pence of the Shot is likewise to be taken into the Account: every Ball that misses its object is absolute Waste, and the Target again forcibly recommends the Practice of the Cup and the Rifle.

No Account of the Consumption of Gunpowder or Shot has perhaps been during any Siege so accurately taken as by Colonel DRINKWATER, in the famous Attack and Defence of GIBRALTAR.

The Number of Rounds fired by the GARRISON, from 12th of September, 1779, to 3d of February, 1783:

Fired by the ENEMY, from 12th of April, 1781, to

2d of February, 1783: .

244,104 Rounds, all of a heavy nature.

Spanish Gun-Boats. 14,283 Shot and Shells.

Total, 258,387 Rounds.

The memorable Day of the grand Assault, the SPANIARDS had 300 Pieces of heavy Ordnance in play: the GARRISON fired from Eighty Cannon, Seven Mortars, and Nine Howitzers in Opposition. Upwards of 8,300 Rounds (more than half of which were hot shot,) and 716 Barrels of Powder were expended by our Artillery.

The GARRISON during the Siege consumed very near Eight Thousand Barrels of Powder; and the number of Ordnance damaged and destroyed,

amounted to Fifty-three. Supposing One Third of the Powder used in the illustrious Defence of this Fortress could have been saved, the Barrels of Powder would have amounted to 2666, and the Value, at Five pounds per Barrel, £.13,342 10 0.

The number of Barrels of Powder expended by the ENEMY could never be ascertained, nor what Ordnance were destroyed.

How much the Reduction of One Third of the Powder used in the very large Trains of Field Artillery, &c. that were employed upon the CONTINENT during the last War, which commenced in 1793, would amount to in Specie cannot probably be acquired: the Sum must be enormous. There is now, however, some Chance of this saving, yet efficacious Mode, of using Artillery being adopted, as the Earl of CHATHAM, the present Master-General of the. Ordnance, has supplied Mr. M. with two Six Pounders; one is rifled, and he has constructed a Carriage, on which, when the Gun is once fixed and brought to bear upon an Object, the Gun will not require to have its position altered for a great number of Rounds; a Circumstance that must be highly beneficial in firing upon an Enemy's Lines, or to annoy Workmen during the Night, that may be forming new Batteries or other Works.

To return to the Description of Gunpowder, as it more immediately interests the Sportsman, and to whose Success in the Field it is so essential, that its Goodness should be the chief Concern in his shooting Equipment.

The way to chuse Powder is, to lay the various

Sorts upon white paper, rub them with the finger upon it, and that which leaves a reddish, fox-coloured brown tint on the Paper is the strongest.

- Powder which leaves a red residuum in the Pan is

also good.

The following method of increasing the Force of Gunpowder one-third in proportion to its original Goodness was discovered by a Physician of Fogano, in Tuscany, whose name was FRANSCESCO.

To every pound of Powder add four ounces of quick Lime, fresh, and well pulverised; let the whole be shaken until the Mixture is perfect, and afterwards kept for use in a close stopped Vessel. To the Chymist is left to decide upon what principle the Lime acts in strengthening the Powder: the Experiment is said to be certain. It is necessary to add,

、

• Divers conceits have prevailed at different periods respecting the strengthening of Gunpowder by the addition of various Substances, such as to every pound of Brimstone, an Ounce of Mercury, or to every pound of Saltpetre, a quarter of an Ounce of Sal ammoniac; to sprinkle the Powder with Brandy or Spirits of Wine. WARD has the following Receipt to make a Gun shoot half as far again as its usual distance, with the same quantity of Powder; this is effected, he says, "by taking of White case-pepper of the soundest cornes, and steep them twenty-four hours in strong aqua vitæ, and after being taken out and dried in the Sunne, so that they may not dampe the Pouder; then charging the Piece with the usual charge of Pouder, you must take so many of these Pepper-cornes as will cover the circumference of the Bore, and being put down close with the sticke to the Powder; then putting next to the Pepper the Bullet, this being tryed at any marke, it shall be sensibly found to convey the Bullet with a Violence farre beyond the accustomed shooting, and being charged without this Ingredient, the Bullet shall not come little more than half the Way."

VOL. III.

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that the Powder used in priming must be unmixed with Lime. Without artificially augmenting the Strength of Gunpowder, that made by Messrs. PIGOU and ANDREWS will be found excellent; and it is to be feared, if a Gentleman cannot kill with the above, no Chymical Preparation will much assist his Endeavours.

To obviate the danger of the Powder being inflamed and communicated to that in the Flask whilst loading, have a brass top made to go over that which screws on to the Flask, and which the opening of the Spring supplies from it; by putting the charge of Powder into the detached brass covering, and from that pouring it into the barrel; should there be any Tow, after cleaning and flashing off some Powder, or after discharging, any Wadding remaining on fire within, (which last may happen when Paper, but never can when Hat or Leather wadding is used), the whole of the Powder that can explode will be the single charge in the brass Covering. A small stroke of the But of the Gun after the Powder is put into the Barrel, (which should be held as perpendicular as possible), will shake down many grains that might otherwise adhere to the Sides, and be bruised by pressing down the Wadding. It is scarcely necessary to mention, that Powder should be kept very dry. That which is good does not readily imbibe Moisture, and Powder quickly getting damp from an Exposure to the Air is perhaps the best evidence of its being composed of bad Materials; and damp Powder renders the Barrel speedily foul, from the tardy and incomplete Mode of its Explosion.

Many serious Accidents have occurred from Explosions of Powder in the Flask. The one recorded by a Baronet, who, with a most benevolent Intention, has published rules for the management of Guns, under the title of "Cautions to young Sportsmen," will be mentioned, and also some further Extracts from his Work; in the full Persuasion that he wishes the Hints he has drawn up should be as universally imparted as possible.

In March, 1799, Sir JOHN SWINBURNE, having flashed off his Gun, which was single barrelled, with a patent antichambered Breech, proceeded to the Dog-kennel in his opinion, at least five minutes must have elapsed before he began to load; having primed, he poured the Charge from the top of the flask into the barrel, when the whole of the Gunpowder in a Copper flask*, which contained nearly a pound, instantly exploded. A large piece of Copper struck the right Eye, and injured the bone above, so that it continued to exfoliate for two Years. The Lock remained at half bent, and it cannot be doubted that some Tow which had been left in the barrel or . chamber continued on fire from the time of flashing off, and occasioned the Misfortune.

In every Instance but one, where the particulars have been ascertained, of the numerous Accidents of the above description, the Explosion has happened upon the second time of pouring Powder into the

* At Mr. RAWLINS' Sale of English Antiquities, among other Lots, HENRY VIII.'s Powder Horn, noticed by GROSE, sold for £8. 15. 0.