to publish these proceedings. JAMES MACFARLAND, JR., Chairman. Mr. Reynolds has been from infancy a resident of this State, and ranks anong the first Engineers in the country. those bluffs in most instances are formed || Chairman, and Samuel Mordecai, Sec-burg, Danville and Farmville, be requeste of a material unfit for the formation of a retary. canal embankment, it became absolutely The Chairman stated to the meeting that necessary for the safety of the work that the object for which it was convened, was change in the plan should be made, but one to consider the policy of constructing a alternative presented itself, and that has rulroad from Petersburg in a s uth-westerly CENTRAL RAILROAD --The Macon Mes been adopted; the erection of a high bureetion, and if approved, to recommend senger of Thursday last, says : "The Surshort dam or mound across the valley of the it to our fellow chizens generally. vey for this route commenced at this place stream, near the upper extremity of section Alter a few remarks from several memon Thursday last, by Mr. Reynolds the No. 18, at the Hanover Roa 1, and substitute bers of the meeting John D. Townes, Esq.Assistant Engineer, and our fellow citizen "Black water" for canal from that to a offered the following resolutions, which Richard W. Eilis. From the knowledge point at or near section No. 22, where a se- were unanimously adopted. cond mound of much less magnitude is to 1. Resolved, That this meeting approve Mr. E possesses of the country his servi be erected to prevent the pond fron inun- the general plan and objects of the proposed ces will be valuable. dating the town of Gillford, and the low railway trom Petersburg to the south-westground in its vicinity; the water that mayern part of Virginia, between the waters of collect between the latter mound and Gill the Roanoke and Appomattox, and deem ford, is to be conducted into Cold Run by the work likely to promote the general inmeans of a ditch or drain terminating at terests of a large portion of Virginia, and Bowman's mill pond. This change in the to prove a profitable investment of capital location it is believed, will render permanent 2. Resolved. That feeling assured of the and secure the only portion of the Middle Di superior advantages of a route south of the vision that was not before so, save the Com. Appomattox, for the transportation of com pany fifteen thousand dollars, and add large modities to and from both Richmond and ly to the supply of water on the summit-ship navigation on James river, as well as The ground that will be inundated, amounts to and from Petersburg-and thus offering to 140 acres, nearly all of which is now in a choice of marke s and of channels of possession of the Company. It is contem rade;—we invite the attention of the peoplated to use one foot in depth of that surple of the producing region of country to face for a reservoir which will contain 6,this, and to other routes which have been 033,400 cubic feet of water. The inhabi. proposed-and ask merely that they will aid tants of Gilford, are somewhat dissatisfied in constructing a railway on that route with the alteration; they are fearful it will which may promise upon full examination subject them to sickness; their fears are to be the most useful and profitable. presumed to be perfectly groundless inasmuch as the pond will be one half mile distant from them; its banks or shores nearly vertical; the water from eight to forty feet in depth, and its surface narrow The route from this city is by a very di rect course to Haiden's Mills on Stone Creek-thence up that creek a short distance to the lowest point in the dividing ridge of the waters of the Ocmulgee and Oconee, hence down Big Sandy Creek to the Oconee at or near the month of Buck Eye, in Washington county. The principal Engineer, J dge Randall will commence a survey in a few days at Savannah and meet Mr. Reynolds about the middle of the route." THE RAILROAD.-We have the satisfac ion to announce that on Wednesday last, 3. Resolved, That, in testimony of our the brig Algerine, Capt. Gorham, arrived confidence in the value of the proposed here from New-York with one hundred and work, we recommend to the Common Hall thirty laborers for the Railroad. This im of Petersburg, the consideration of the pro-portant work has proceeded as rapidly as priety of making a liberal subscription on could be expected. Its progress towards the part of the town. completion would, however, have been much more rapid but for the difficulty of procuring hands This diffienky is not yet procuring hands removed. We understand that three or four hundred laborers are still wanted. A reconnoisance for a continuation of the line to Beavertowa, under the provisions of the amended charter granted by the Legising lature of Pennsylvania, has recently bee made; but other duties of a more im o tint nature have prevented my making a detailed report and estimate of the probable cost of the route; sufficient has been done, how ever, to warrant me in stating, that no ob stacles of a serious nature will be encountered, and that the canal can be constructed at an expense not exceeding one hundred and ninety thousand dollars more than it would cost to termin ate it at the debou :h of 4. Resolved, As the best means of secur. confidence in the proposed work, and o big its speedy accomplishment, it is expedient to commence forth with a prelim. inary and conditional individual subscrip. tion, to be made certain if the report of the Contracts have been made for the excasurvey of the route shall be favorable, and vation and embankments required on the a charter be obtained at the next session of first fifty miles of the road, and the conthe Legislature, and its provisions be ap-tractors are now at work upon it. proved by as many persons as shall have subscribed for a majority of the shares of stock thus taken. The Brigade of Engineers unler Major Graham, after having, as we understand, completed the final survey and location of the road to Brooklyn, or to some point near that place, suspended their labors for a few weeks, about the 25th of August. Tow ards the close of this month they will re sume their examination of the route, and locate the road to Columbus. 5. Resolved, That a committee of five Little Beaver Creek. It may not be ime appointed to solicit and receive the sig. poper here to remark, that the amended atures of individual subscribers in this charter from the State of Pennsylvania, is own,tad to correspond with any other comnot of as liberal a character as the impor-mi tees, or individuals, in the counties and tance of the work should have dictated, nor towas on and near the line of the proposed such a one as might have been anticipatedmprovement, for the purpose of furthering from that enlightened State. the general objects in view. The Sandy and Beaver Canal, by all con It was the very anxions de ire of the versant with the internal improvements ofed to lay these proceedings before the Com. 6. Resalved, That the Mayor be request-President and Directors of the Company 10 our country, must be viewed as a continua. tion of the great chain of improvements al mon Hall of Petersburg, and to ask, in the employ slave labor upon this work, but such ready completed in Pennsylvania, or as a name of this meeting, the early considera-is the present demand for slaves for plantaLink connecting it withthe various improvetion and action of that body. tion purposes, that it has been found im ments of the far West, extending to the rich 7. Resolved, That the proposed improve-possible to hire blacks in any sufficient and fert le Valley of the Mississippi River, ments of the Roanoke, and those of the which must ultimately tend to enrich the Upper Appomattox now in progress, will coffers of that State, and add immensely to be highly important to the trade and prosthe business and prosperity of its metropolis perity of Petersburg, and will deserve all Viewed in this light, the work is one that the support and aid that the influence of well deserves the fostering care of the State his town can give. of Pennsylvania. At which is respectfully submitted. From the Petersburg Intelligencer. RAILROAD MEETING. At a meeting of the citizens of Petersburg. convened at the Court House on the 1st Otober, 1836. James Macfarland Jr. number. It will be gratifying to the public to know that the order of the Company for the iron railing, sent to Liverpool, as mentioned in a former number of our paper, arrived just before the extraordinary rise in the price of that article had taken place. The contract nuch of the recommendationn of the Comvention lately held in Charlotte, as prowas made without loss of time, and a vast pses a railway from Danville to Farm-saving will thus accrue to the Company. ville. 8. Resolved, That we fully approve of so The chairman appointed the following gentlemen the committee, under the5th reso u ion, viz. J. D. Townes. C F. Osborne, Elmund Ruffin, J. Y. Stockcell, and P. C. Spencer. Resolved That the Editors of the news. was appoint dpapers in Petersburg, Richmond, Lynch RAILROADS IN CATTARAUGUS.-A facetious Buckeye, Ohioite says, that the system of travel through the cattaraugus woods is for every passenger to go on foot near the stage, to be ready to relieve the vehicle from any accident, on account of the deep holes and ruts in the road. This was borne quite 1 Amost excruciating agony, under the body of cheerfully, no alternative being nigh. LONG ISLAND RAILROAD.--We under stand that the Directors of the Company Lave expressed the unanimous opinion tha it is desirable to complete the branch to Hempstead this fall. They have lately im. ported a quantity of railroad iron, and intend to lay the rails upon the portion of the road already graded till they come to a point opposite Hempstead, when the road will be made at the same time toware Hempsicad and Jer cho. The company and the people of Lon Island feel it to be equally desirable to have A portion of the road put in use as soon as possible.-L. I. Starr.] We have seen cars and plans of cars designed to prevent any such accident. A short-sighted economy should not retard their introduction to general use. SHOCKING RAILROAD ACCIDENT. A gentleman in the forward car had his left arm broken, and breast much injured, but it is possible he will recover. The tram was propelled at the rate of 15 to 18 miles per hour at the time of the acci dent, and ràn no! more than the length of the train or 50 yards, ere it brought up. I was with my family in the next car to the one which Mr. Gibson was in, and the fragments over which we passed, tore up the bottom without injury to any of us passengers, It was a miracle that we escaped -one of our wheels was spokeless, nothing out the nakal rim left to give assurance it ever was a railroad wheel. Even the rails, for a considerable distance, were torn from their fastenings, and some broken. This seems to be one of those accidents against which it is difficult to guard unless by some new arrangement of the wheels and axles of the cars, or perhaps by a thick er flooring to the ears. In the hope of conveying the wounded towards medical aid, they had gone to a shor turn, when the locomotive came sweeping round and was not checked until it came in contact with the cars, and did considerable injury.[United States Ga. zette] It is extremely probable that this coal which contains so remarkable a proportion of bit unen, will be exported from the Ha vana to most of the ports of the southern extremity of this continent. I may add that coal occurs near the north-east end of Jamaica. Mr. De la Peche informs me, however, that these coal seams are very thin, and that none of sufficient magitude to render them worth working have been discovered. I am, gentlemen, respectfully, RICHARD O. TAYLOR. Philadelphia, July 13, 1836. After the most costly and prolonged contest in the two Houses, upwards of 80 days in Committees, Stephenson's line of railway between London and Brighton has followed the fate of Rennie's, Cundy's, and Gibbs's, and was thrown out yesterday afternoon in the Lords' Committee, by a majority of 17 to S l'eers. The resolution which disposed It is mentioned that the engine and one In this day of improvement, it is shame car was immediately dispatched for Lancas.of it was as follows:-"That it is inexpeful that so dreadful an accident as the one sufferers, and that before it returned the the present Session." The minority was ter city for medical or surgical aid for the dieat to proceed further with this Bill during detailed below, should occur on a rond hav.cars were set in motion. -Richmond, Ducie, Portland, Strafford, ing the benefit at least of the experience of Queensberry, Glengall, Beaufort, and Westsome years. moreland. The majority-Verulam, Cumberland, Warwick, Bayning, Monson, Mountford, Wynford, Redesdale, Lake, Strangford, De Lisle, Abingdon, Gage, Clanricarde, Teynham, Exmouth, and Berwick. Two only of the minority and four of the majority voted without hearing the discussien or evidence. The decision there, so far as regards attendance, was bond fide. The principal reasons for rejecton were the decided objection of the great majority of TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS. the inhabitants of Brighton to Stephenson's GENTI EMEN-I observe with much inter-line, and appearance in the Lords' Commit est the notice of your correspondent, in the tee of the Brighton Junction Railway, a last number of the Journal of the Franklin line uniting Brighton with the London and Institute (p. 375.) of a plan for extensively Dover (south-eastern) at Hoxted, a cutting orking the beds of bituminous coal in Illi- of not more than thirty miles. The following account of a most painful accident on the Columbia Railroad was leit at our office by a friend, who it will be seen was a witness of the painful scene which he describes: From the Journal of the Franklin Institute. OUS COAL NEAR THE CITY OF HAVANA, ENGINEER. The an FAIRVIEW, Sunday, about 3 o'clock. This afternoon, as the train for Lancaster was approaching Fairview, the axle of the forward car, or car next to the baggage, broke, which immediately precipitated the Lody of the car upon the railway, the frag mens of the axle ripping up the bottom of the car in which was a Mr. Gibson of Phila-nois. There is little doubt but that an abund-nouncement of the result at the Stock Exdelphia bound to Cincinnati with his wife ant supply of coal, of the quality he describes, change was received with three loud cheers. and children. His wife and child fell will be of great public utility in the South-Brighton will have to wait another year for through, and nearly the whole train passed will supersede, for many purposes, the em- railway connection with the metropolis.— ployment of other fuel;-and will have a The contest is reputed to have cost upwidely extended market, even down to wards of £100,000, and to have been reNew-Orle ins, to the great private advan-markably pro itable to the legal profession. tage also, I trust, of those who are prepar--[Chronicle.] ing to put this undertaking in execution. over her body. I cannot picture to yon the heart-rendin scene that ensued when Mr. Gibson was called to the spot where his we lay a mangled corpse, with the child, about 13 months old, by her side, covered with the blood of its dead mother. The top of her I do not think, however, that the Illinois POISONOUS PRINCIPLE OF HEMLOCK.head was cut off, and the brains lay on both coal will form a large article of export, to The principle of the Hemlock plant, which s.des of the ra.l; the body, feet, arms and the Havana for instance, as your corres-is fatal to life is, according to Professor legs broken to atoms Heavens! what a sig it! the distracted man tenderly dragging pondent suggest. The existence of exten-Geiger of Heidelburg, a kind of alkali, in from the spot the remains of his Julia, sive veins of coal within the tropics is now the shape, however, of an cily fluid. It is calling upon her in frantic exclamations; established. Probably it is not yet general- easily obtained by distillation. At a modebut she could only answer by an expiring ly known, that there have been recent dis-rate temperature it neutralises acids without look of agony. He next picked up his babe, coveries of coal, of very extraordinary qual-forming crystalizable salts: it contains a and believing it too was dead. ran around ity, at least two points on the coast of considerable quantity of azote, and when among the crowd imploring assistance. when it was impossible to afford him the Cuba, near the Havana. One of these is exposed to the air is rapidly decomposed, least consolation. The child was miracu only three leagues from that city, and two giving out ammonia. Professor Christilously preserved. I was next called to wit miles from the sea at a place of embarka- son, of Edinburg, has repeated the experi ness another scene which beggars description. This mine has very recently been ment of the German chemist, and found thein alike in their results. In activity this new poison hardly yields to prussic acid.— Two drops applied to a wound, or the eye of a dog, hare, or cat, bringing I do not enter into a description of this death in nine seconds, and the same quansingular coal, because we are preparing a tity injected in the form of muriate in the separate communication for a scientific informal vein of a dog kills him in three sestitution. conds at the utmost. tion. investigated by Mr. Clemson and myself, A black mau, who had vainly attempted SAND TO MOTION THROUGH TUBES, WITH For the purpose of examining further the degree and nature of the resistance offered by sand when it is attempted to force it through a tube by direct pressure, the following apparatus was arranged, after a a few preliminary trials, which had given some idea of the power it would be necessary to apply. A side and end view, and a plan of the apparatus are given in the cut on the next page. 2 3 My sand carefully packed. The packing was The strong cast composition tube, a, about fifteen inches in length, which contained the sand, was held in a vertical position by being passed through the block, c.The pressure was always applied to the bottom, and the collar, b, cast upon the tube, prevented its being forced upwards. The block c, was secured in its place by being let to the four posts, 1, 2, 3, 4, passing from the floor to the ceiling. These four posts formed a very stable frame work, and between each pair, the space, g, permitted the sliding board, e, to move freely up and down, and secured the proper direction to the pressing force. For the sake of distinctness this space, g, has been represented wider on the sketch, and the sliding board The e, thicker, than they actually were. pressure was applied by n eans of a moveable piston within the tube, connected by means of the iron rod, d, with the sliding board, e. This sliding board was attached, by means of the chains, k, k, h, h, h, passing over the cast iron pullies, f. f, to the platform, p. Of course any weight placed on this platform communicated a corresponding pressure upwards to the piston within the tube. The chain h, h, was of the best Peru iron; the wire was about an inch in diameter, and the chain had been proved with 9 tons dead weight. The pulleys, finches long, having an interior diameter of f, were about a foot in diameter; and their axles were of wrought iron an inch and a half in diameter. When a dead weight was to be applied, the platform was loaded in the position, p, but if a violent shock was to be produced, the platform was held in the position, p', by means of the cord, r, r, r, until it had received the proposed load; the cord, r, r, r, being then suddenly cast loose, permitted the loaded p'atform to fall freely by its gravity, until it had straightened the chain, when it was either entirely arrested by the esis ance of the sad in the t be, or forced its way to the floor in consequence of the yielding of the sand, or of the fra ture of some part of the apparatus. There were other minor details which it is not necessary to particularize. The fixtures were not brought to the degree of strength just stated until after many trials, an the repeated failure of nearly every part of the apparatus; and, as will be seen, a limit was soon attained, beyond which the this experiments, even with degree of strength, could not be carried. The weights used were bricks. The piston was so arranged as to move without friction when the tube was empty, and at the same time to prevent the escape of the sand when the tube was charged. Trials were made with sand poured loosely into the tube, and with * Pern, Clinton county, New-York. The iron from this locali y possesses a remarkable degree of tenacity. A preliminary series of experiments was tried, the results of which will not be given, as they were all subsequently repeated in a more careful and accurate manner. In the second series, a tube of tin, fifteen 14 inches was used instead of the cast com- the results obtained. TABLE I. Number Number Weight which o. of of sand of sand sary to place ment. to force the Packed. Un sand from the packed tube. 29 33 Inches Inches. Pounds. 36 37 350 39 3 360 40 760 ind 1 inches in diameter, folded at the seam, and strongly soldered. The piston was just inserted into the bottom of the ube, and the weights given in the four h column, were those which were necessary to force it quite through the tube, with the sand before it. In the experiment No. 46, where 9 inches of packed sand were tried, after a weight of 1900 pounds had been placed on the platform, without producing any effect, an effort was made to drive the sand from the tube by forcing up the sliding board, e, with a lever. In this operation the Tube was bent, and split at the soldering, but the sand was not forced out. It was soon ascertained that very great weights would have to be used when the depth of the sand was equal to, or greater than four times the diameter of the tube, and that the process would be tedious; it was accordingly resolved to abandon the use of dead weights, and employ the momentum of falling be dies. Previously to making these trials, a glass tube ths of an inch in diameter, was procured and experimented upon. It admitted six inches of sand to be forced out of it, but with 8 inches of sand well packed, it burst when the dead weight of 550 pounds was applied. Observations on Table II-The tube and rope were the same as described in observations on table I. The experiment No. 61, the top of the sand was made even with the top of the tube before the experiment was begun, by pushing up the piston until only so much space was left above it, as it was intended the sand should occupy. This role was observed in all the subsequent experi ments. This table shows that it required a weight of 1320 pounds, falling 3 feet, to force 5 inches of dry sand out of a tube 1} inches in diameter, and 1680 pounds, falling 3 feet 5 inches, to force out 6 inches of sand. With 1900 Experiments, 60, 61, 62, and 63, showed lbs. the pis-that the apparatus in its then state could not sustain the force necessary to expel 7 inches of sand, and accordingly these experiments were suspended until a cast brass tube could be procured, and an iron chain be lost. With 2100 ton was not, ton was not Imoved. Observations on Table I.-The tube was of the kind called double tin, 15 inches long, of an inch. 61 རྣམབ 39 0 5460 3323 18171 REMARKS. In these experiments the rope stretched Trial defective. The rope was broken, trial defective. The tube was split. pable of supporting nine tons, was subst.tuted for the rope, h, h, k., and aer experi. ment No. 90, a strong chain was employed n lieu of the rope, k, k. The apparatus was strengthened in a variety of ways o enable it to resist the great shocks it was subjected to. It appears from this table, that to expel seven inches of dry packed sand from a tube one and one-fourth inches in diameter, it was necessary to employ a weight of 2286 pounds falling through a space of three feet eleven inches. A weight oi 2644 pounds falling three feet, was insufficient to force from the same tube eight inches of sand. Sand poured loosely into .he tube, without being packed, offered much less resistance. Seven inches of loose sand was expelled by a weight of 361 pounds falling three feet eight inches; nine inches by a weight of 615 pounds, falling of an inch. The apparatus was broken, and the tube three feet nine inches; and ten inches by 0 of an inch. Parted a 37 inch white hemp rope. fitted instead of the rope. O.h measures were also adopted for strengthening the apparatus.While these arrangements were making, a series of experiments were tried with a conical plug above the piston, as in the annexed sketch The height of the cone was three inches, and its base equal to the area of the top of the piston. The details of these experiments a weight of 870 pounds falling three feet Observations on Table III. The tube was with a conical wooden plug between the sand and the powder. 169. A pistol barrel of nine-sixteenths of an inch bore, burst with one inch of powJer and eight inches of packed sand, without wad or plug. der ; but in the meantine to determine the size of the rod. A weight of 2033 pounds resistance which would be offered by the was required to force a inch rod through sand to the entrance of iron rods of uch 3 arches of sand. With 12 inches of sand, less diam ter than the bore of the tube, the weight of 3150 pounds was required to following experiments were made, Rods force the same rod, sharpene 1, 2 inches of one-fourth, one-half, and three-fourths of into the tube. Sharpening the inch rod, an inch diameter were used. The tube be-seemed rather to increase than to diminish 170. An old nusket barrei of three-fourths ing one and seven-sixteenths inches in di-the resistance. A half inch rod was forced of an inch bure, was loaded with threeaineter, a wooden piston having a hole in through ches of sand, by $70 pounds fourths of an inch of powder, and five inch its centre, just large enough to admit the talling 4 feet. With 13 inches of sand, aes of packed sand, without wad or plug.roda, in the manner indicated by the annex-inch rod was forced only 17 inches, by a On firing, the barrel was burst, but the sand ed sketch, was placed in it, and the rod being weight of 1880 pounds falling 3 feet 4 was not driven out. entered into the piston, the sand was placed inches. A rod of an inch in diameter, above it as usual. With this apparatus. was forced through 8 inches of sand by the experiments contained in table IV., 1120 pounds, falling 3 feet 10 inches; and were, among others, tried. the same rod was forced through 13 inches Observations on Table IV. The resistor sand by 2136 pounds, falling 3 feet 3 ance op osed by the san! to the entranceuches. I all cases e sand immediately of a rod of smaller diameter than the tube, before and around the rods, was crushed to was very great, and increased with thela fine powder. TABLE IV. Distance which the iron rod was forced into inches. through the sand 1 7-8th inches an inch 13 inches Rod of an inch in diameter. 160 161 8 870|| 3 10 1120 3 of an inch 10through the tube 3 thro' the sand TRIALS WITH GUN POWDER. 166. A musket barrel, of three-fourths of an inch bore, was charged with two inches of powder and thirteen inches of packed sand, there being neither wad nor plug between the sand and the powder. On firing. the barrel was burst, but the sand was not driven out. 167 & 168. A brass blunderbuss barrel of REMARKS. Rod beat and broker. 172. A piece of musket barrel, taken from near the muzzle, and open at both ends, was charged at one end, with five and a half inches of brick dust, hard rammed; and at the other with five and a half inches of sand, well packed, with one inch of powder be tween them, a priming hole being bored to communicate the fire. The explosion of the powder burst the barrel, but neither the sand nor the brick dust was driven out. 177 to 181. A p stol barrel made of twist ed iron, and of great strength, the bore be ing cleven-sixteenths of an inch, was fired with three-fourths of an inch of powder, and the following loads of sand, each one, with and witheat a wad, viz: three inches, four inches, five inches, and six inches. Ju all these trials the sand was driven out without causing the barrel to burst. 185. The same pistel barrel was loaded with one inch of powder, and eight and onefourth inches of sand, with a conical plug between the sand and the powder. On tir ing, the sand was forced cut. 183. The same barrel was charged with one inch of power, and eight ad one-lour h inches of sand, without wad or plug. Ou firing, the sand was driven out, and the barrel was burst. In order, if possible, to determine a limit o the resistance opposed by sand, it was resolved to make use of a twenty four In these trials the end of the rod was pound cannon. It was thought not improb sharpened. able, that by the use of clean dry said, which is generally obtained in the vicinity of the sea coast batteries, a ready method would be discovered of effectually destroying heavy guns, an olject which is occa. sion lly of great importance. Application was therefore made to the ordnance depart ment for permission to experiment with an old pattern twenty-four pounder, laying at Fort Adams, which permission was very liberally and readily granted. The length of the bore of this piece was about nine feet, and the diameter of the bore 5 inches The sand around the rod was pulver- It was first fired in a horizontal position sed to a fine powder. three feet of sand, and so on, the depth of the sand constantly increasing by one foot, until the bore was full. The gun was then placed in a vertical position, and loaded with the same quantity of powder, and fil!The pulverized sand at the head of the ed, without wad or plug. It was alter ed up to the muzzle with sand, well pack The sand around the rod crushed to a fine powder. rod as usual. The chain was broken. with one inch of powder, and ten inches wards charged in a similar manner, a cone of wood being interposed between the pow der and the sand. In these two cases the fire was communicated to the charge by means of a priming tube, passing down gun. Afterwards the gun was charged in through the sand from the muzzle of the the same manner, and fired by means of the vent. A better quality of powder was then sixteen pounds. The gun was several times used, and the quantity was increased to fired with this charge, the bore being filled up to the muzzle with sand well packed.In every instance the sand was forced ou |