212 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
THE PRESENT STATE OE THE ARTILLERY QUESTION. 
BY 
9 
MAJOR, C. H. OWEN, R.A. 
PROFESSOR OF ARTILLERY, ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY, WOOLWICH. 
\ 
From the Journal of the Royal United Service Institution, Yol. IX. 
The subject that I have to bring before you this evening presents so many 
difficulties, that in attempting to lecture upon it I am afraid I shall be 
considered rather presumptuous. As, however, one of the great objects of 
this Institution is to discuss such subjects, I thought that, being a member, 
I should not refuse, when requested by the Council and several of my own 
brother Officers, to read a paper on the “ Present State of the Artillery 
Question.” 
There are doubtless many of my brother officers who could give you a 
better and more interesting lecture than the one you will hear to night, but 
none would I think take more pains than I have done to look at the various 
questions in an impartial spirit. 
I shall endeavour in the following observations to keep to facts and 
principles, and to avoid mere opinions or personal remarks; but shall 
necessarily be compelled to review briefly the constructions and proposals of 
several inventors. Many confused notions which unfortunately still prevail, 
may I think be cleared away by dividing the subject into distinct branches, 
and treating each of these separately. I propose then to consider— 
(1) The materials for ordnance. 
(2) Methods of construction. 
(3) Systems of rifling. 
(4) Ordnance of different services. 
Before proceeding, I will, however, remind you, as shortly as possible, of 
a few elementary principles relating to the strains exerted by the gas from 
the gunpowder upon the metal of a gun; for it is only by applying tliege, 
