268 
MINUTES OF PEOCEEDINGS OF 
The stores for the 9-pr. M.L. weigh about 1 cwt., and therefore If cwt. 
would appear to be sufficient to allow for the 16-pr. This leaves 
4f cwt., which represents 28 rounds of ammunition, 12 in each limber 
box and 2 in each axle-tree box. Similarly, the wagon body and 
limber when empty weigh 23f cwt.: the stores probably not more 
than 2% cwt., giving 14f cwt. for ammunition, which represents 84 
rounds, or 14 rounds in each box. We should thus carry with the gun 
and wagon 112 rounds while the draught of each would be about 
40 cwt., or 3 cwt. less than that of the present 12-pr. B.L. wagon: 
this of course only includes the stores which are allowed for in the 
statement of the weights of the 9-pr. M.L.R. equipment. 
The recoil of this 16-pr. gun will probably be as great, if not greater, 
than that of an 8 cwt. 12-pr. fired with a charge of 2 lbs., and any 
objection which applies to one, will apply with equal force to the other. 
But, as has been before stated, the question of recoil appears to be one 
which ought to be readily overcome by the mechanical skill of the 
present age. 
And now, gentlemen, I have reached the limit of what I proposed to 
say, and also, I greatly fear, of your patience. I have endeavoured, as 
stated at the outset, to bring before you some facts bearing upon the 
question under discussion, and also to draw from them only such con¬ 
clusions as they would' appear undoubtedly to warrant, avoiding, as far 
as possible, the introduction of any new theories or hobbies of my own. 
The armament of our field artillery is a question which admits of 
such diversity of opinion, and is moreover one of such importance, that 
it should be approached with an unbiassed mind, and be discussed 
without “fear, favour, or affection.” If to-day I have been fortunate 
enough to bring forward even one piece of information which was not 
previously known to all of you, and which may in any way assist in the 
solution of the question, I shall feel amply rewarded for my labour. 
At the conclusion of the reading, which was warmly applauded, 
Colonel Phillpotts again invited discussion. 
Lieut.-Colonel Miller, 'FC.j R.A., asked the lecturer if the size as 
well as the weight of the projectiles for the 16-pr. shell gun had been 
considered in estimating the number of rounds to be carried ? 
Lieut. Jones replied that this had been considered. The ammunition 
boxes for the 16-pr. gun are, he understood, the same size as those for 
the 9-pr. 
Major-General Leeroy, C.B., R.A., asked whether the statement made 
by the lecturer as to one in every three bronze guns being spoiled in the 
casting was borne out by the books of the Department of a date prior 
to 1815 ? There were comparatively few guns cast after that for many 
years, and the art seems to have been in some measure lost, for there 
were many failures when casting was resumed at the time of the Russian 
war, as there was said to be now. 
Lieut. Jones. —I cannot fix the date, but it was at the end of last 
century. 
