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weight. Finally, large cannonl, by cmying the
weight of Iheir bullet in grape or bd·flIOt, mayan·
noy lhe enemy more efFeélually than could be done
by ten times the number of (mall pieces. See GUN·
NERY .
The author here quoted, has propofed to change
the fabric of all the piem employed in the Britifh navy,
from the tIVenty four pouodm dOIVolVards, fo that
they may have the fame or lefs weight, but a larger
bore. He thioks Ihe thirty·two pouoders io prefeot ufe
would be proper models for Ihis purpo(e. Thefe be·
iog of fifly.tlVO or fifty·three hundred weight, have
fomewhat lefs than a hundred and IWOthirds for each
pound of bullet. Aod that this pr~portioo would ao·
fwer in fmaller pieces, in point of llrenglh, feems elear
from thefe conftderations: l . That the Ihenglh of iroo
or any other metal, is in proportion to its fubllaoce.
2 . That Ihe lefi'er quantilY of powder filed io a fpace
it fills, has proportionably lefs force thao a Iarger quao·
tity; fo tha! if t\Vo pieces, a large and a (mall ooe, be
made in Ihe fame proportion to their refpeélive bullets,
and 6red witb a proportiooalíle qUántity of powder, the
Iarger piece will be more llraioed, will heat more, and
recoil more than the fmaller.
On this fcheme our prefe"t twenty.four pounders
will be eafed of fix or eight hundred weight of ufeleCs
metal; and fome pieces of a lefs caliber. as nine aod
fix pounders, would be fometimes eafed by fourteen
huodred: hence much larger guns of the fame weight
might be boroe. Thus, inllead of ftx, nine, twelve,
aod eighteen pounders, our fhips l1light carry twelve,
cighteen, and twenty.fuur pounders : guns would be
kept cooler and quieter, and would be of more fervice,
in many refpeBs, if their ufual charge of powder were
diminifhed.
GUNELLUS, in ichthyology. See BLBNNIUS.
GUNNER, an oAicer appointed for the fervice of tbe
caonon ; or one Ikilled to fire Ihe guns.
In the tower of Londoo, and olher garri(ons, as
well as in the ficld, this oAicer carries a field.fhff, and
a large powder.horn in a llring over his left fhoulder :
he marches hy the guns; and when there is any appre·
henfion of danger, his field·llafF is armed wilh match:
his bufinefs is to lay the gun to pa(s, aod to help 10
load and !raver(e her.
M'¡¡(f·GUNNER, a pmnt.oAicerof the ordoance. who
is appointcd to tcach·all fuch as learn tbe art of gun·
nery, and tOccnify 10 the maller general the ability of
aoy perCon recommended 10 be one o( the king's gun·
ners. To every fcho lar he adminillers ano' lh, not 10
ferve. \Vilhout leave, any Odler prince or (fate; or
teach any one Ihe .r~ 01' gunnery, bUI fuch as have tao
ken Ihe oalh.
CUNNERY, is Ihe art o( charging. direéling. and ex·
ploding fire·arms, as cannons, mortars, mu!ktts, 6c.
tO the belJ .
To Ihe An of GUNNER y belongs the knolV.
leclge oT Ihe' force and e(feéls of gun.powder, (fee
GUN POWDF.R),lhe dimenfion' of caol1on, <1e. and Ihe
proporlion of Ihe powdcr aud ball Ihey carry, wilh Ihe
m,lhod of 'Na1/agin.~, charging, poinfing,fpunging, &c.
A c¡nnoh is a military engine, or fire·arm, for Ihrow.
ing iron. lead, or Ilone bullels, by force of gun·powder,
to a place exaélly oppoGle lO Ibe axis'of the cylinder
whereof il coofills.
Cannons are.made cylindrical, Ihat Ihe motioo of the
ball might not be retarded in ils paffage; and that the
pGwder, when on fire, might nOI Oip betIV"n the ball
and Ihe fudace of the c.nnon, which would hinder itl
effeél. Wilh regard to Ihe names, dimeofions, weight,
&c. of cannons. fee CANNON.
Each fort of ordnance is more or lef! forti6ed ;
which fonification is reckoned by the thicknef, of the
melal at the touch·hole, at Ihe [lunnions, aod at lbe
muzlle, in proportion to the diameter of the bore.
There are three qegrees ufed in fortifying each fort of
ordnance, bOlh cannons aod culverines: Firll, fueh al
are ordinarily fon ified, w!lich are called legitimate pieces;
fecondly, fueh \VhoCe foni6cadons areleffeoed, WhlCh are
calJed baflard pieces; Ibirdly, double fortified pieces,
or eXlraordinary pietes.
The canoons double fortified have full one diameter of
their bore in tQickoefs of melal at their touch·hole,
and -:t at their trunnions, and ,~ at their muzlle. The
le(fened caooons have. at théir touch·bole, but! or-!t oC
the diameter of Iheir bore in thicknefs of metal, and *al
their trunnioos, and .f6 at their mUllle. The ordinary
fortified canoons, have t at the touch hole, ~ al tite Iryn·
nions, and .¡. al the muzlle. AIJ the double fortified
culverioes, and allleffer picees of Ihat kind, have one a¡.
ameter and t at Ihe touch·hole, a at the !runnions,
and ~ at the mUllle. And alJ the ordinary fortified
culverines, are fOrlified every IVayas the double foni6ed
canoons ; and Ihe lell'eoed culverines, aS 'lhe ordioary
cannons in all poin!!.
With regard to bulJm, or b.alls, .wherewilh caooon,
are loaded, Ihey are of various kinds, viz. l . Red·hol bul·
1m, intended to fet fire to place!, ",here combullible
mallers are found. The bullet is made red·hot, ·by
digging a placo in Ihe eanh, and lighting io it a &rw
quanlily of charcoal, or fea coal, aod placing over il a
(lrong iron grale. When Ihe 6re is well lighted, the
bullets are placed on Ihe grale, where, in a very fhort
lime, they gro\V red hOI; theyare taken out wilh' tongs,
or iron ladles (or Ihe purpoCe, and carried iOloIhepiece;
having before pUl Come elay over the powder Ihe cannoo
is loaded Wilh, lefl il Ihould be fct 011 fire by Ihe red hoc'
bullet : then lhe piece is fired. Where·el'cr the bullet
pa(fes, and meets wirll combullible mallers. it feu thcn:
on fire. BUI\Vhena Ircnch is hefore Ihe bwery of red·
hot bullels, hay is rammed·over Ihe powder; becaufe, ir
ir was ela)', the piew of il would \Vound and kili Ihe
wOl'kmen
Red·hot bullets are never fired bUI wilh eight or four
ponnders. For if Ihey \Vere of a llronger t.liber, th,
buliels could not be ferved eaGly.
2. HollolV bnllets are fllells madcc)'lindrical, u·ilh an a·
penure and fu(ee 3t o"' enJ, which gl\'iog 6re 10 Ihe in·
fideo when in Ihe ground, il buril!, aod Itas Ihe (aOle ef·
f«'t IVi lh a mine:
3. eh»o