to be fired horizontally from a common gun. 9 
being too thin, or from a portion of sand remaining in the 
chamber after casting, which produces ignition from the con¬ 
cussion of the powder- Notwithstanding all the care that 
can be taken, this sometimes occurs in action; but as the 
propelling charge is much greater than the bursting one, the 
splinters are carried forward, without injury to the gunners. 
The second day’s experiments, made from the same gun, 
were more successful. The shells weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz., and 
the bursting charge was five oz. Eight were fired at a 
wooden target 8 inches thick, placed immediately in front of 
a soft slate rock. Several were fired through the target at 
60 yards. Seven out of the eight succeeded. The eighth 
burst in firing. On examining the result, it was found that 
the explosions had produced a much greater effect upon the 
rock than upon the target. The target was then placed in an 
open situation near the sea, and two shells fired through it. 
It was then observed that the explosions fell behind it, and 
the splinters were carried several hundred yards into the sea. 
One shell fired into the sea with 14 oz. of powder, and at an 
elevation of 6°, appeared to range about 1100 yards. 
In the course of the third day’s experiments, several still 
exploded in firing. One however succeeded very well against 
a thicker target, and two, fired across the bay, exploded 
against the old castle, one at 800, and the other at 850 yards. 
The next experiments were carried on at Leith Fort in the 
end of 1823. The shells used weighed 10 lbs., the bursting 
charge 7 oz., and were fired from a 9 pounder, with a charge 
of lib. Two casks filled with sand and stones, and about 4 
feet each in diameter, were placed on the sea shore at low- 
water mark, and a target 4 feet square, and 15 inches thick, 
MDCCCXXVir. C 
