390 
MINUTES OF FROCEEDINGS OF 
Experiment. 
Nature of 
No. of 
Mean 
Weight of 
Shell opened 
No. of shot 
Number 
Distance 
ordnance, 
rounds 
diameter of 
powder in 
before it 
in the shell, 
of splinters 
the balls 
8-inch 
fired, 
circle the shot 
the shell, 
reached the 
musket balls 
shell broke 
were thrown 
mortar. 
4. 
spread, 25 ft. 
12 oz. 
object sec. 
200. 
into, 20. 
1100 yds. 
“By this experiment, with a well laid mortar, almost the whole of 200 balls 
and 20 splinters of a shell, may strike the deck of a large ship at 1100 yards 
distance, and the whole of the load would fall within a bastion, at any distance 
within the range of the mortar; I think this mode of firing might successfully be 
applied in the loading of shells from guns in the same manner. A 32-pr. shell 
will contain 110 balls, a 24-pr. 80 balls, and a 12-pr. shell 50 balls. 
“ It will give me very great satisfaction should these proposals prove beneficial 
to the service; and I shall feel myself happy if I am at all instrumental in the 
introduction of the proposed methods of firing grape shot. 
“HENRY SHRAPNEL, 
“ Lieut, of Artillery.’* 
“Chatham Barracks, 
“ February 11, 1792.” 
The Board of Ordnance cannot be accused of inactivity, for on the 17th 
of the same month, the Duke directed the President of, what was then, the 
Ordnance Select Committee, “to convene a Committee of Colonels and 
Eield Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Woolwich, to examine 
proposals of Lieut. Shrapnel for firing case and grape in a more collective 
manner.'” 
There is a break in the records here. Shrapnel goes on foreign service, 
and has probably frequent occasion to remark the want of a suitable 
projectile to meet the varied circumstances of attack and defence which 
occurred during these campaigns. He returns to England, resumes his 
labours, and is termed “ an enthusiast,” of course. 
Dated Woolwich, August 9th, 1802, is found “A Table of practice with 
the proposed new method of firing case shot. 
“Brass medium 12-pr., charge lib., elevation 2|°; shell holding 44 
carbine balls, bursting charge 4 oz.; and a 24-pr., charge 2 lbs.; 74 bullets 
in shell; bursting charge, 8 oz.; penetration 2 inches.” 
The first really cheering letter to the “enthusiast” appears to be from 
Colonel Boag, R.A., his old companion in arms at Gibraltar. 
Woolwich, 
August 18, 1802. 
Dear Shrapnel, 
It is with great pleasure I congratulate you upon the success of your several 
experiments here. Major Hamilton and the officers who were present at the 
experiments with shells loaded with ball, express the highest satisfaction. 
Loading shells fired in that manner from guns will be excellent against cavalry, 
or working parties, or bursting over boats attempting to land troops; in short it 
will be of the greatest utility in any service. 
I remain, 
(Signed) JAMES BOAG. 
Major Shrapnel, 
Royal Artillery. 
