The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-10-23
Ar,ning The state.

1.-The commissioners appointed under the Act
passed at the last session Of the Legislature
for 'thc better defence of the State" assembled
in this city, this week, for the transaction of
business. The Board, havink esccrtaincd that
Major Sparkes, of the Merrill y Breccl-loading
Arms Factory, of Batimorcl was in this city,
requested an interview wth>him, and that gen
tleman appeared before thent. The Board in
quired of Major Sparkcs It what price he
would atlix Mcrrl's hrccch- loading attachment
to ten thousand Of the best i the muskets now
in the Richmond Armory; al that gentleman,
having examined the muslSts, and reported
that there was large number of them of a
very superior kind, and in cxccllett condition,
replied to the Board that lie would attach the
Merrill improvement for SO a piece, subject
to the inspection of Mr.. Burellardt of Harper 5
Ferry, and that he would deliver them finished
in this city, at that price.
The Board then spoke of.altcring the mus
kcts to the Minnie form. Major Sparkcs cx-
pressed his readiness to DO 50, but did not state
the price; but he said he supposed the cost
would be about &5, suLccr,:. also, to United
States inspection. (rhis t6r7n, it is unnccrss;-
ry to say would not be hrccch-!oatlcr.)
Major Sparkcs showed us, yesterday, a Uni
ted States muskct, altered in the manner III
which he proposes to alter ahe muskcts in the
Armory, and mc unlesitati!gly pronounce tia
most effective and reIiaJlcEweapon. We do
not say this from a mere cursory inspection,
for VIC have alrcrdy tested one Of these wca-
pons at the Trcdcgar Works, and it is dccid-
cdIy superior to any l'rcecl-1oadcr We have yet
seen, (and we were present at the inspection,
by committee of the last Legislature. Of vari-
oIls breccli-loalcrs submitted to tlem.)
For several months past, major Colston has
been making series Of experiments at Lex
ington, on various arms, rlrzzlc and brcech
loading. His report, we believe, has been laid
before the commissioners, and VIC venture the
prediction that it will he found, when that re-
port is published, that oflall rctcl-loadcrs
submitted 10 him, Major Colston represents
McrriIrs as decidedly the bcstin many respects,
and that he has recommended the purchase,
by the commissioners, Gi;ssssaF Gii,sF OF the patent or
Of a certain number of C pcs for the cavalry,
and muskcts for the infrTtf3y.
1t will be recollecty'l t,Atwe stated, a few
days ago. that the commissioners had written
TO England concerning the purchase Of Enfield
rifles, and that they Serc informed that 5000
would be supplied at s95 piece. Now, We
have no doubt but that it VII be found in Col
ston's report that Unitcdtstatcs m'1skGt with
the Merrill attachment is 81 eerior to the Enfield
yifc. and that it has also Tsecm proved that the
Minnie rifle is superior to',ae Enfield. Besides
this, Major sparkcs offers Ills Jrcccl,-loading
carjincs at $50 piece, am his breccll-Ioading
muskcts at s25-both cmFrcly rev.
The commissioners, va understand, have
purchased loco Adams f. Dcnnc's pistols,
from Amcs, at twenty loll)rs piece, and We
hardly think it worth ahil1 to argue that Ma
jog sP1rkes' arms are mas. cheaper and more
We arc glad to finl tlIs cssssmith, {, one {; of
the commissioners, wi!l:l tlleSalerillI Fac
tory, in Baltimore, on Ii laNnoxt, and We
lfope that VT. shall heail oSidiiiiss te