CANNON (continued)

The nine-pounders lately cast, being, as the author is informed, still lighter than what is here represented, they may perhaps be only transformed into twelve-pounders; but this will be a very great addition of strength, and the twelve-pounders thus borne will be considerably lighter than the smallest nine-pounders now in use. The weight of the present three-pounders are not remembered exactly by the author, but he doubts not, but they are heavier than the proposed six-pounders, and may therefore be changed for them.

" Hence then it appears, that the twenty-four pounders will be cast of six or eight hundred of useless metal; and instead of an inferior caliber now used, much larger ones of the same weight may be borne, especially when it is remembered, that this computation exceeds even the present proportion of the thirty-two pounders; so that from the above projected eighteen-pounders, for instance, two or three hundred weight may be safely taken.

The changes then proposed by the author are these:

" The author's scheme then, for augmenting the force of the present sea batteries, is no more than this plain principle, that all ship-guns should be cast upon the model of the thirty-two pounders, measuring by the diameter of the respective bullet; so that for each pound of bullet, there should be allowed one hundred and two-thirds of metal only.

The advantages of this scheme will appear, by the following comparison of the weight of the present pieces with their weight proposed by this new fabric.

Reference Works