THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
895 
in its favour; a 6-pr. 50 to 1; a 12-pr. 108 to 1; a 5J-inch howitzer, or 
24-pr. 208 to 1 ; in which calculation I have not enumerated any effect from 
the splinters of the shell. 
(5) Small balls cannot have so great velocity or be projected to very 
considerable distances, unless enclosed in a heavy spherical case, which from 
its form and weight, is not much influenced by the resistance of the air, or 
diverted from its direction. 
(6) The explosion of the shell makes no change in the direction of the 
shot within it, they consequently complete the sheiks track, or curve, which 
I have sometimes known to be 400 yards : it is not of consequence therefore 
to be very particular as to the length of the fuze, as it will be cut sufficiently 
accurate if the shell explodes at any intermediate distance from 10 to 800 ft. 
short of the object. 
(7) I have preferred carbine balls, as they go entirely through a deal 
target of 2 inches thick, those shot wdiich graze excepted; the fuze hole is 
made sufficiently large to receive ^lb. shot. 
(8) Case shot fired in this manner from mortars would be particularly 
serviceable in the attack of all field works and intrenchments, as parapets 
cannot afford any protection. 
(9) Trom the unevenness of, ground, such as banks, hillocks, fallow fields, 
&c., all shot which graze short, most commonly lodge, whereas by using the 
shell proposed, the whole charge will be carried over those irregularities 
and reach the object with its full contents of balls. 
N.B.—Tiring these kinds of shells from guns, is managed wfith more 
facility than the ordinary howitzer practice, both as to the length of the 
fuze, as well as the elevations required, and may be carried on in the field, 
precisely the same as firing round shot. 
These “ advantages ” are given in another form elsewhere, though the 
same in substance. 
Enumeration of the advantages of Spherical Case Shot, 
(1) The fire of artillery is equally severe at all distances. 
(2) The whole charge of case shot is conveyed amongst the enemy, even 
at the greatest ranges, and a fire is produced equally destructive at 2000 
yards, as can now be done at 200 yards. 
(3) It so simplifies the elevation of ordnance, that such round shot which 
would miss an enemy by being fired too short, or too high, will when fired 
as a shell take effect as it terminates in the form of a cone. 
(4) There requires no accuracy in cutting the fuze, as it answers very 
well if the shell explodes 400 yards short of the object, or at any inter¬ 
mediate distance between that and the object, and if the fuze be so long 
that the shell passes the object, it then acts equally w r ell with a round shot. 
