THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
393 
and the desired effect of the balls fully shewn on the water * * * I have 
not yet received an answer from the Board, respecting my demand for a large 
proportion of shells, but I conclude their time is so much taken up, they consider 
you will be able to order me the quantity I may require without waiting the routine 
of office at such a juncture as the present. 
I am, &c. 
(Signed) W. P. SMITH. 
CoLCHESlER, 
November 9,1803» 
Dear Shrapnel, 
I have got some of your shells, and burst eleven as correct as possible at a 
target 850 yards. 
Sir James Craig and other General Officers present were delighted at the 
effect. 
I give my Officers great credit; they always fix their own fuzes, and it is now 
considered a disgrace to fire a blind fuze. 
We managed your match very well with glue; but we are at a loss, as we want 
to fix them all (and mark the distance each shell will burst on the lid of the box) 
to prevent the match from rubbing off, and to secure it properly. 
My fuzes with lids would be the exact thing, and I have written to General 
Drummond to request he will send those kind of fuzes down for me to fix them for 
the east batteries; all my shells in my brigades are ready fixed* and musket balls in 
my common shells (?) as I am satisfied everything depends on correctness and well 
fixing of the fuzes, I leave nothing to be done in the field where it must be done 
in a hurry; all my shells are fixed in the boxes so tight they cannot possibly 
move. 
I mean to fix my battery shells at and to come in between the round 
shot range and the case shot, and mark the coins for 2-j and 3 degrees elevation* 
and I am sure they cannot go far away. 
(Signed) J. HARDING* 
The “fuzes with lids” are what we have just come to again* 1867* in 
Boxer's new wood fuze. 
Another letter from the Committee* nine months later* What happened 
in the mean time is clear to us* but not recorded at great length* and this is 
a very different report to the last. 
Present. 
Lieut.iGeneral Drummond, Major-Generals Lloyd, Blomfield, Colonel Stephens j Lieut.“Colonels 
Cockburn, Sproule, Bortbwick* Burton ; Majors Cookson, Riou, Smith, Shrapnel. 
Woolwich, 
March 26, 1804* 
Sir* 
Be pleased to inform the Honourable Board of Ordnance, that Major Shrapnel 
having read an account of his experiments for the purpose of ascertaining the 
causes of some of his shells failing, and bursting in the bores of the pieces of 
ordnance, has proved to the Committee as well as by experiments tried before them 
on the 22nd and 23rd instants, that the chief defect was in the fuzes, which he has 
remedied perfectly to their satisfaction, and they therefore recommend after a proper 
selection is made of the perfect shells, that General Drummond may be authorized 
to forward them to the several stations, as adapted to all natures of ordnance. 
[VOL. V;] 53 
