IM- PROVEMENTS IN SINGLE AND REPEATING OR REVOLVING FIRE-ARMSTACHING TOECH-
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Crickmay, of the Lozells, Handsworth, in
the County of Stafford, Gun. Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SINGLE AND REPEATING OR REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Crickmay at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on the
23rd November 1854.
I, CHARLES CRICKMAY, of the Lozells, Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SINGLE AND REPEATING OR REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MODE OP
ATTACHING BAYONETS TO BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
Firstly, in connecting the barrel and stock, or lock part of breech-loading
fire-arms, without any regard to the number of chambers the breech thereof
may contain, by a stout immoveable pin or bar, on which the breech revolves;
and at the base or back of and around such pin, where it unites itself with the
lock and stock, are two or more inclined planes, their line of inclination rising
towards the muzzle of the gun; and in connection with their inclined planes
are counter inclined planes, attached to a spring lever, which, working on the
-pin-bar-or-breech-being-placed between-the-barrel-and-the-spring-lever,.it-is.

page_text: evident that as such lever is made to revolve against the inclined planes, that
the breech is forced into complete contact with the barrel; the end of which
being a frustum of a cone, and that part of the breech chamber in contact with
it being countersunk, the union is of the most perfect kind.
Secondly, in forming the pin or bar on which the breech revolves in such a
way that I may dispense with the base or projecting part for the inclined
planes, and in that case I allow such pin or bar to extend long enough to be
united to the part that carries the lock and stock by screwing or otherwise,
the inclined planes being formed on that part, and the counter inclined planes
attached to the lever, so as to be applied as before described.
Thirdly, my Invention consists in applying to such fire-arms as are hercin-
before described a self-priming apparatus, which consists of a hollow chamber
for containing percussion caps, placed in such a manner that as the nipple
comes before an apperture in such chamber, a-cap-is placed thereon by means
of a spring.
Fourthly, in attaching bayonets by a hinge joint near the muzzle of breech-
loading fire-arms, so that the blade thereof shall lie on the under side of the
barrel when out of use, but which will instantly fix itself for use by relieving
a spring or detent..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Crickmay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd May 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
CRICKMAY, of the Lozells, Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Gun
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent.. Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing-date the Twenty-third-day-of-November,-in-the-year-of-our-
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Crickmay, Her special license that I, the said Charles Crick-
may, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Charles Crickmay, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within-the-United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN

page_text: SINGLE AND REPEATING OR REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND. IN THE MODE OF ATTACHING
BAYONETS TO BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Charles Crickmay, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Crickmay, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner, the same is to be
performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):
My improvements relate. to the description of fire-arms known as breech-
loading, and consist as follow
Firstly, in connecting the barrel and stock, or lock part of breech-loading
fire-arms,- (without any regard to the number of chambers the breech thereof
may contain;) by a stout immoveable pin or bar, on which the breech revolves,
and at the base or back. of .and around such pin, where it unites itself with
the lock, or stock,jare two or more inclined planes, their lines of inclination
rising towards the muzzle of the gun; and in connection with these inclined
planes are counter inclined planes, attached to a spring lever, which, working
on the pin bar or breech, and the breech or counter-breech being placed
between the barrel and the spring lever, it is evident that as such lever is
made to revolve against the inclined planes, that the breech or counter-breech
is forced into complete contact with the barrel, the end of which being a
frustrum of a cone, and that part of the chamber or counter-breech in contact
with it being countersunk, the union is of the most perfect kind.
Secondly, in forming the pin or bar on which the-breech revolves in such
a way that I may dispense with, the base or projecting part for the inclined
plánes; and in that case: I allow such pin or bar to extend long enough
to be united to the part that carries the lock and stock by screwing or other-
wise, the inclined planes being formed on that part, and the counter inclined
planes attached to the lever, so as to be applied as before described.
Thirdly, my improvements consist in applying to such fire-arms as are
herein-before described a self-priming apparatus, which consists of a hollow
chamber for containing percussion caps, placed in such a manner that as the
nipple comes before an aperture in such chamber, a cap is placed thereon by a
spring, or other suitable nieans.
And, lastly, in attaching bayonets by a hinge joint near the muzzle of breech-
loading fire-arms, so that the blade thereof shall lie on the under side of

page_text: Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents as much of a single shot breech-roading gun as
inay be necessary for exhibiting my improvements, which consist in forging
the pin a in such a manner, that it may not only form an axis for the breech b
to revolve on, but also forms a connection between the stock and the barrel,
which is united to it by a screw, as exhibited in section at c, c, c, c, while the
other end of the pin is enlarged, for the purpose of forming two or more
inclined planes, which project forwards towards the breech. This end of the
pin, forming these inclined planes, is expanded, so as to form the "break-off"
of the gun at the stock, and is furthermore lengthened out at bottom to form
a strap, by which it may be firmly attached to the wood stock, and to carry the
various parts of the lock, as indicated by the guard d, trigger e, and hammer f,
the latter of which works on the right-hand side of the stock. I have shewn
the breech bin section, so as to better exhibit its mode of working; and which
I have also shewn in an end view at Figure 3, where it will be seen that the
part g may be taken out by removing the screws h, h; this is necessary in
order to put on or take off the breech froni the pin a. j, j, is a spring, secured
to the removeable part (g) of the breech by the screw or pink, the use of which
spring is to generate sufficient friction to prevent the breech working loosely
on the pin. 7, 1, is a projecting collar, on which the lever m works, having in
its under side two holes, better seen in dotted lines at n, n', Figure 3. These
-holes are intended to receive the small pin o, which is pressed forward by
a helical spring in the lever m, and may be removed by pulling down the
knob p. This lever is shewn more fully at Figure 2; and it will be seen, thát
having to be put on over, the collar 7; it becomes necessary to open it, which
is effected by the hinge joint at r, and is secured in its closed position by the
screw g; the projecting part s works in the groove in the collar r, so as to hold
the lever more firmly on it; Figure 4 representing a section of the pin as
taken through u, u, and is here drawn to shew the form of the break-off; as
also the inclined planes t, t, which correspond with and work against the
-inclined-planes-v,-v,-in-the-lever, their inclination_being_shewn_by_arrows,-and
supposed to rise towards the barb.

page_text: Having thus described the parts, I will now describe their several uses. By
pulling down the knob p, the pin o is removed from the hole n in the projecting
collar, and by pulling the lever around, until the pin o is pressed (by the
spring in the lever) into the hole n', the inclined planes are separated, and the
lever and breech being pulled toward the stock, the conical end of the barrel is
relieved from the countersunk portion w of the breech; and the pin o, being
still in the hole n', the breech is carried with it, and the chamber exposed on
the right-hand side of the gun or pistol, into which the cartridge may now be
placed. The lever, and with it the breech, is now brought back, the breech
chamber coinciding with the bore of the barrel, and the lever still in the hole
n; then, by pulling the pin o, by means of the knob p, out of the hole n', and
bringing the lever into the position shewn, the inclined planes work on each
other, and force the breech forward into complete and thorough contact with
the barrel, and the pin dropping into the first hole n, the whole is held firmly
together, and ready to receive the percussion cap on the nipple, to be exploded
by the hammer x, which is hollowed out in the ordinary manner,
Fig. 5 represents my improvements in polychambered fire-arms, and exhi-
bited in a six-shot gun, and is only the carrying out of the before-described
method to a greater extent, the parts being shewn separate, as before. a is a
breech containing the chambers, one of which is shewn detached in front and
end views at Figures 6, 7, and 8, can be taken out, so that the breech may go
on the pin, as in the gun before described; there is also a similar collar at b,
but in this gun it contains as many holes as chambers, namely six, shewn at
c, c, &c. The lever, Figure 9, is also similar to that in Figure 1, but is used in
rather a different way, as will presently be described. Figure 10 is a view of
the front plate d, of Figure 5, into which the barrel is screwed, and through
the hole e the chambers are loaded. Fig. 11 is a side view of the lever,
shewing the projection and inclination of the inclined planes f, f, the pin g,
as exhibited at Figure 9, having the same use as that used for the single gun,
marked o, Figure 2. Fig. 12 is a view of the break-off and the inclined
planes h, h; j being a kind of detent, that keeps the pin g out of the next
hole, till it gets to the third from the bottom, and this is done by having a
projection, as at k, Figure 11, on the pin g, which, when the pin is pulled down
and moved a little to the side, rests on the detent until the pin arrives at the
third hole; the especial_use_of_this_I_will_herein-after_describe._
Fig. 13 shews a mode of constructing the break-off by which a solid
breech may be used. The pin on which the lever revolves being made detach-
able, the breech and lever may be slid on; and the end of the pin at s,
Figure 5, being made to correspond to the hole in the centre of the break-off,

page_text: and also having inclines on it, it is put through such hole and turned one-
fourth of a revolution, and ultimately secured by the screw n, passing through
the front strap 1, Figure 5, through the pin, and screwed into the enlargement
of the under strap at m. Fig. 14 is a side view of the break-off, the part
at o being pressed forward by a helical spring behind (not shewn), for the
purpose of forcing forward the lever and breech when the conical end, of
the barrel is opposite the countersunk portion of one of the chambers.
Having thus shewn the peculiar difference between the details of this and
the first described gun, I will now describe the method of using it.
The manner of loading may be seen by referring to Figure 5. p is a slide,
hung on the front of the barrel plate d, having a box q, containing a helical
spring and the rod r, which is mounted at its outer extremity by a flat head,
and at the other is enlarged into a piston fitting loosely the breech chambers.
To load, the slide is moved to the side, and the cartridge pushed in through
the hole e, Fig. 10; the slide being then brought in front, and the rod head
being struck with the hand, the piston or plunger descends into the chamber,
and forces the charge into its place; the like is repeated by moving round the
breech; but to effect this the parts must be in a peculiar relation to each other,
now to be described, that is, to say, the pin g in the lever must be withdrawn
from its hole in the collar b, and the lever moved until the pin y rests on the
detent j; by then pressing the breech in the direction of the stock (so as to
disengage the barrel and chamber), it may be rotated alone. Supposing now
the whole of the chambers to have been charged, the first may be fired by
merely cocking the gun and firing in the ordinary way; this being done, it
becomes necessary to bring another chamber opposite the barrel: put the
hammer to half-cock, disengage the pin g from the lower hole, move the lever
by itself until the pin drops into another hole, which will be the third, it
having been prevented from going into the second by the projection (of the
pin 9, Figures 9 and 11), having been detained by the detent j, keeping the
-left hand at this time on the breech and pressing downward, the-barrel-and-
chamber will be disengaged; now move the lever, and with it the breech back
again, and by this time the next chamber comes opposite the barrel; the pin
will be disengaged from the third hole, and the breech will be pushed forward
by the helical spring behind the part o¹, and so prevented from rotating
farther; the inclined planes now come into action, and by the time the pin and
lever are opposite the bottom hole, the inclined planes will have forced the
breech and barrel into perfectly gas-tight contact; the pin, then being forced
into the bottom hole, holds all the parts in safe connection; the gun may be
fired, and the operation-repeated in far less time than it takes to read the

page_text: description of it. I find it more convenient to attach to the hammer a
horizontal striker v, working through the hole t, in Figures 12 and 13, as it is
susceptible of a more direct stroke on the nipple. The only peculiarity in the
locks consist in putting a screw w through the tumbler & and into the axis
y of the hammer, thereby holding it quite secure, and allowing the details to
be taken more easily apart. It will be seen, by referring to Figure 5, that
the peculiar construction of the striker v is well adapted for the application
of a needle, and so making it into a needle gun.
Fig. 15, Sheet 2, also represents as much of a six-shot revolving gun, carbine,
or pistol necessary for exhibiting my improvements, and which I have drawn
with a view of shewing that the inclined planes, named in the first head of
this my Specification, may be continued around in the form of a screw, which
may contain one or more threads, such screw being cut on the centre pin or
bar on which the breech or chambers revolve, and shewn in this Figure in
dotted lines. A, A', represents the two exposed chambers that would be
exhibited in a vertical section of this part, which is shewn in an end view at
Figure 16, the section being taken through B', B₁; C¹, being the centre pin,
forged in connection with the base or back plate D¹, and straps shewn in
dotted lines E', E¹, to which the stock is attached; the part F¹, partly shewn
in section, forms the top strap, and is secured to the pin C¹ by fitting down
between the shoulders g', g',,of the pin C', the vacant part being afterwards
filled up and secured by the screw H¹, the other end of the strap being securely
attached to the strap E' and stock by the screw, I', the barrel being attached
to this strap by tapping, as in Figure, 1, Sheet 1, the end of which being
bevelled, for the purpose of fitting into the corresponding bevel or countersunk
chambers of the breech, to ensure a more perfect union, and which is effected
in this instance, as in Figure 1, plate K', collar L', spring lever M', and
catch N', shewn partly broken off, at the back of which, at J, J, is a projecting
rim surrounding the screw, and is here introduced to prevent any corrosion or
dirt getting to it, there being a corresponding sunken circular groove in the base
or back plate D for receiving it when the plate K' is brought back by the
lever M for the purpose of freeing the breech from the conical projection on
the barrel, so as to allow the breech to revolve; and I will further observe
that I have thought it necessary to allow the back plate K¹ to extend up
and abut back against an inclined groove cut on the under side of the strap F',
as shewn at O!.
Fig. 17, Sheet 2, represents another application of a lever working on
inclined planes, or a screw, as a means of cutting off the escape of gas in breech-
loading guns, and-on-the-plan as-here-exhibited I am enabled to shorten the

page_text: pin on which the screw is cut; I mainly effect this by loading from behind, as
I am enabled to open the chamber right at its base by causing the part P¹, to
which the nipple is attached, to revolve on the centre pin, for the purpose
of receiving the charge, as will be best understood by referring to Figure 18,
which is a section of Figure 17, taken through Q', Q. R¹ represents the
bore or interior of the barrel, the double circular lines representing its conical
or bevel edge; the part P¹ with the nipple being removed or turned down to
allow the charge to be placed in, and which is readily effected by first laying
the cartridge in the hollow cavity S', and the part P₁ being turned down
by the action of the lever T¹ and screw U¹ and groove V₁, indicated by dotted
lines; the chamber being thus opened, the cartridge is pushed forward into
the chamber, when the plate P¹ is brought back into its first position and
forced into perfect contact by the back plate W advancing forward on the
screw by the lever T, and further pressed against the part P¹, by abutting
back against the inclined groove placed on the under side at X' of the strap
Y', Y', which strap I have drawn in full, to show that it is first attached to
the bar E, on which P¹ revolves by a conical pin, shewn in dotted lines at
Z, Z, and there secured by the nut A", which nut has a hole through it, by
which it may be screwed up or removed when required; and the other end of
the strap Y is fitted into a circular boss B", which boss forms part of the
under strap, the wood of the stock being cut away in this Figure for the
purpose of shewing the form of the straps, and how they are attached and
united to the stock, which is done by screws passing through the holes C¹¹, C¹¹.
Before concluding the description of this Figure, I may simply observe that I
have introduced a projecting rim on the back of the plate W', for the purpose
of keeping out dirt or moisture, as described at J, J, Figure 15; (and I will
further observe, that I have shewn in dotted lines at du, d", the end of the
barrel conical, as in the other Figures, as it tends to improve the juncture by
its expansion when in use, thereby making it gas-tight; Figure 19 being a
_section of Eigure 17, taken through f",f", and is introduced_to_shew_the
position of the part P₁ when placed before the chamber, as also shewing by
the dotted lines that it works on the bar E", E.) The great strength and
simplicity of this fire-arm is peculiarly adapted for the use of cavalry, the
more so when fitted with the self-priming aparatus, named under the third
head of this my Specification, which I will proceed to describe.
Fig. 20 represents a breech-loading gun, partly shewn in section, with the
barrel broken off, in the stock of which I have exhibited a cavity for holding
caps, as also the manner-in-which-they-will-be-placed-on-the-nipple-when-
required. The barrel is united to the strap, as before described in the other

page_text: Figure, and the breech G" revolving on the pin H", and actuated by the lever
and spring working on the screw, as before described. I", I", is a tube,
extending the length of the stock, partly shewn in section, and calculated to
hold about seventy percussion caps; this tube is drawn somewhat in the form
of a figure 8, as shewn at J", Figure 21, which is a section taken through
,, of the last Figure. The double tube I", I", is soldered (or otherwise
united) to the front plate L", L", which is partly removed, to exhibit the
priming tube and screw, the whole being sunk into the stock flush, and secured
by screws, as at M", M", M", M"; and at the butt end the front plate L" is
joined with a hinge joint, which is represented open, for the purpose of shewing
that the caps are dropped into the tube at this part until the hole or tube is
filled up. N, N", N", N", N", N", represents the caps, and O" the follower,
which works from end to end of the tube, carrying the caps before it in regular
succession by means of the screw P", Pi, which works on centres fixed at each
end, as represented at Q", Q", the axis of the screw being shewn at each end
in dotted lines. When the chamber for the percussion caps requires filling, a
small key, shewn in dotted lines at R", is inserted through the butt plate, and
passes over a square formed on the extreme end of the screw, and by this
means the screw may be readily turned around until the follower Q" is brought
back into the position shewn, when the key is removed and placed in the
hollow cavity of the butt at S", provided for it, the caps being deposited in
the tube, as shewn; the cover T" may now be closed down and retained by
any suitable spring or catch. I will now proceed to describe how the caps are
placed upon the nipple when required. The pin U" is pulled down by the
knob V, and the lever pressed towards the left-hand side of the gun, and in
doing so it works back on the screw, thereby relieving the breech from the
barrel at W, bringing the breech or chamber down on a level with the pin
H", on which it works, and in doing so it removes a circular plate from before
the priming tube, so that the nipple may come opposite to it, and at the same
time, by means of a spring paul working on the inside of the circular plate, the
toothed wheel X", X", is made to revolve one-third of a revolution, in doing
which the globular pinion Y" will make one revolution, and this pinion being
secured to the end of the screw P, the follower O" will approach towards the
nipple the exact length of one cap, which in its forward course will be forced
on the nipple, which will at that time stand before the aperture, as exhibited
in dotted lines at Z"; the replacing of the breech now primed and loaded
will have the effect of drawing back the circular plate and covering up the
aperture.

page_text: Fig. 22 represents a top view of the barrel and strap, and exhibiting a
sectional lengthway view of the stock, taken through the tube that carries the
caps, shewing the position of the lever and breech or chamber ready to receive
the percussion cap N" and cartridge, which is represented at A of this Figure;
the back part of the strap, to which the pin. H is attached, being shewn in
section, for the purpose of shewing the toothed wheel X" and ratchet wheel
J, working freely.on, a screw pin mm. Fig. 23 is the same as Figure 20,
with the butt and lever broken off for the convenience of space, and is drawn
for the purpose of shewing the circular plate B, which is united to the breech
by the strap C, that as the breech is brought down for the purpose of loading
and priming, as shewn, by the dotted circles and arrow, Figure 24, this
circular plate will descend with it, and open the aperture to allow a cap to
come through when the nipple is presented, the nipple being shewn in dotted
lines in that position ready for receiving the cap, as also the slot d, d
through which the paul works, and which is exhibited at Figure 221, which is
a section of Figure 20 taken through ff, the breech G being brought
down in the position for loading and priming. The manner in which the latter
is effected is here best exhibited. The paul H, which is united to the inside
of the circular plate B, B, Figure 23, by a hinge or other joint, and forced
towards the ratchet wheel J" by a spring, so that, in descending to the position
shewn, the ratchet wheel J has been turned around one-third of its circum-
ference, at the same time turning the toothed wheel, shewn in dotted lines, in
the same proportion, thereby turning the circular pinion Y", which is fixed on
a square filed on the end of the screw, as shewn at P, P", Figure 20, as a
means of carrying forward the caps, through the hole K to- the--nipple, as-
before described; the breech may now be turned up, with the cap on the nipple
into the position shewn by the dotted lines at L, as shewn at Figure 22¹,
ready for discharging. When I apply a self-priming aparatus to pistols, I
prefer using an endless chain or band for carrying forward the caps, as it could
be worked over a curved grove, which would be more in accordance with the
form of the stock of such description of fire-arms, the endless chain or flexible
bend being actuated by similar means, as herein described...
And the last part of my improvement in fire-arms relate to the mode of
attaching bayonets to breech-loading guns, such as carbines or muskets, and
consist in applying underneath the barrel a hinge joint, as at a; Figure 25,
Sheet 1, upon which the bayonet works. At the point of the bayonet is seen
the detent b, actuated by the helical spring c, and is relieved by pulling the
trigger d, and there being a strong spring at the part e, when such triger is

page_text: drawn back, the bayonet flies up, and is held in the forward position by the
catch taking hold of the small bar g in the centre of it, being pressed forward
to its work by a helical spring behind it; the ends of the bar g comes through
and projects on the outside of the bayonet, so as to be taken and pressed back
by the fingers, which of course relieves the bayonet; and allows it to be put
back into the position shewn in the Drawing.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements in breech-loading
fire-arms, and various ways in which the same may be carried into effect; I
will observe that in the Drawings hereunto annexed I have studied to repre-
sent my various improvements as best suited for offensive and defensive warfare,
but which may be varied in all their general detail for ordinary. purposes; and
I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to any particular form,
dimensions, or material, so long as the principle of my various, improvement is
adhered to, whether applied to guns or pistols; and I further declare that
what I claim as my Invention is,-
Firstly, the mode of constructing breech-loading single shot, fire-arms, as
exhibited at Figures 1, 17, and 20, as far as their construction relate to the
bar on which the breech revolves, and to the circular inclined planes and
counter inclined planes with which the breech and barrel are forced into
contact, as also in the form of the juncture of the barrel, with the breech or
counter-breech of such fire-arms.
Secondly, I claim the mode of constructing the locks for such breech-loading
guns as herein described and exhibited at w, x, y, Figure 5, without any regard
to the number of chambers such guns may contain to which such locks may
be applied.
Thirdly, I claim a mode of constructing revolving or repeating fire-arms, as
exhibited at Figures 5 and 15, which are drawn to illustrate the various
applications of the inclined planes as applied to such guns; I also claim the
mode of uniting the pin on which the chambers revolve, as described at n
and s, Figure 5, and in a separate view at Figure 13.
Fourthly, I claim the application to such fire-arms as herein described of a
self-priming apparatus, without confining myself to the exact detail drawn and
exhibited at Figures 20, 21, 22, and 22', Sheet 2, as I may in some instances
find it more convenient to substitute a flat chain or band for carrying forward
the percussion caps, or they may be impelled forward by an helical spring
placed in the tube.
And, lastly, I claim the application to breech-loading guns, whether single
or repeating, of a fixed bayonet, as exhibited at Sheet one, Figure 25, without

page_text: confining myself to the exact details as to the mode of connecting and retaining
it in its positions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Crickmay, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
CHARLES CRICKMAY. (L.S.)