THE EOYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
389 
and of tlie large mortar shell, Drinkwater says, “ they sunk so deep, that 
the splinters seldom rose to the surface. An experiment was therefore 
recommended by Captain (now Major) Mercier, of the 39th Eegiment: 
namely, to fire out of guns 5|-inch shells with short fuzes, which were tried 
on the 25th, and found to answer extremely well. These small shells, 
according to Captain Mercier’s method, were dispatched with such precision, 
and the fuzes calculated to such exactness, that the shells often burst over 
their heads, and wounded them before they could get under cover.” 
The Trench account of the attack of Gibraltar makes special mention of 
the traverses they were obliged to construct to protect themselves against 
these small shells :— 
“ These traverses were another novelty peculiar to this siege. * * * The 
sole object of these traverses was to protect the men against mortar shells, and 
against a species of howitzer shell fired from short guns, a murderous weapon, 
but from which we could protect ourselves, by placing the traverses on the side 
opposite to the fall of the shells and grenades, &c .”—Conseil de Guerre prive, 8gc> % 
1785. 
Upon one man at least the experience of this siege was not lost. Shrapnel 
left Gibraltar in 1790, and after two years pondering over the scheme which 
was to do such honour to the Eegiment, sent the following modest “ remarks” 
to the Master-General of the Ordnance :— 
Remarks on the flight of grape, and case shot , with proposals for firing 
them in a more collected manner . 
" Having considered that the present mode of firing grape would admit of 
improvement, and that experiments might be made for that purpose, on some 
foundation, I have submitted such proposals as appear to me preliminary steps; 
contributing what little I am able, which might tend to its advancement. 
“ The object I have in view, is to increase the ranges of grape shot, by producing 
a collected fire at long distances, and to preserve the cylinders of brass ordnance 
from the injury they are now subject to. 
“ The third cause attributed to the spreading of case and grape shot, is the 
resistance of the air, which difficulty is to be surmounted on the principle of 
combining the load, for a certain space of time, during its flight in the air; now 
as the resistance of the air becomes less and less* every instant to the shot in its 
motion, whatever is made sufficiently compact to withstand its first obstruction, 
will most probably remain unaltered during the remainder of its flight in the range, 
which quite defeats the intention of using grape shot, as the load would always be 
combined. 
“ In the consideration of this circumstance, I am obliged to have recourse to a 
shell filled with balls, and containing a small quantity of gunpowder, only sufficient 
to open it, at a short distance previous to its execution; by which means the fire 
will be equally severe at all distances, and exceedingly practicable in such situations 
where sufficient time may be allowed for loading. Those officers who are better 
acquainted with service than I am, may judge of the variety of situations such kind 
of firing may be serviceable, and I can venture to remark, that it succeeds in the 
effect which is proposed, having had an opportunity of making an experiment 
which is now submitted. 
Above the horizontal plane on which the piece is situated.” 
