MINUTES OF PBOCEEDINGS OF 
312 
THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF BREECH LOADING AND MUZZLE 
LOADING SYSTEMS 
eor 
RIFLED FIELD ARTILLERY. 
BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL F. MILLER, R.A., V€. 
“ Fatis ingressus iniquis.”— JEneid iii. 17. 
In the latter part of last year, the year I860, a Committee of Artillery 
Officers, selected exclusively from the highest ranks in the service, was 
assembled under the joint authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the 
Secretary of State for War, to report upon certain questions relating to 
artillery matters. 
The president was Lieut.-General Sir Bichard Dacres, K.C.B. The 
members were twelve, comprising five Major-Generals, one Brigadier- 
General, four Colonels, and two Brevet Colonels. The officers holding the 
highest administrative appointments were included in the number. 
Such an assemblage of artillery officers, all distinguished by rank, 
experience, and official employment, has never before, so far as I am aware, 
been brought together, but the subjects for their consideration included one 
of the highest interest and importance; they had to report whether it is 
desirable to perpetuate the use of the present breech-loading system in the 
rifled guns for field service. 
It is probably generally known that their decision was given in favour of 
a muzzle-loading system, and as this conclusion may excite some surprise 
I propose to give in a concise form the principal facts and arguments which 
support it. 
It may be advisable to guard against any misapprehension as to how far 
the decision implies a condemnation of the guns in present use, by stating 
that no want of confidence is felt in their efficiency or qualities under 
ordinary conditions of service. Their normal performance is admitted to be 
excellent, but there are certain difficulties about keeping them in good order, 
which are not sufficiently compensated by any advantages accruing from their 
use. The difficulties, or the consequences liable to result, are not considered by 
the Committee so pressing as to demand an immediate alteration in the system, 
but render unadvisable a persistence in it, There is no prospect, so far as 
