Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-14
GAZETTE
+ From the London Spectator. ]

SoMERvILLE's GuN.-Two more instances 0l
death by gun accidents are recorded in our col
umns. We we're about to express our regret,
for the hundredth time, that such disasters
| which. to US at least, appear OF 50 easy proven
tion-shoutd DO ever and annon occurring; and
TO call the attention, once more, Of such gentle.
men readers and shooters as have no fancy for
shooting themselves or their friends, to Somer.
vle's safety. gun; when our eye lighted on a let,
ter from correspondent, begging for descrip.
ton of that most useful invention, and asking
where it was 10 be procured, and what it COST
We can only answer the latter part OF this cues
ZION by stating. taat Mr.. SomerviIe has patent,
that he resides in scotland, and that in Edin-
bureh unQueslionabIv. but we should think also
in London, the gun may be got-we ourselves
have seen il in London, but in the hands OF a
sportsman. Its cost abov that Of gun of the
ordinary kind, we cannot estimate exactly, for
much Of the price Of all guns depends on the
name Of the maker and the fashion; we believe,
however, that the cost Of adapting the safety ap-
paratus to a common gun is some four or five
pounds.
Mr. SomervilIe, wa have said, resides in Scot.
land; hei is, in fact, the worthy clergyman OF a
rural parish few miles from the Modern Athens,
and his happy invention for so We truly deem II
was first suggested by the trasical death, from
a pun accident, Of the son OF one OF his Gwn pa
rishoners. 1t lis not easy tO.describe the safety
gun without diagram; but the principle OF 1t IL
easily understood. In firing the ordinary gun,
motion is alone necessary, and hence its danger,
A twig, stone. a shake even. any force sufficient
to draw the trigger, puts the life of the owner Of
the fatal instrument, and OF his companion, IN
ieopardy To discharge the safety.gun, 'ftro mo-
tons are required with the left and the other
with the right hand; the left must release the
guard spring, the right draw the trigger, before
the gun can possibly go Offence its safety
The simultaneous application Of two separate Tor.
ces to two separate puints, for the production OF
common effect, naturally indicates as MIR. So
mervllle, in the printed description oil IT we'll re.
marks not by accident, but combination and
forethought, that exclude the idea Of accident.
Now, it must not be imagined BY sportsmen,
that the spring, operated on DN the lett hand, I'M
pedcs in any degree the free use OF the gum
The very contrary is the case. As the safety
gun cannot possibly he discharged until the mo-
ment when the bearer desires it. u is arrays cock'
3D. Thus, instead Of losing time. the ,p'ins saves
time. The sportsman has but to raise his wea-
pom to his shoulder and fire; whereas. with an or
binary gun, he must first cock, then level, then
fire. The perfect practice Of the spring may be
acquired by the dullest dog that ever t"l'""ed a
four footed brother. IN an hour OF t"os exercise,
in his room, previous to taking the field; and, IN
a very short tme-a day or two at most-the
left hand is found to perform its function with
the same readiness Of instinct that the forefinser
Of the right hand performs its function.
Som after the safety gun was invented, Mr.
Somer,ile circulated, among a few OF those who
were content tt try its efficacy, set OF qurees;
among which were the following:
list. Can you kill more game with MIR. So
mervile's gun than with an ordinary one!
"2d. How much more, calculating on the
whole season, and taking ino the account accl'
dental rises?'
fine answers were uniform: we need only
quote those Of Lord Hope,oun's gamekeeper'--
"lst Certainly. Can kill mare game with
Mr. Somervile's gun than with the old.
"2d. think Mr.. S,mervIlle's gun gives a
superiority Of one fourth abso ute safety, and %
per cent of additional execution"
Is anything else requireds