The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-08-29 00:00:00

SHOOTING.

[From the Work by Colonel 'larder.)
The knore shots I fire, the more I am persuadedltas the
flint-gun shoots the strongest into the bird, and by far th,
easiest against the shoulder. It seems a paradox that a K.
oussion should fire quicker, and yet not stronger than
flint-gun ; but, most assuredly, this is the case. It may per.
haps, in some measure, be accounted for thus : the gas flies
instantaneously through the whole charge of powder, and
puts it in motion with such rapidity, that one-half of the
powder is not ignited till the other half and the shot has,.
made some progress up the barrel, and consequently thert:
takes place (owing perhaps to the vacuum which is thus
occasioned) a violent concussion or re-action, which, so
far from giving strength to the shot, is rather inimical
to projectile force, though it causes a severe strain on the
barrel, and therefore shakes every other part of the gun.
For this reason I find, that instead of almost equal menet::
of powder and shot (the sure proportion for strop g and good
shooting,) a detonater, in one s own defence, had better be
loaded with three quarters in measure of powder, to fear
quarters of shot; and that long barrels, which are opened
behind, and nip the charge in the cylinder, till more of the
powder is burnt, do more justice to the percussion syslete
than the others. I had ample proof of this by an expert.
ment with a musket of three feet six inches, and a double
gun of two feet eight inches. The musket, when made
into a detonator, shot very near, if not quite, as well as
when a flint gun; but the doublesgun did not shoot so
well, afterwards, by at least one-fourth; which evidently
shows that quickness and strength are not always cotnbinel
For instance, load one gun with large-grained powder, and
another with very fine canister powder; we are quite sure
that the latter will fire the quickest; but I would back tie
other to fire the stronaest, if of equally good quality, be.
cause the larger powder has the more projectile force.'
Again, fire a small detonator and a swivel gun, ay, a twelve
pounder if you please, at a mark only thirty yards off; and
see if the little gun does not shoot up to that distance al
quick as, or quicker than, the ethers! And vet would it
not be ridiculous to compare them for strength
Mr. Baker says---" by the detonating, or percussion prin.
ciple, the whole of the powder is fired instantaneously, but
the very quickness with which the powder is burned, in
my opinion, lessens its general effect, and I am satisfied
more execution will be done at an equal distance with the
charge from the common flint. Indeed, I bare proved this
by many experiments from the same barrel. In rain, or
snow, the percussion lock will act, from its detonating
powder, more correctly than the common flint lock ; and
this, by sportsmen, is considered its greatest, and, I must
confess, it appears to me, its only advantage." This, and
I should add (as I observed in 1822), the "wonderful
accuracy it gives in so readily obeying the eye ;" and (as
I observed in Mt), " ha, ing scarcely any flash from the
lock of the first barrel to intercept the sight of the second."
While I was using nothing but detonating guns for
four seasons, it was the remark of my man, that he never
had the pleasure of seeing me make such long shots as I
was once in the habit of doing; and I, ready to lay all the
fault on myself, or rather to a premature attack of tba:
anno domini complaint which must befall thl best of
felt that I dare not blame system which my.superiors had
so universally adopted. I took up a flint gun. This ern
worse and worse, as its comparative slowness made me truism
even fair shots. Last year, however, having been pre.
vented by illness from taking a gun in hand till just' efore
the end of the season, the sensation of firing a flint ands
detonator became, as it were, de noro. I accordingly took
up a flint gun, and down came the shots, min former days!
name this as a simple fact. Let others argue the point
as they-please. So I shall now conclude the subject br
reducing the matter to a very few words. Can you shoot
well with a flint gun? Yes. Then " leave well enough
alone." Can you ? No. Then by all means p and get
a detonator.

Keep yobr game in a safe, or a well-secured larder, to
avoid flies; and to get rid of rats, you have only to leave
out, for their supper, a red herring, which you must fits:
split open, and then occasionally heat before the fire, while
you put over and into it about as much corrosive sublimate
of mercury as would lie on a half-crown. The rats, when
they have eaten of this, will shortly afterwards adjourn to
the water; and instead of returning, there drink themselves
to death. This is a far more certain recipe to destroy rats
than mercurial ointment. It may be worrh while to ot-
serve also, en xusant, that the corrosive sublimate of mer-
cury is a never failing remedy to destroy bugs, tf tniml
with spirits of wine, and well worked, with a paint brush,
into the joints and crevices of furniture.

-,

t;;;1
and

SHOOTING.
...-......._ . .
[From the Work by Colonel Hawker.]
The Mire shots I fire, the more I am persuaded%at the
flint-gun shoots the strongest into the bird, and by far ill,
easiest against the shoulder. It seems a paradox that a p,,,.
suasion should fire quicker, and yet not stronger than a
Sint-gun ; but, most assuredly, this is the case. It may per.
haps, in some measure, be accounted for thus : the gas flies
instantaneously through the whole charge of powder, and
puts it in motion with such rapidity, that one-half of the
powder is not ignited till the other half and the shot hat.
made some progress up the barrel, and consequently tbet;
takes place (owing perhaps to the vacuum which is thou
occasioned) a violent concussion or re-action, which, so
far from giving strength to the shot, is rather inimical
to projectile force, though it causes a severe strain on the
barrel, and therefore shakes every other part of the gun.
For this reason I find, that instead of almost equal meant..
of powder and shot (the sure proportion for strop g and good
shooting,) a detonater, in ones own defence, had better be
loaded with three quarters in measure of powder, to fort
quarters of shot; and that long barrels, which are opseed
behind, and nip the charge in the cylinder, till more of the
powder is burnt, do more justice to the percussion system
than the others. I had ample proof of this by an expert.
ment with a musket of three feet six inches, and a double
gun of two feet eight inches. The musket, when made
into a detonater, shot very near, if not quite, as well as
when a flint gun; but the doublesgun did not shoot so
well, afterwards, by at least one-fourth; which evidently
shows that quickness and strength are not always combine!,
For instance, load one gun with large-grained powder, and
another with very fine canister powder; we are quite sure
that the latter will fire the quickest ; but I would back tie
other to fire the stroneest, if of equally good quality, be.
cause the larger powderb has the more projectile force.'
Again, fire a small detonator and a swivel gun, ay, a twelve
pounder if you please, at a mark only thirty yards off, and
see if the little gun does not shoot up to that distaece at
quick as, or quicker than, the ethers! And vet would it
not be ridiculous to compare them for strength
Mr. Baker sayie--" by the detonating, or percussion prin.
ciple, the whole of the powder is fired instantaneously, but
the very quickness with which the powder is burned, in
my opinion, lessens its general effect, and I am satisfied .
more execution will be done at an equal distance with the
charge from the common flint. Indeed, I bare proved this -
by many experiments from the same barrel. in rain, or
snow, the percussion lock will act, from its detonating
powder, more correctly than the common flint lock ; and •
this, by sportsmen, is considered its greatest, and, I must
7-i
confess, it appears to me, its only advantage." This, and
I should add (as I observed in 1822), the "wonderful
1
accuracy it gives in so readily obeying the eye ;" and (as
I observed in 1820, " has ing scarcely any flash from the
lock of the first barrel to intercept the sight of the second."
While I was using nothing but detonating guns for
four seasons, it was the remark of my man, that he never 1
had the pleasure of seeing me make such long shots as I i
was once in the habit of doing; and I, ready to lay all the I
fault on myself, or rather to a premature attack of the:
anno domint complaint which must befall thl best of us,
felt that I dare not blame system which my.superiors had
so universally adopted. I took up a flint gun. This was
worse and worse, as its comparative slowness made me miss
even fair shots. Last year, however, having been pre.
vented by illness from taking a gun in hand till just het.= T
the end of the season, the sensation of firing a flint ands h
detonator became, as it were, de noro. I accordingly took
It
up a flint gun, and down came the shots, Lein former days!
d
l name this as a simple fact. Let others argue the point ,
_it
as they-please. So I shall now conclude the subject br •P
reducing the matter to a very few words. Can von shat .:11
well with a flint gun? Yes. Then "leave well enough
alone." Can you ? No. Then by all means p and get ,1
a detonater.
Keep yobr game in a safe, or a well-secured larder, to
avoid flies; and to get rid of rats, you have only to leave
out, for their 'nipper, a red herring, which you must first '
.--
split open, and then occasionally heat before the fire, while
. 15
you put over and into it about as much corrosive sublimate
of mercury as would lie on a half-crown. The rats, when
they have eaten of this, will shortly afterwards adjourn to
T
the water; and instead of returning, there drink themselves in
to death. This is a far more certain recipe to destroy rats
than mercurial ointment. It may be worrh while to oh- T
serve also, en posaant, that the corrosive sublimate of mer-
cury is a never failing remedy to destroy bugs, tf Mixed
SE
with spirits of wine, and well worked, with a paint brush, D 4
into the joints and crevices of furniture.
SPORTING INTRLLIG.ENCE. .....
IVEYMO H R UTACES. I
:FIRST DAY, ACO, 26.
The King's Plate, 100 guineas. Two 3liles. -•-•
Mr. Dilly newel Prosody, aged - . - 1 1
Mr. Fellow nainscl ESCapt, aged . - - .2 2 1
Mr. Farquharson named Black and all Black. aged. alf
A fine race.
S. Day rode the winner, and J. Day Escape.
A Plate of 50 sovereigns, given by Worshipful Mayor.
Mr. Fargaharloa's Pnwenument, 4yrs old - I 2 I Bet
Lord Palmerston's Biondetta, 6yrs old - - 2 1 2
Mr. Ryan's Salisbury, 4yrs old . • 3 3 dr
A most excellent race, won by a head.
The winner rode by A. Percy ; Biandctta, by C. Day ; and 6ali.. be I
bury, by J. Day. 1
Hunters' Stakes of 3 sovereigns each, with 30 added by the Met- este
bets for the Borough. 4/xi
Heats a mile and a half. Lot
Mr. Radclyffe's Getaway, aged, Ilst. OW. - 3 3 1 1
_Lot
Mr. Hick's 31agnet. 6yrs old, 121 t. blb. - - 0I 2 2 the
Sir. Davis's Grind Compounder, aged, 12st 81b. 0 2 0 0 Prii
Mr. Radclyife's John, syrs old, 12st. 11b. . 4 dr. in tl
This was the finest race ever seen, each heat only won by a held j ore
Captain Stewart rode Getaway ; Mr. Hicks, Magnet ; Mr. Pa. —
via, Grand Compounder, and Mr. C. Radclyffe, Join.
'
GREAT PERFORMANCE.-A match for 100 sovereigns IDS 8
made at the close of Egham races on Friday evening by a Gentle. ' In ti
man of the name of Seymour, for his groom, Hamilton, to goo
.who
foot from the course to Loddon.bridge, four miles on the Leadendrai
side Reading, and return, a distance of thirty-four miles, in duce the
hours and fifty minutes. The pedestrian started at day-brisk', and pan
performed the first nine miles, near Bracknel, within an hour std
gaivheanitiitnhee, dfirsestainhceHtoeLodperidoornm-edbrideagec,himn
fifoeubracmkinvuitteshinwhitishitaire.e.e
rizlricj
halted five minutes at Sunning-hill, and won easy, with fear
minutes to spare. last
The boxing match between Salmon, a pupil of Robinson, the _ black, and Gerrard, a carman, for twenty sovereigns, proved util t T
to Salmon on Thursday last, at Muire, in Scotland. Gerrard is I •
powerful man, of fifteen stone, and the deceased was twelve store 1.14
only. The survivor had the best of all the rounds, and contirtall/ Max
gave heavy falls as well as blows until the forty-fifth round. ail, and I
the deceased was carried array senseless, and died before he naafi
11.6.0.14
the next inn.
s—___ __—t Lent
Vane
BIRTHS. I
On the 23d inst. the lady of J. Fielden, Esq. Witten it t• S thkee tt
Lancashire, of a son.
Mose
At Novar House, on the 20th inst. the lady of Hugh Rose, lift tam
of Glastulich, of a son. _ L. E
MARRIED. doni,
On the 20th instant, at Ancram House, Roxburgbshire, the BO: More
BOriylbertdone.EllEisoqt:
44u
to Williamina, youngest daughter of the late Patna Cssit
At Cralgie House, Ayrshire, on the 24th instant, • the Rev... 1111' tie,..
Liam Clime, of Boughton Hall, Cheshire, to Mary, Yu'wr- .L'oun4
daughter of Richard Campbell, Esq. of Craigie. lately
At Cheltenham, on the 25th inst., the Reverend John itkit' n.erci
foot, B.D. Vicar of Ponteland, in the county of Nortkurrba• range
land, and late Fellow of .tenon College, Oxford, to Cedes' Pul
youngest daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Kettilby, Rector of W, Gum
Bedfordshire. `urns' surer
On the 2d instant, at Ulverston, the Rev. John Barton. Sal'
man man Commoner of St. Mary Hall, son of the Rev. Henry Su!!! iscag 1
31. A. Rector of Eaatchurch Kent, to Eleanor, daughter of ditus
-..---e.
John Taker, Esq. of Elverston.
licit 1481
A few days since, the Rev. William Payne, M.A. of rein .
College, and Rector of Pitney, to Polyxena Ann, only daughte '
:r i
the late Robert Michell, Esq. of Langpon.
.....--• i
DIED. ..rge
On Wednesday last, at his house, St. Thomaa's.squart, 11'6 ride, '',
ney, Edward Pickard, Esq in the 80th year of his age.
„..„, tion of
On the 24th at Greenhill Grove, the residence of Richstd Fib' and V.
Esq. bliss Carrington, eldest daughter of the late John Cnatrig Itedsse
ton, Esq. Cabin
At the Royal 51ilitary College, Miss Elizabeth Butler, doeger fitted t
of the late Lieutenaat-Governor. htillg,
In Tralee,Peutenant-Coloncl Spring, late of his 311,01'1Y.3 s'd Cltrab,
Regiment of Foot.
.t.,r,1 *hi s 1
On the 23th inst. at Cranfield Rectory; Bed:Washita IS The
Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. James Beard.
ypil.e ter 1101
On the Illth inst. st his house at Streatham Paragon_, . ' ue,t, . it,
Hayward. Esq. many years Deputy of the Ward of Draw-
having on that day completed the 724 year of his age.
-- - _
----- -- --
111611 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS PAY'..
r Morning 38 min. after 2. i Evening 54 min. &furl'. . .11111/1",
Printiedsia,tsTollanEd,Batß4lTpulSolilishPaßbEySS
LocffiA:,,,
bbroJl.,3l2l%.CrAilh,:tY' 1117 ihticollie
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