8 
From the above figures it will be seen that the membership was practically 
stationary on the totals of the five years preceding 1896, but that in this year a 
great accession of numbers has beeu obtained. It is hoped that this accession of 
numbers may be repeated in 1897; and if it should continue, the price of the 
dinner for members can be further reduced. 
War Office, Pall Mall, I. G. Stone, Major, 
22nd Oct., 1896. Hon. Sec. R.A. Dinner Club, 
RED-HOT SHOT. 
THE interesting note from Gibraltar on red-hot shot (vide “ Proceedings ”’ 
R.A.L. October, 1896) has induced me to send the following note on Jin same 
subject :— 
In my possession is a faded MS. report of an experiment with  red- Het shot 
carried out by Major James Wood, R.A. (Kane’s List, No. 209), dated Portsmouth 
9th May, 1785. The trial was ordered by the Duke of Richmond,’ the then 
Master-General of the Ordnance. 
The Gun used was a 32-pr. and. the Target, intended to “ represent the side 
of a 74-Gun Ship,” measured “ 10 Feet Square and 2 Feet 3 Inches thick at the 
Bottom, and 2 Feet 1 Inch at the Top. The Weight of which was near Four Ton.’ 
Details of drill with hot shot are recorded in Major Wood’s handwriting :— 
“No, 1.—-Tries the Gun with a Wad-hook, Spunges, rams home, assists to 
run up.” 
“No. 2.—Puts the Cartridge and Wad into the Gun, assists to run up and 
helps to bring the Shot from the Grate and puts them into the 
Gun, and carry the bearer to the Grate when he goes for another 
Shot.” 
“No, 4,—Assists to run the Gun up, brings Shot from the Grate.” 
“No. 5.—Fetches Cartridges and Serves No. 2. with Wads.” 
“No. 6.—The N.C. Officer Fires and superintends the whole.”’ 
“A. and B. attend the Grate only, to keep the fire in and give the hot Shot 
to the Carriers.” 
“A tub fil’d with water near the Grate to cool the tongues and soak the Wads 
Wi,” 
“ Spunged with a wet spunge.” 
“Dry Wad next the Powder after which is a Wet one next that & Spunged 
wet Sponge.” 
‘Wad well soak’d in water, when taken out of the Tub it must be beat with 
a handspike or wooden mallet till no water will drain out, and ex- 
amined witha Guage to be Sure that it will go down the Cylinder.” 
Notwithstanding the precautions contained in the drill, practice with red-hot 
shot was dangerous for the loading numbers, Captain Spilsbury relates, in 
his diary of the great siege, how, at least, one gunner lost his life and others 
were wounded by the hot shot causing premature’ explosion of the charge (vide 
ry) 
