242 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS Qt 
9 
Table— continued. 
Number of bullets intbe 180 shells, 9600. 
I have now dealt with the only two objections which appear to me to 
demand a special and careful investigation, and I trust it will be considered 
that my remarks have vindicated the character of the Diaphragm Shrapnel 
shell in these respects.f A number of minor objections were urged against 
these shells on their first introduction, the fallacy of most of which has been 
exposed by time and practice and experience, and they therefore are not 
* There is a mistake in these figures in the original table, which I have corrected, 
f The following passage from a letter addressed by the Secretary of State for War to Col. Boxer, 
shows what was the opinion entertained by the authorities respecting the objections which were 
urged against the shell, after these objections had been fully discussed: “ Major General Peel has 
observed with great satisfaction that the various objections urged against this construction have 
\proved to be groundless, that its efficiency against targets has been amply established, and that its 
success in obviating premature explosions is fully recognized by the Committee,”—War Office letter 
19th January, 1859, 
