66 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
as each particle is enabled to contribute the force of its attraction towards 
uniting the whole. 
The 68-pr. on the contrary, strikes the target with a high velocity, and 
the surrounding particles have not time to sustain one another, before the 
work is accomplished, so as to support the point struck; the consequence is 
that the penetration is greater at the point struck, although the actual amount 
of “ work done” may be the same. 
3. Lest this language should appear too figurative, I will express it in 
other words, thus :— 
Let us suppose the matter of which any body is composed, to be comprised 
of an indefinite number of atoms or particles united together by a certain 
force. 
Call one of these atoms A and the contiguous atoms B and C } these 
last have also contiguous atoms JD and E and so on. Suppose the atom A 
receives a blow, it instantly endeavours to transmit some of the effects of this 
blow to B and C 3 which again in their turn transmit to E and 1), thus a 
sort of wave of motion takes place between the particles, and each atom 
bears some of the effect of the blow. But a certain time must have tran¬ 
spired before the wave communicates its effect to E and D. If there is 
sufficient time to enable, B } C } B, E to take up some of the effect, A will, 
in a corresponding degree, be relieved; but if there is not sufficient time A 
will have a greater force to contend with than it is able to resist, conse¬ 
quently it must yield to that force and alter its position with regard to the 
contiguous particles, 
ooooo 
JSCABD 
4. I think it ought to be allowed that the chief object we have in view 
is the penetration of the ship’s armour; it will have a moral effect on the 
crew as w r ell as a physical effect on the vessel, for if once an armour coated 
ship is penetrated her prestige is gone and she is no longer invulnerable. 
It is said “ the heavy shot has a great smashing effect! ” But practically, 
up to this time, we know it has not been so; the penetrating effect of the 
200 lbs. bolts on the Warrior target being quite insignificant, and from the 
best and most authenticated accounts we learn that the late naval battle 
in America was fought with these heavy shot, at low velocities, and that the 
result was almost nil . 
The champions of the " heavy weights ” say that the heavy shot at low 
velocities will shake the plate off, and break all the bolts; and no doubt such 
results would be most effective —if they took place. However up to the pre¬ 
sent date these results have not taken place; the plates in the most obstinate 
manner refuse to be shaken off, even when fired at directly.—What then will 
be the effect if they are fired at obliquely ? 
Observe the effects produced upon the Warrior target. 
The mean penetration of the 68-pr. was 2*46.in., that of the 110-pr. 
Armstrong with a shot of 111 lbs. and 14 lbs. charge, l*6-in., while the 
penetration of the 200 lbs. bolt was almost inappreciable. What was the 
penetration of the “ shunt” gun with a shot of 140lbs. and 20lbs. of 
powder? not much more than the 68-pr., although the "work done” was 
