392 
MINUTES OF PKOCEEDINGS OF 
The postage of the following curious letter, which was not intended for 
publication, is Is. 9d. 
Liverpool, 
Dear Shrapnel, October 18, 1803. 
Your letter from Carron addressed to the Commanding Officer of Artillery at 
Liverpool, having been brought to Head Quarters, Prince "William has directed 
me to acknowledge the receipt of it, and beg that you will send him a proportion 
of your new spherical case shot; the advantages of which he so much admires and 
approves. 
But when making this requisition , it is but just that I should (in confidence) 
apprise you that his Royal Highness has neither artillery, or artillerymen in the 
district under his command, if from the first head we except, some heavy guns 
mounted (iron) upon standing carriages, and placed in an injudiciously selected 
and ill-constructed fort, and upon one or two batteries which bear the same 
description,—and under the second head (literally speaking) an old woman in the 
pay and hire, and appointed by the Right Honourable and Honourable Board, to 
act as Deputy or Provisional Master Gunner, for the sum of Is. per diem,—and two 
invalid serjeants, who may I think with the greater propriety of metaphorical 
expression be denominated old women. I must now add, seriously speaking, that 
His Royal Highness wishes you (if you can) to send him a fair proportion of your 
shells, we having (in secrecy I venture to inform you) made such arrangements as 
will enable him to bring into the field, fifty pieces of ordnance complete in every 
other respect than a quota of experienced artillerists within the given time of twelve 
hours, should the enemy personally threaten these shores; and it is reasonable to 
expect that notice before it would be necessary to meet him in the field. The 
natures of ordnance upon the works here, are, 32, 18, and 6-prs.; not having yet 
(with my own eyes) seen any practice made with your shells, I shall feel superior 
pleasure in carrying on such at Liverpool, and afterwards reporting to you the great 
utility and vast advantages which in theory and report, they are already known to 
possess by your very sincere and faithfully obedient servant. 
(Signed) EDMUND CURREY. 
Major Shrapnel, A.D.C. 
Carron, N.B. 
Mark this, complete, “ except a quota of experienced artilleriststhis is 
no uncommon mistake. 
Tynemouth, 
August 17, 1803. 
Dear Shrapnel, 
I have this day written to the Board, and urged their giving directions for this 
district being immediately supplied with a large proportion of your shells direct 
from Carron, without the delay of the round via Woolwich. 
The country owes you much for bringing forward your shells; too much delay 
has past, they ought to have been at the different posts long ago. 
Believe me, 
(Signed) E. LAYE. 
Leith Font, 
October 11, 1803. 
My dear Major, 
I have been so much frond home for seven or eight days past at the Reviews at 
West Barus Camp and Musselburgh, and attending to Sea Fencibles and Volunteer 
Artillery (having so few of Our own Corps), that I had not a moment till this day 
to practice with your shells, which answered most admirably, not one fuze missing, 
