Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-10-16
ArmInr the State.

III eHlo''SS' t''NN' h''S oNS
passed at the last session Of the Legislature,
for "the better defence Of the State" assembled
in this city, this week, for the transaction Of
business The Board having ascertaincd that
Major Sparkes, Of the MerrilrS Brccch.loading
Arms Factory of Baltimore, was in this city,
requested an interview with him, and that
gentleman appeared before them. The Board
cnquircd of Major Sparkcs at what price he
would atix Mcrrills breech-loading attachment
to ten thousand Of the best Of the muskets
now in the Richmond Armory; and that gen.
tlcrnan having examined the muskcts, anil re-
ported that there was 4 large number OF them
Of very superior kind and in excellent con-
dition, replied to the Board that lie would At
tach the Merrill improvement for $40 apiece,
subject to the inspection Of Mr.. Burckhardt, Of
Hurpcr's Ferry, and that he would deliver them
finished in this city, at that price.
The Board then spoke Of altering the mus
kets to the Minnie form. Major Sparkcs express
ed his readiness to do so, but did not state the
prize; but he said hc supposed the cost would
be about $5, subject, also, to United States in
spcction. This form, it is unnecessary to say,
would not be brecch loader.)
Major Sparkes showed us yesterday 4 Uni
ted States muskct, altered in the manner iE
which he proposes to alter the mrsketS in the
Armory, and We unhesitatngly pronounce it 4
most effective and reliable weapon. We do not
say this from L mere cnrsory inspection, for we
have already tested one Of these weapons at
the Trr,lcgar Works, and it is decidedly snpc.
ror 20 anv breccll-loadcr we have yet seen
ianl we wcro present at the inspection, by 4
committee Of the last Legislature, OF various
hrccch.loadcrs submitted to tliern)
For several months past Major Colston has
been making series Of experiments at l.cxins.
ton, on various arms, muzzlc and hrcech lond-
ing. His report, We believe, has becn laid be-
for the commissioners, anu We venture the pre-
,liction that il will be found, when that report
is published, that cr all breecil leaders submit
ted 10 him, Major Col>ton represents McrFills
as decidedly the best in many respects, and
that he has recommended the purchase by the
commissioners either Of the patent, OF Of GER
tain number of carDincs for the cavalry, and Il
muskets for the infantry.
II will be rccollcctcd TINT We stated 4 few
days ago that the commissioners had written
to England concerning the purchase "( Enfield
rifles, and that they were informed that 1000
would be supplied at $25 piece. Now, we
have no doubt but that it will be found III Col
ston's report that United States muskct with
the Merrill attachment is superior to the En-
field rifle, and thai il hns also been proved that
the Minnie rifle is superior to the Enfield Ee-
sides this, Major Sparkes oilers his breech
loading carbines ut $40 piece, and his brcech
loading lnuskets at $o5-both entirely new.
The commissioners, we understand, have
purchased 900 Adams and Deancs pistols,
from Amcs, at twenty dollars u piece, and VIC
hardly think it worth while to argue that
Major Sparlies' arms are much cheaper and
more valuable.
We are glad to find that Col. Smith, one Of
the commissioners, will visit the Merrill Facto.
ry, in Baltimore, OH Tuesday next, and we
hope that We shall hear of his providing the
State, as soon as possible, with MerrilPs I'M
m0vcment.