CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTING AND USING OF ORDNANCE TO BE EMPLOYED BOTH IN THE SEA AND LAND SERVICE NOW IN THIS KINGDOM,, BUT IN PART KNOWN AND USED IN FOREIGN PARTS
Year: 1800

page_text: DE POGGI'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ANTHONY CESARI DE POGGI, of New Bond Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Artist, send greeting..
1.1
WHEREAS, His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the Fortieth year of
His reign, (after reciting that I, the said Anthony Cesari De Poggi, had,
by my Petition humbly represented unto His Majesty that I had found,
out and discovered, and was possessed of a new Invention of CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTING AND USING OF ORDNANCE TO BE EMPLOYED
BOTH IN THE SEA AND LAND SERVICE NOW IN THIS KINGDOM,, BUT IN PART
KNOWN AND USED IN FOREIGN PARTS," and would be of great public utility,
and therefore prayed His Majesty to grant to me His Royal Letters
Patent, for the sole use and benefit of the said Invention and discovery
in manner therein mentioned,) .did give and grant unto me, the said
Anthony Cesari De Poggi, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, His
special licence, full power, sole, privilege and authority, that I, the said
Anthony Cesari De Poggi, ny exors, admors, and assigns, and every of
then, by himself and themselves, or by his and their deputy or deputies,

page_text: servants, or agents, or such others as I, the said Anthony Cesari De
Poggi, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time,
and at all times, during the term of fourteen years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might make use, exercise, and vend my said Inven-
tion within that part of His Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain called
England, His Dominion of Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon
Tweed, in such manner as to me the said Anthony Cesari De Poggi,
my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or any of them, should in my or their
discretion seem meet.. In.which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso whereby it was declared that if. I, the said Anthony Cesari De
Poggi, should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, by
an instrument in writing under 'my hand and seal, and cause the same
to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery, within four
calendar months next, and immediately after the date of the said recited
Letters Patent; that then the said Letters Patent should be void, as in
and by the said Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Anthony Cesari De oggi, do hereby declare that the following is
a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and of the
manner in which the same is to be performed (that is to say):
In order to expedite the management of guns, to produce a rapid fire,
and to secure the men, &c., the following improvements are introduced,
both in regard to the piece and its carriage: the improved gun is con-
structed from a calibre scale, as usual, but the trunnions are nearly in the
axis of the picce, and no more increase of weight is left behind them
than what is sufficient to cause the breech to preponderate and the
piece to lie steady on the prop that supports it behind at the moment
of fire, and to, descend when that support is withdrawn round its
trunnions next to their shoulders and close to the checks of the carriage,
which are paralell, are flat metallic rings, to each of which are firmly
screwed cheeks of iron nearly twice the diameter of the trunnions at
the small end; but as they extend backwards towards the breech of the
gun they increase in depth, forming the sextant like figure, having its

page_text: arc concentric with the trunnions, and these arcs are secured to the side
of an iron box, out of which proceeds a bolt or catch on which the gun
rests, and which also keeps them paralel! to each other; these iron cheeks
are of such a length as to admit the gun being brought up to the bolt
between the vacant space without being in contact with either them or
the box, and their strength and dimensions arc. in proportion to the
nature of the piece and no more.
It must be observed that as the only rest or support this machinery
has is on the trunnions and the contrivance hereafter described; in
which is lodged the power of elevating or depressing the gun, the whole
is capable of a circular vertical motion.
On the breech of the gun is a bolt, the under part of which presents
a flat surface; the upper part is levelled so as to act on a counter bolt
fixed in the check box, which has a curved surface projecting out of the
box; the bolt on the gun in its vertical motion comes in contact with
the lower part of the catch bolt in the box, and as it rises prèsses it in
until it has passed, when the catch bolt is immediately propelled by the
pressure of one or two springs, and forms a compleat rest for the prepon-
derant weight of the gun behind the trunnion; but in travelling the
brecel is supported by a moveable bolt passing through the checks;
the box is of an oblong form, and its width a little more than the
diameter of the case ring of the gun, its depth just sufficient to admit of
the bolt being pressed back, and to contain the spring or springs. It is
of a curved form, similar to the line which may be conceived as described
by the motion of the breech of the piece. Its concave side is perforated
for the catch bolt, as for two small pulleys, behind which are two round
holes through which run two small cords fastened to a cylindrical handle.
and extend to the breech of the piece, where they are secured to two
iron loops, in a parallel direction; for the purpose of bringing the piece
up; the hinder part of the box is also perforated to admit of a handle
being screwed into the upper part of the catchbolt to bring it back and
let the breech of the piece fall at pleasure; to regulate the exact eleva-
tion or depression of the gun some machinery is fixed between the box
and just before the middle transom to protect and conceal it, consisting
of a spindle, with the pinions of six leaves: acting on two wheels of

page_text: eighteen teeth, between which is a cylindrical barrel, and on which two
double and single flat. linked chains wind their other ends, extending to
the lower part of the box, where two.eye bolts are fixed, and an iron
pin runs through them, which is kept in by a nut, and. the chain is kept
closer at that end to enable it to wind without.riding over; the pivot holes
for this machinery are in brass plates secured in the sides of the brackets
or cheeks of the carriage, on the outside of which is.a. ratchet wheel and
pall that keeps the whole at rest at pleasure, and by lifting the pall
admits of the gun..being elevated or depressed by tlie.winch that is fixed
to it for putting the wheels in motion; it follows that from these circum-
stances much good may be expected to the service, for by putting the
catch bolt' back the breech of the gin' falls down on the axel trec, which
slopes it in an inclined position; the. charge: being previously laid in the
hore immediately runs home;. the gun is brought up by the cords in an
instant, and as speedily laid to the object by the machinery and contri-
vance of the carriage, by which means à rápid and destructive fire may be
kept up without exposing the men who load to the least. danger in that
operation. Other contrivances for clevating and depressing tlic piece are
intended to be introduced; one of which consists of a pinión, to the spindle
of which is a winch; this pinion acts.on a contrate wheel, on the barrel
of which is an endless. screw. communicating motion to. a rack fixed
vertically to the back of the box already described as being fixed to the
iron checks; this,rack is the arc of a .circle the radius of which is a
line drawn from it. to the centre of the trunnions; the elevating appara-
tus: of all tlie pieces are so contrived that they may be taken out at
pleasure, by which they may be kept clean and free.from injury, that for
the sea service gun being of brass does not stand in need of this pre-
caution; its rack. is never used but in time of action, as the gun may be
fired without it resting on amoréable iron bolt, which goes. through the
cheeks of the carriage in two different places, affording, two clevations
for the purposes of scaling or saluting
In the general construction of all the carriages described the cheeks
are parallel to the axis of therpiece; byr which means the-work is more
perfectly connected and durable; the joints being all perfectly square, in-
stead of being bevel; and the effect more certain; because every part is

page_text: truly in the direction of the force; and it-may also be here observed,
that the bolts. or.catches connected with or coming out of the box or
rack for elevating, or depressing the gun, as, described in these presents,
may also be made without any spring whatever by the very simple
method of hanging the catch on its center pin, so that its own weight
shall always draw it forward to its place, except when prevented by the
actual pull of the man who lowers the gun for charging;, this must be so
clear to every, workman as to render.any further, explanation needless..
All the guns can be loaded and. fixed. in the usual manner, since
the pieces and their carriages are not. by these improvements rendered
in the least-respect unfit for the mode of manoeuvering now used, if in
any case or occasion it should be thought more convenient or desirable.
Description of the improved grenade. gun or long howitzer, and its
sea service carriage: this piece may also be mounted on a travelling
carriage for land service, viz
It is constructed from a calibre.scale, allowing ten calibres for length
from the case ring, to the muzzle; tlie chase terminates near the chamber
in a frustrum of a cone, which admits.of.a. howitzer of that length being
loaded with great celerity, and having the impulse of the charge more,
direct than in the common constructions of ordnance that have chambers,
and the piece-receives a considerable reinforcement by opposing a straight
line, instead of a concave one, in a place where the greatest resistance
is required; the frustrim of the cone does not join exactly, to the cylinder
of the chase, which takes a curvilineal direction before they meet.
The trunnions are icarly in the axis of the piece, and the preponder-
ance behind-them-is so regulated as to let the breech fall with no more
weight than what is necessary for its being steady on its place of rest;
the breech is flat behind, and has a strong bolt fixed to it.
The carriage of this gun is of the truck kind, having a fore-and hind
axel tree; the fore trucks are in contact with the deck, but the hind ones
are almost clear of it, the carriage in that part being supported by the
rear transom, upon which it slides, backwards; this transom, is divided
downwards in the middle to admit of a hand. spike going into it, and
raising it up for the purpose of running the gun forward.or traversing
it; on the fore axel tree are two wedge palls' moving on a.pin, which

page_text: when let fall between the trucks and the body of the carriage, prevent
the same from turning on the axel tree, by which an useful and advan-
tageous friction is produced opposing the recoil, and the piece is prevented
from running forward again of itself, so that it remains in that situation
until it has been reloaded..
The sides or checks of this carriage are perfectly parrellel, very strong,
and firmly connected by a fore, middle, and trail or rear transom, the
breech bolt of the gun nearly clearing that in the middle, in the inside
of which is fixed an endless screw, communicating motion to a wheel,
and rack work upon the arch of a circle placed vertically, the radius of
which is a line drawn from the centre of the trunnions; to the upper part
of the said rack is a catch bolt, which is pushed forward by a spring
towards the counter bolt already mentioned fixed on the flat surface
behind the breech of the piece, which, when in motion pressing uper-
most, the said catch bolt gives way to it, until it has passed it over
springs forward and supports the gun.
A winch being fastened to the axle of the endless screw behind the
middle transom, on the opposite side of which the rack is held by a
dovetail groove, made from the same arch of a circle drawn from the
trunnions, moving the wheel placed between the said endless screw and
the rack, the gun is elevated or depressed with ease and exactness.
Nearly at the top of the rack there is a small opening through which
passes freely a pin with a handle, which being attached behind the catch
bolt admits of the same being pulled back to disengage it from support-
ing the bolt fastened to the breech of the piece, which, whether acting
as a gun, grenade gun or howitzer, being clear from the port hole, the
charge being previously laid in the bore, the catch bolt is pulled back;
the breech of the gun immediately falls down, when the charge of powder
in a flannel cartridge runs down the cylinder, and passing the frustrum
falls into the chamber, followed by the projectile, having a wooden
bottom of the same figure, as the frustrum of the cone fixed to it keeps
he same in the axis of the bore, and prevents it rolling forward.
The gun is then instantaneously brought up by two cords, which are
fastened to two loops screwed under the case ring, running over two
pullys that are fixed flush with the upper surface of the middle transom;

page_text: on the same side the rack moves close to the breech, so that when the
gun rests on the catch bolt it will be at the same elevation as the last
round, and having raised up the two wedge palls, and the proper lever
being applied to the rear transom, and running it forward, a rapid fire
may be kept up with uncommon facility and safety in loading, and by a
less number of men than usual, advantages not yet attained in the use
of pieces of large calibre.
The trunnion holes in the sea service carriages are not circular
but polygonal, to prevent inaccuracy and lessen the friction, having
each eight sides, five of which are in the bottom plates, and the
other three sides in the cap squares, so that when the trunnions are in
motion they can only bear in a few points, and in the recoil will oppose
a direct resistance to the force, and greatly prevent the vibration of the
piece.
The fore parts of the trunnion plates have each two of the eight sides,
and are separated from the bottom, having. an oblong groove made on
them, which admits of an oblong stud or stub projecting from under
these two separate pieces of the trunnion plates to enter well fitted the
oblong groves and lock themselves, reciprocally supporting each other,
and by means of the cap squares preserve invariably their polygonal
forms..
The under part of the breast of the carriage is cut away nearly as
far back as the trunnions to permit the upper part to run over the
portsel, being secured by a bolt which passes through, and is keyed
underneath, near where the checks are cut away at right angles.
This bolt having an oblong head across the. extremity of the cap.
square, cut with an inclination towards it, keeps the cap squares, first
having the same inclination underneath, and a. notch in the center to
receive a stud or stub from the said bolt, the cap square, being secured.
by a key and bolt behind, affording at once a permanent steadi-
ness to the trunnion plates, the cap squares, and the fore part of the
cheeks.
.
.
The projection from the front of the cheeks being divided by a line
passed obliquely forwards, and descending from the lower part of the
trunnion holes, towards the port, still admits of the gun being thrown

page_text: över board with great safety in less than a minute's time with very few
hands, by which contrivance the largest men-of-war may be eased of
their heaviest cannon with great facility and without accidents.
The trunnion sliding down the inclined plane from the bottom of the
trunnion plates towards the sill of the port, without the necessity of
raising them out of the trunnion holes, the hind part of the carriage
being raised to expidite this operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SLIDING CARRIAGE.
This carriage is constructed to admit of the guns being traversed to
a very open angle with the ship's side; two small rollers to run the gun
up after tiring and loading are let in underneath the fore transom, which
runs flush with the checks and somewhat forward, 'clear of the perpen-
dicular, position of the trunnions, projecting but very little front the
wood, which is taken off at this part in a very acute angle from a line
drawn under the trunnions; in order to prevent the touching of the plat-
form on which the carriage rests and slides tlie rollers are not borne
upon in the recoil, and all the advantages of friction are preserved to
check it.
The breast transom is very strong, and of a triangular form, the in-
clined part of which is contrived so as to support the gun in an inclined
position after the breech has been allowed to descend for the charge to
run home, as before described. At the trail end is another strong tran-
som'; the under part of the breast of the carriage is cut away to permit
the upper part to be run out of the portsel to nearly as far as the
trunnions; the bottom is the segment of a circle to admit of traversing
with the ship's side; the slide or platform for this carriage has a rabbit
on each side to keep the upper carriage steady, and in the middle,
longitudinally, is a long groove, which is left wide behind to admit the
breech of the gun to fall down, through which a cylindrical wooden bolt
projecting vertically from the under part of the breast transom, to which
it is fixed by means of a strong, square iron bolt going through its centre,
at the bottom of which projects a screw with a square shoulder to admit
of a large washer secured by a nut to run easily underneath the grooves.
of the platform, and prevent the carriage from rising any more than is

page_text: sufficient to bring it to bear and run freely on the two trucks already
described under the fore part of the carriage; the mode of running the
gun forward is by a short lever, with a roller, fixed near the end of it,
aud on the side of the carriage is fixed a square moveable loop adapted
to the size of the lever, and when by pressing it down the roller acting
on the rabbit of the platform causes the hind part of the carriage to rise
no more than is necessary to bring the two trucks on the fore part of
the carriage to bear on the platform; the gun and carriage being sup-
ported on these three rollers is run forward with great facility by two or
three men, as the inclination of the platform may require. The square
loop turns on a pin, which permits the lever to be left in and laid
close to the side, or if taken away will fall down into a place cut away.
to receive it, and. be flush with the surface of the cheeks.
For the purpose of manoeuvering these guns and a mortar (which
will be described) two hand spikes are made on the following principle,
viz. that for traversing the piece is constructed with a roller placed
at the angular point near the end or part applied as a purchase, which
is shod with iron, leaving a square opening for a small part of the roller
to stand out, and immediately behind there is a shoulder which takes'
the power, should the body to be lifted require to be raised only at
the extremity; and on the upper side there is a small projection of iron
which hooks itself to a bar placed in the hind transom for that purpose-
to prevent its slipping from it; when the body is raised the weight rests
on the roller as a fulcrum, and by observing that the pin on which it
turns is in the longitudinal direction of the hand spike it will easily be
conceived that by applying the power to the right or left it will tend to
traverse the body acted on; the other land spike is in all respects the
same, except that the pin on which the roller turns is at right angles
with it, by which, in a great measure, the necessity of rollers or trucks
being placed under heavy pieces of ordnance for the purpose of running
them forward is done away, the using of which is attended with great
inconvenience.
This lever from its construction is capable of being applied to move
in various directions alinost any object of great-weight, provided it is
made in proportion to the same; the arc, also, by the same construction-

page_text: so forined as to be fit for rough usage, and may be stowed away in the
same manner and places as are allotted for the common handspikes,
differing in no respects from the form of those at present in use.
The breaching of this gun is fastened to the ship's side nearly in the
same manner as those in common use, and is applied througli strong
iron loops, with shoulders; which, going through the cheeks, are bolted
underneath, free from touching the elevating rack or the winch behind
the trunnions.
DESCRIPTION OF AN IMPROVED BRASS MORTAR & BED.
This mortar is 34 calibres in length; the chamber is of a conical form,
having its base equal to the diameter of the chase, so that when loaded
the shell is confined in the frustrum, leaving no windage at his place of
rest; the bottom is terminated by a hemisphere, on the lower part of
which is screwed in a large mass of red copper; in it is formed another
very small conical chamber, half an inch in length and nearly three
quarters of an inch in depth, to which the vent communicates, pro-
ducing a general and sudden inflamation to the charge, and in a line
with the direction of the shell; this mortar is mounted upon a wooden
bed, and elevated at pleasure by means of a screw attached to a loop of
metal cast underneath and joined nearly in the centre of the lower
surface of the piece by means of a bolt and key; the female screw is in
a brass box fitted within two small trunnions of iron, which are allways
kept at right angles with the piece, and are introduced flush in the top
of the bed, and retained in that situation after the elevation is given by
two wooden square bolts that are introduced through four square staples
at right angles with the said trumnions underneath the bed, which is
made of wood, and very near the fore end are fixed two rollers, as far
apart as the bed will admit of, which are only borne upon when the bed
and mortar is run up and cannot be hurt by the explosion; the hand-
spikes, such as are already described, but proportioned to the weight,
are to be made use of to run it up and traverse it with, by which every
movement is made and direction given with great precision and expedi-
tion; the vents of all these pieces are two cylinders, a wide one to a
certain depth to receive a tube about two inches long, and a narrower

page_text: one below to communicate the fire to the charge; the tubes are of brass,
and the composition is driven over a conical spindle similar to the per-
foration of a sky rocket, by which means a greater inflamation is
produced to the charge.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anthony Cesari Poggi, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred..