4 
ARTILLERY SERVICE UNDER “JOHN COME ANY.” 
The usual number for exercise and on service was two Tindals and 
twenty-eight Lascars, for a 12 -pounder brass field piece, and half that 
number for smaller calibres. They were a most efficient and useful body, 
a class on whom, perhaps, more of the hard work of the service and 
fewer of its substantial rewards have fallen than any other of the 
native army. Accompanying the European Artillery at all times, they 
took part in every expedition and campaign whether in or out of India. 
Owing to the absence of records of drawings it is almost impossible 
to trace the exact nature of the materiel and equipment in the earlier 
stages of the corps but as far as one can make out, they must have 
been about as bad as possible. Colonel Pearse writing to Colonel 
Pattison and General Desaguiliers comments as follows :—“ You ask 
“ me about iron guns, we have a great many here, I know not where 
“ they were cast, but I know they are very indifferent. Two 12 -pounders 
(t burst on the ramparts in 1770 , in firing the morning and evening gun, 
“and one 12 -pounder burst on a rejoicing day in firing salutes. It 
“ destroyed seven Europeans and fourteen or fifteen natives. I excom- 
“ municated these iron guns, and substituted brass ones for salutes, and I 
" proved those of the iron guns which were to be used. They would not 
“ bear 9 lbs. of Europe powder, they stood 7 lbs. only, one out of thirty 
“ burst with 8 lbs. only, and three out of five burst with 9 lb. 
“ At practice in 1770 , the fuzes burnt from 19 to 48 seconds though 
“ of the same nature, the portfires were continually going out, the tubes 
“ would not burn, the powder was infamous, the cartridges were made 
“ conical, and when necessary to prime the gun with loose powder, a 
“ quantity was required to fill the vacant cavity round the cartridge, 
“ the carriages flew to pieces with common firing in a week.” 
The carriages referred to were probably of a double cheek pattern 
and were undoubtedly very fragile and constantly breaking down. 
Gun Carriage and Limber, 1770 . 
In 1770 , it is believed that on the recommendation of Colonel 
Pearse the carriage then in use in England was introduced, its limber 
being altered for bullock draft. It was clumsy even for those days, 
and certainly ugly, and with its wooden axle not very strong, but 
doubtless it was an improvement on the old one. 
Now as regards the transport of ammunition. The earliest record 
we have shew us Clive carrying his ammunition on Lascar*s heads, 
their fidelity and steadiness ensured by a detachment of Europeans 
with their muskets, in the rear to shoot deserters. As this plan was 
