Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-19
Ria.s and sherrr CobbI.rs.

The system Of manufacturing guns by
machinery, by which all the parts, even
the minutest, were exact counterpsrts of
each other, so that hundred rifles might
be taken to pieces and thrown into heap,
and then the fragments be picked up at
random and put together sgsin, was an
American invention. It had long been in
use in our armories before it was intro
duced into the European, and many in
credulous msrtiDets refused to believe that
such result was possible. But in time
English rigor relented, and, by permission
Of our Government, a committee Of English
officers visited this country, inspected our
armories, and saw with their own eyes that
the report was true. They were then al
lowed to transfer tine invention to their
own country. They had mscbipes con.
structed at Chicopee, in Massachusetts, and
engaged g number Of skilled Workmen to
60 with them to England. The result was
that fife manufsotory was established at
Enfield, nes London, and that rifles we're
made there, called by Its name which w1rv
excellent weapons, resembling our Spring
field rifles ss exactly ss two peas in pot
resemble one another. The superintendent
and three Of the foremen connected with
the Enfield armory, for the first four years
Of its existence, were Americans. Another
American has since started the works Of
the "London Armory Company" in that
city, and is now experimenting the con-
struction Of an immense srmory at Bir-
minghsm, and nearly all the machinery
and tools for both these establishments
we're made ct Ghicopee. All this is well
and proper. The history is honorable to
both countries, and it is a tribute TO Amsri-
can skill and enterpriseall the more honor
able because rendered by country not
swift to acknowledge foreign merit or adopt
foreign fashions.
The above are the facts in the case, now
for the joke to season them with. Lieut.. |
Hans Busk, who is high authority in |
England upon the rifle, in recent work |
says of our American rifles: . The Ameri- |
can rifles and rifed muskets admit Of Gre |
ditsble comparison with those Of European |
make. In exterDsl appearance they much |
resemble our own, which have no doubt |
served as models to work from"
This is IS rich as Devonshire cream, and,
ss Lieut. Busk is 8 good. natured man, his
statement can be attributed to nothing but |
pure ignorance. This reminds us Of one
Of Charles Astor Bristed's stories. This
gentleman was for some two or three years
a student Of one of the colleges Of the uni
Versity Of Cambridge, in England, It was
his fortune to make himself benefaetor
to his race by the introduction, into that
ancient seat of learning, Ofsherry cobblers
that immortal product Of occidental ge-
MUS. That "sacred nursery of blooming
youth, planted on the banks Of the Cam,
received the ambroeial drink with rsptu-
rous welcome. 1t went from lip to lip,
every while hailed with large drsughts Of
praise. Even bishop vailed its
mitTe and cardinal took off its hat, before
the fragrant compound 1t at orce took
root in the university heart and became
sn institution.
Time rolled on, new men came to Cam
bridge and old ones left it; and as it fell
upon q day, Mr.. Bristed was once pressnt
at wine party, where each aud all were
imbibing inspiration through q straw
which went down to the fiery heart" OF
sherry cobbler. One Of the newcomers,
gOOd-natured English youth, wishing te do
the civil thing by an American, In the in
tervsls of suction, said Mr.. Bristed, eh
do you have the sherry oebbler in Ameri-
ca2"-FTom the Round Table.