Eastern times., 1855-04-19
M. MIME.


NJ. Mimic.
This gentleman, whose invention of the
MIME rife bullet has rendered his name ia
nous throughout the world lis said to be no
dabbler in the science to which he has devoted
himself. In his office at Paris he has forge
and all kinds of armorer's tools, and is almost
constantly employed in experimental altera-
tions of rifles, or in testing the merits of his
numerous inventions. The following extract
from letter in the London News descriptive
some of the latest creations of his fertile brain,
will. we think. be read with interest -
'' We examined Swiss muskei of enor-
nous welght-the gun with which the new
imperial guard is armed-and other rifles new
or rejected. Above all, we were struck by
M. Minie's latest improvement of bis celebrat-
ed weapon. 1t would not be fair to describe
II IN detail, since, when we saw it, it had not
been submitted for the appreciation of the En-
2eror; but | may notice the result it gives
When I s.atr .t.e fact tfaI in its incomplete
stale the inventor has fired twenty ball car
tridges in one minute from it, that by mere
movement of the hand the discharged gun is
reloaded and that its force is terrific, carving
tremendous distance, its importance at the
present moment cannot be over-estimated. -
The weapon is moreover, noiseIess. M.
M'nie fired it in his little ateiier, in our pres
ence, without the least Inconvenience. The
ball penetrated two thick planks OF wood.
For night surprises and other sudden attacks,
such a rifle would appear to be invaluable
Yet, said the Inventor, it is by no means per-
feet weapon. Perfect or not, it is an improve
ment of wonderful importance, and one from
which the inventor shnnld derive some sub
stantial advantages. He places it, he declares,
quite contentedly, in the hands Of the Emper-
or. And in our careless gossip with NJ MIME,
we touched upon his relations with the impe-
rial government. His experience is honora-
BILE, both to himself and to his sovereign. He
has met with the utmost kindness. He en-
JO1S lIcc dCCCSS W tiIC IImpClOA "uCuCNCt HO
has anything to communicate, and has found
himself seated by the side of the sovereign at
the breakfast table, He enthusiastically ac-
knOwledges also that in pecuniary point of
view, he does not complain. Once, when he
sent rife TO the Emperor, the acknowledge
ment was present of 90 900 francs from the
privy purse. publish these details Of my in
terview from strong sense that this publicity
is an act of justice due to man at once so
modest and distinguished as M. MIME.
| 1t is really curious to examine the chef'S
collections of cartouches, bullet-moulds, and
bullets. They are contained in a series OF
drawers, and look grimly menacing set OF
instruments. He has made balls in every
conceivable shape he has manufactured the
moulds with his own hands. One of these
balls is of remarkably ingenious formation.
believe it is calculated TO give the least posi-
bic power of resistance to the air. M. Mimic
illustrated its force in our presence. He took
up an iron tube, and standing at one end OF the
room, blew his leaden bullet with such force
that it stuck into the opposite WALL l may
state, without divulgisg any secret, that this
bullet is pointed. Still it was evident that il
could be aimed with greater precision than
the balls now in use, being less influenced by
the air. 1t was remarkable to see how close.
| ly, time after time, it reached the same poin1
in tho wall when hlown trom a fyed tuhe-
rising or falling little of course, in proper.
ton to the force of breath used each time Ir
reference to this experiment, NJ. MIME relat
ed to us an incident, which think may be
fairly published He took some of these balls
together with a tube, to the Emperor. 1t il
not related whether or not his Majesty though
well of the invention but the doors in some
of the rooms in the palace soon bore marks o
the practical tegdlGhes of the imperial mind
Holding up one of the cartridges he has re
Gently invented, he proved to US how soldier
could 90 into the field with an inexhaustiblt
supply of ammunition. Within the compas.
of fine flbert is contained the entire materia
for the charge of his new rifle. AS write.
perceive from the papers that 1000, 900 Mini.
cartridges have been despatched from England
to the East in one consignment. The inventor
of these is waiting to have his improved sys
TEN tried under the eyes of authority, to pro
mulgats it advantages freely, and wishou
claim for gain. This liberal view Of his du