
ground, and by their explosion blow up batteries, platforms, &c., or magazines, 
casemates, granaries, wells, &c. &c.; therefore, in that case, the fuze should 
be calculated so as not to burn out until such time as you are sure that the 
shell falls. In order to be sure of this, you should make an allowance of four 
or five seconds. Small shells are (or at least should be), made use of for 
different purposes—viz. such as dislodging the enemy out of redoubts, in- 
trenchments, or w r hen they have taken post in such a place that you cannot 
dislodge them witji cannon shot. The nearer you are to the enemy on this 
service the better, as small shells at a great distance are thrown with great 
uncertainty. The fuzes of small shells should be calculated so as to bum out 
before the shell falls; where a small shell falls and bursts, it leaves the most 
material part on the very spot where it falls, whereas had it burst some dis¬ 
tance from the ground, that part would have had the chance of doing 
execution. 
“ Some of our artillery officers and engineers have taken great pains to 
find out a fuze that should cause a shell to burst the instant it touches the 
ground. The Master-General and Honourable Board gave their usual 
encouragement to them; but I honestly confess that, so far from thinking 
it usefull, I am thoroughly of opinion that it would be injurious to the 
artillery service. Whenever you get to the second or third parallel, the enemy 
get into the covert way, or intrench themselves, so as by their marksmen to 
fire on your men in the battery through your embrasures, and often kill and 
wound many; to prevent which, I have manetlets to put occasionally across 
them. 
“ Mortars throwing 10 and 13-inch shells, should not be fixed to any 
degree of elevation in their beds. At the siege of Bellisle, 1761, I was so near 
the garrison, that to a 13-inch sea service mortar, I made use of no more 
than three pounds of powder at an elevation of 45 degrees. Here it was evident 
that the shell of such nature did not answer the end proposed; I therefore 
fixt the mortar in the ground at 7 0 degrees, in order to give the shell that 
degree of velocity required falling. 
“ The quantity of scantling, plank, and spikes required to make a platform 
for one heavy battering piece of cannon on a truck carriage, as also the 
weight and value nearly calculated:— 
feet cube. 
16 oak joists, 20 foot each, 9 inches by 6 inches . 120 
400 feet supr. of 2f inches oak planks . 84 
Total ......... 204 
A foot cube of dry oak—weight 58 pounds. 
cwt. qrs. lbs. 
Total weight ... 105 2 16 
Allow for spikes (weight) . . . 2 0 0 
The whole will weigh about 5 ton. 
Yalue of timber and spikes, 1238, 
