LAB

LAB

the 3-pounder seems rather the best;especially when two are used, as the ef-fect of two 3-pounders, is much greaterthan that of one 6-pounder. But the8-inch howitzer, which can be made tothrow in from 3 to 5 of its charge (from12 to 20lb. of shot) becomes thereby avery formidable piece, when it can beused for grape shot.

Proper charges for grape shot havenever yet been effectually determined :we can only give our advice from someexperiments; that for heavy 6-poundersl-3d of the weight of the shot appearsto be the best charge of powder; forthe light 6-pounders, 1-4 th of the weightof the shot; and for howitzers, 1-othorl-10th answers very well.

This kind of fire seems not yet tohave been enough respected, nor de-pended on. However, if cannon andhowitzers can be made to throw l-3d orl-4th, and sometimes half their chargeof grape shot into a space 39X12 feet,at 200 and 300 yards distance, and thosefired 10 or 12 times in a minute; itsurely forms the thickest fire that canbe produced from the same space.

Tin-case shot , in artillery, is formedby putting a great quantity of small ironshot into a cylindrical tin box, called acanister, that just fits the bore of thegun. Leaden bullets are sometimesused in the same manner; and it mustbe observed, that whatever number orsizes of the shots are used, they mustweigh, with their cases, nearly as muchas the shot of the piece.

Case shot , formerly, consisted of allkinds of old iron, stones, musket balls,nails, &c.

Tubes , in artillery, are used in quickfiring. They are made of tin: theirdiameter is 2-10ths of an inch, beingjust sufficient to enter into the vent ofthe piece; about 6 inches long, with acap above, and cut slanting below, inin the form of a pen; the point isstrengthened with some solder, that itmay pierce the cartridge without bend-ing. Through this tube is drawn aquick-match, the cap being fitted withmealed powder, moistened with spiritsof wine. To prevent the mealed pow-der from falling out by carriage, a capof paper or flannel, steeped in spirits ofwine, is tied over it.

Flambeau , a kind of lighted torch,

used in the artillery upon a march, orthe park, &c.

Formers , are cylinders of wood, ofdifferent sizes and dimensions, used inthe laboratory, to drive the compositionof fuzes and rockets.

Funnels , are of various sorts, used topour the powder into shells, and thecomposition into fuses, and rocket-

cases.

Fireship , a vessel filled with combus-tible materials, and fitted with grapplingirons, to hook, and set fire to the enemy’sships in battle, &c.

From the bulk head at the forecastleto a bulk head to be raised behind themain chains, on each side and across theship at the bulk heads, is fixed close tothe ship’s sides, a double row of troughs,2 feet distance from each other, withcross troughs quite round, at about 2{distance; which are mortised into theothers. The cross troughs lead to thesides of the ship, to the barrels, and tothe port-holes, to give fire both to thebarrels and to the chambers, to blowopen the ports; and the side troughsserve to communicate the fire all along

-he ship and the cross troughs.

I he timbers of which the troughs tirenarje, are about 5 inches square; tltfdepth of the troughs, half their thick-:i ess; and they are supported by crosspieces at every 2 or 3 yards, nailed to;he timbers of the ship, and to the woodfVork which incloses the fore and main-masts. The decks and troughs are all-veil paved with melted rosin.

On each side of the ship 6 small portides are cut, from 15 to IS inches large,.the ports opening downwards,) andire close caulked up. Against each ports fixed an iron chamber, which, at;ime oFfiring the ship, blows open thexrts, and lets out the fire. At the mainind fore chains, on each side,awoodeiiunnei is fixed over a fire barrel, and'nines through a scuttle in the decl'iJp to the shrouds, to set them on fire,fioth funnels and scuttles most be stop-ped with plugs, and have sail-cloth or.'anvass nailed close over them, to pi*■*ent any accident happening that war?)y fire, to the combustibles below.

The port-holes, funnels, and scuttles,lot only serve to give the fire a In*massage to the outside and upper parts>f the slup and her rigging, but also «