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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
the strongest kind of powder would have been, whilst it only exerted a 
projectile force equivalent to powder of a very ordinary quality. 
These results were decisive as to the immediate adoption of gun-cotton for 
the artillery service, and the question of its possible adoption fell, for a long 
time, into abeyance. The original battery was kept up a little longer 
for s experimental purposes, but was then reduced. The materiel of all 
the batteries was diverted to other purposes. The “ gun-cotton direction” 
remained in operation, but Bitter von Hauslab shortly resigned his post as 
President, and then the conduction of experiments and investigations fell 
into the hands of the Artillery Committee. 
Artillery officers were generally averse to the introduction of gun-cotton, 
and the Artillery Committee was engaged in the production of a, so-called, 
“ Project-material” as an equivalent substitute, so that it would now have 
come to a standstill, had not the exertions of Baron von Lenk obtained for 
it a better reception by the Engineer Committee, and thus opened a new 
field for its utility. In their hands it was applied to mining and submarine 
explosions, in the most various cases and under the most various circum¬ 
stances, with a general result far superior to that of gunpowder. 
During this time attempts were being made at the Hirtenberg manu¬ 
factory to derive improved results for artillery practice by altering the form 
and composition of the cartridges. They put the cotton loose into the bag 
and pressed it. They pressed it in layers, and built up a cartridge therewith. 
They spun and twisted it; they wound it in wisps, and wove it like the wick 
of an argand lamp. They wound gun-cotton twist round pasteboard 
cylinders. They gave to cartridges of the same cotton, and containing the 
same quantity, different proportions of length and thickness. Much 
experience and useful knowledge was thus gained as to the mechanical 
part of the operation, but the chemical part was comparatively neglected. 
The mixture of the ingredients, and the process of converting common cotton 
into gun-cotton were assumed to be perfect, and left untouched, whilst the 
most elaborate modifications were made in the final stages of its preparation 
for use. 
Thus matters stood in 1859, when the Italian war broke out. Either 
from want of artillery ready for the field, or (as is more likely) with the view 
of having some novelty in the way of artillery to oppose to the French rifled 
pieces, three gun-cotton batteries were ordered to be equipped. The order 
was given before the battle of Magenta (4th June) but they had not had 
time to join the army when the peace of Yillafranca was arranged (11th 
July). It does not appear that any gun-cotton was employed in blowing 
up bridges; if it had been used, says the writer of the article, some of those 
operations would probably have been more successful.* 
As soon as hostilities had ceased in Italy attention was turned to the 
production of a rifled artillery; the subject had been begun before the war; 
it was interrupted by the campaign, but was now actively resumed in order 
that some system might be ready for application however soon the war might 
again break out. Lahitte's plan of rifling was adopted so far that no small 
number of the existing 6-pr. guns were converted into rifled pieces; this 
* I have learned elsewhere that a supply was sent into Italy and would have been used in 
the defence of the fortresses if they had been attacked. 
