The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-05

and to it are attached all the principal appliances
the invention. The guard of the hand, over the
trigger OF the ordinary gun, swings with the lock
Porters rifle, and upon it depends the evolutions
and works for firing. The barrel is fastened to the
stock npon the side opposite the lock, by long steel
arm. "a continuation of the barely between which
and the lock, when closed, is open space. about
three inches in length, and half three quarters
of an inch in width At the front of this space is
the open butt OF the rifle barrel and at the other end
is the wooden termination of the stock cylinder
about three inches in circumference, in which are
the charges fits tightly in this aperture and COM
pletes the invention. Around the edge of this
cylinder are nine holes running towards its
centre in which are placed the powder and ball;
at the lower end of each charge, into the side
Of the revolving cylinder, the touchholes which
successfully fall under the hammer of the lock and
communicate with the cap. The latch of the lock
being opened, the lock is thrown forward and this
nine charged cylinder is set edgewise into the
aperture at the foot Of the barrel with its axis on
one siGe reaching through its steel arm, and the
axis Oh the other side fitting into the lock- which Is
now closed The guard of the trigger being fur
nished with handle is pressed forward and thrusts
spring into niche in the side Of the cylinder, and
the guard is brought back to its place it raises
the hammer Of the gun, and revolves the cylinder,
bringing one of its charges in direct connection
with the barrel. Under the hammer Of the gun, on
the lock, is spring cap box, which censtaxfly
throws cap ever the touchhole of the eylA1lk,
when the hammer is raised. The gun being fired,
the guard is again pressed forward q simple metallic
spring pushes away the exploded cap, and when
the guard is again brought back, q new charge Is
under the cap, and before the barrel, ready to Ay
upon its mortal errand. When the nine charges are
fired, the lock is unlatched, new charged cylin-
der takes the place Of the one used, aud
the firing is renewed with great rapidity.
II it is not desired to add cylinders, 1t is but
the work of a momcnt 10 revolve the one used, and
load it while In the barrel. An iron ramrod. about
twelve inches long, is fastened in its centre upon the
top Of the barrel, with one end reaching over the
cylinder; and as the charges revolve, one end oft Is
raised, which gives lever power at the other for
pressing down the load. This gun has many supe-
ror merits over any other known 1t is water proof,
all the touch holes being perfectly air tight while
revolving against the lock. 1t is reported to shoot
farther than any other and being present at an ex-
hibition Of its powers, we saw.it bury ball into an
iron target quarter of an inch at distance Of
hundred feet. The rife barrel can be supplied by
that of any other species of fire arms-either by
shot gun or pistol. It will shoot forty times per
minute and with as much accuracy as any other
rife. 1t is well guarded against accident, there be-
ing no cap over the touch hole until the hammer is
raised. This gun has attracted the attention Of
several legislative bodies and the States Of Tennes
see Louisiana, and Florida, have adopted it for their
State militia. The Legislature of Tennessee, the
goth Of January, 1852, unanimously passed the fol-
lowing
Resolved That the Governor Of the State hereby
commended 10 call upon the Department at Washington
for such number Of Porters self loading and self
pIDiDg Rifles IS the State may be entitled to under
existing laws for the distribution OF arms among the
States
Resolved, That In tho opinion of this enaral Assembly
the of tho United States ough: to procure from
the the right to manufacture and the self
loading and self primipg rife.
That the Governor of the State IL requested
to copy of this report to each Of the Senators
and Representatives in Congress.
This rifle has been submitted to Gen. Winfield
Scott, than whom there can be no better Judge, and
the old hero says
That after critical examination of the gun possesses
qualities 10 eminent degree superior to any that
have seen and that one hundred men armed with
this weapon might turn the tide of bate and for from
tier service 1t is invaluable.
We have quoted these authorities merely to show
the importance Of this weapon, in view of its intro
duction ultimately into the armies of the world.
Allowing this gun to fire no more frequently than
twenty times per minutes, then one thousand men
upon the battle field must be able to cope with twenty
times their number. Such inventions as this are Of
national importance. All disagreements between
the different powers Of the earth are, as a last re-
sort, settled by an appeal to arms and when that
battle is fought, in which the contending hosts will
meet with Porter's rifles, far greater will be the
slaughter, and more bloody the field, than any yet
recorded upon the page of history. This gun is in
the north nave Of the Crystal Palace
GERMAN DEPARTMENT.
Among the jewelry in the German department we
have to mention beautiful representation of q
pink.
The stem is planted in q gold vase, richly orna-
mented with precious stones and enamel. The stem
itself and leaves are entirely OF gold Where the
leaves begin to branch Off the stem Of the flower
commences and sustains a beautiful pink, and a
half broken bud. The pink itself is made entirely
Of diamonds nterspersed with rubies, all set in gold
The immediate support of the flower and bud is made
of fiat gold wire in spiral form so as to give them
gentle wavy notion like that Of the natural flower.
The whole is about eleven inches high, and the di.
ameter of the pink nearly two inches. There is q
peculiarity about this beautiful work Of art partcu
larly deserving Of notice. When the flower and bud
are both detached from the stem they be used
breast pin or ornament for the hair. 1t was made
BY Mr.. Aulck, in Hahnau, Germany, and attracted
great attention in the London Fair. 1t is placed in
the gallery very near to the landing of the dome
| stairs.
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT
CONTRIBUTIONS.
| Cash on hand ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1923 65
Contributions for this day. ay............... 40 "a
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. SSiS l9