American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-02-10
London, Dec. III.
pERKINS'S STEAM GUN.

/ The neighbourhood OF MIR. Perkns's safety steam
engine mandatory, near the Regents Park.
was on Tuesday thrown into great CONSERVATION by
some tremendous reports, arising from the dis
charge of his steam gun. Since fatal accident,
which occurred several months ego, where lady
threw her self from gig in consequence, as 1t was
at the time incorrectly supposed OF her no, sc having
taken fright at the prodigious noise made by the
steam gun, that terrific engine OF destruction has not
been permitted to be discharged by the individuals
belonging to Mr.. Pc kins's concern Or Tuesday
morning however, soon after eight o'clock, paroles
were observed stationed on all the roads leadlI &
towards the mandatory, accompanied by men with
pacards on boards, warning all passengers on horse
back or in carriages to go through the Regent $
Park, instead Of proceeding by the high road leading
in front of the mandatory. Soon alter nine, rum
bers Of military officers in carriages & horseback
aliehted at the mandatory. They soon fol,
lowed by the Duke of Wellington, and Immediately
afterwards the discharge OF steam, which had been
previously occasional and os comparatively slight
force, commenced with continued roar, resembling
the oudest thunder we ever heard. the group oil
eminent persons then assembled. consisted OF his
Grace the Master General of the Ordnance, and his
Staff the Marquis of Salisbury MIR Peel, Sir II
Hardinge, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, the Judge Ad.
vocate General, and many military officers Of the
highest rank together with committee Of Engi
neer and Artillery officers, who, it appeared had
to examine into the merits OF this wonderful spec,
men OF human ingenuity and destructive power
The discharges OF steam now became almost inces-
SAINT for two hours, during which, its incaculabe
force and astonishing rapidly in dischargng balls
excited amazement and admiration in all present.
Al first the balls were discharged at short intervals
in imitation of artillery firing, against iron target
at the distance of thirty FIVE yards Such was The
force with which they were driven, that they were
completely shattered to atoms. In the next xperi
ment the balls were discharged at frame of wood
and they actually passed through eleven onc-inc
planks Of the hardest DEAL placed al the distance OIL
} an inch from each other Afterwards they were
propelled against iron plate fourth of an inc
thick, and at the very first trial the ball passed
through il. On all hands this was declared to be
the utmost fort Of force that gun-powder could ex
ert. Indeed we understand that this plate had beer
s brought specially from Woolwich for the purpose
OF ascettalniEg the comparative force Of steam and
J gun powder The pressure Of seam employed IL
effect this wonderful force, we learnt on enquiry
did not at arst exceed IS atmospheres, or 900bs
to the square inch and it was repeatedly stated b,
Mr Perkins that the pressure might be carried
even to 200 almospheres with perfect safety. Mr.
Perkins then proceeded to demonstrate the rapidii,
s. With which musket balls Wight be projected by il
$ agency 10 effect this he screwed on to the gun
barre! tube filled with balls which falling down b,
their own gravity into the barrel were projected on
2 oy one, win such extraordinary velocity to dem
: onstrate that, by means OF succession 81 tubes
" hled With balls, liked IN wheel Ga model OF whcl
y was exhbited nearly thousand balls pei minut
= might be discharged. In subsequent discharges o
e voilles, the barrel, 10 which is attached moyeabl
ONT was given lateral direction, and The balls per
iorated plank nearly twelve feet in length. Thus
= 1t opposed to regiment in line, the steam gu
: might be made TO act from one OF its extremi,ies
"a the o'her a similar plank was afterwards place
nnelf Inn anls a
there was stream Of shot holes from the top TO th
= bottom. 1t IS thus proved, that the steam pun ha
80 not only the force of gunpowder, bu, also admits
= any direction being given to it. Blu, what SCENE
70 to create most SURPRISE was the effect of yoey
) balls discharged against the brick wall by the sid
Sc o. the target They absolutely dug hole Of con
ls siderable dimensions in the wall and penetrated al
as most hall through its THO knrss W. hear
several officers declare their belief. ,hat had i