Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1855-02-17
mountahle. are now readily overcome, strikingIy
exhibits the advantages that the progress of the
arts and sciences have conferred on mankind

/ The LANCASTER GUN.-0ur readers have prob
of the Lancaster gun, which has proved to be
most effective weapon against the walls of SebastO-
poL although it has not been altogether safe gun
for those who handled it, two or three of them hay
ing burst. The Montreal Gazette gives the follow
ing description of this gun and of the principle Of
its operation: -.
=" 1t is q well known fact, that it is impossible
to cast balls or bullets in such way that one side
wAl not be heayier than the other, ard it is also
well known that this circumstance defects the pro
iectile from its right line.
/ With small arms this difficulty is overcome by
tbs groeve IN the rifle barrel, which, being spiral
acts upon the soft substance of the leaden bullet,
and gives it rotary. motion before leaving the
muzzle Ct the Fiae which continues until the ball
Iis stopped. By this means the heavy side is alter
nately turned in all directions, so that any tendent
cy In dreetiorti is Immediately enunterbalanced
by revolution of the bullet, which changes the
position of the heavy side, and the result is that
the BAH flies In diSeGt line; Now however well
this plan may answer for small arms ana leaden
balls, the groove is inpracticsabe for cannon and
ca st i-on balls and it has long been problem to
discover some means of making rifed cannon. ''.-
The lancaster gun Processes TO have aeeOnl-
plshed this by means of an eliipticl bore out Of
which is to be thrown an eiptcal projeetie, either
shot or shell. Without plates we may not be able
to make all our readers understand our explana-
tons. but we hope most of them will do so. The
gun is large, because it is at long range thatits
great precision of aim tells best over the common
gun, and its appearance. is that OF an ordinary
large cannon except that the mouth, instead Of be
ing circular, is elongated like egg having one
axis longer than another. We will suppose that
the r-cuth is the largest: up and dOwn-that IS;
that the longer axis is vertical that the attened
ball fitting it would stand on its edge; but the
bore ginds gradually from the mouth to the breech
of the gun so that when the ball is driven home
TO the proper position when the gun is loaded, il
viii hare turned one-qnartsr5 around, and will lie
horizOutallythat is, at right angles to the longer
axis of the mouth of the gun, and on Its side
When the gun is fred, the ball must make one
revolution for every four lengths of the gun, and
thereby counterbalanoe any imperfectiOn in its
shape which would otherwise defect it. Seversl
of these guns have burst This is perhaps attribus
table 70 the fact that they used at very bong
ranges, and were probably overloaded, althoughis
is quite possible, and, in fact, probable, that fore
ing the ball to take rotary motion would increase
the resistance offered much as 4to increase the
risk of bursting. Experience will soon test the
question We may remark that the same princ1-
pie has been applied to small arms, and o decided
advantage is claimed for the Lancaster over the
common rifle"