206 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
ring and the muzzle ring. The subsequent fracture of one of the longi¬ 
tudinal ties was partly attributed to the employment of a wood so hard and 
inelastic as beech for this washer, in one of the repairs of the mortar, instead 
of elm. The longitudinal bolts were fitted into square recesses cut in the 
muzzle ring, and to keep them in their places an external clip ring went 
round all. The entire weight was 42 tons. 
(6) The axis of the trunnions was 3 ft. from the end of the piece. This 
hinder portion went into a cavity in the wooden bed. 
(7) The mortar bed carried an iron plate, which served as a bed plate to 
two heavy beech-wood quoins, which permitted any elevation between 40° 
and 50°. A strong elevating screw served at once as an attachment and as a 
means of adjustment. The centre of gravity of the shell in the loaded 
position, at 45°, was vertically over the axis of the trunnions, and the centre 
of gravity of the system was behind it, so as to counteract the tendency of 
the mortar to topple forwards from the reaction of discharge. The platform 
had.a slope of 12°, and the recoil never exceeded 15 ins. 
All these details will be readily understood by referring to the subjoined 
woodcut. 
Fig. 1. 
Mallet’s 36-incli Mortar No. 1, of 4-2 tons, tried at Woolwich, 1857-8. 
3 6 7 e 3 10 II 12 FEET. 
Note. —The hatching of the chamber-piece should have denoted longitudinal fibre in the iron, 
and of the rest circumferential fibre. The trunnion-piece is cast-iron. 
