Encyclopaedia Britannica; or, A dictionary of arts and sciences, compiled upon a new plan … > Volume 2, C-L

GUN ( 754 ) G U N
weight. Finally, large cannons-, by carrying the
weight of theii ballet in grape or lead fliot, may an¬
noy the enemy more efFeiftaally than could be done
by ten times the number of fmall pieces. See Gun¬
nery.
The author here quoted, has propofed to change
the fabric of all the pieces employed in the Britilh navy,
from the twenty four pounders downwards, fo that
they may have the fame or lefs weight, but a larger
bore. He thinks the thirty two pounders in prefent ufe
would be proper models for this purpofe. Thefe be-
ihg of fifty:two or fifty-three hundred weight, have
fomewhat lefs than a hundred and two thirds for each
pound of bullet. And that this proportion would an
i'wer in fmaller pieces, in point of Itrengrh, feems clear
from thefe conhderations . i.That the firength of iron
or any other metal, is in proportion to its fubftance.
2. That the lelfer quantity of powder fired in a fpace
it fills, has proportionably lefs force than a larger quan¬
tity; fo that if two pieces, a large and a fmall one, be
made in the fame proportion to their refpedtive bullets,
and fired with a proportionable quantity of powder, the
larger piece will be more ftrained, will heat more, and
recoil more than the fmaller.
On this fcheme our prefent twenty-four pounders
will be eafed of fix or eight hundred weight of ufelefs
metal; and fome pieces of a lefs caliber, as nine and
fix pounders, would be fometimes eafed by fourteen
hundred : hence much larger guns of the fame weight
might be-borne. Thus, inftead of fix, nine, twelve,
and eighteen pounders, our (hips might carry twelve,
eighteen, and twenty-four pounders: guns would be
kept cooler and quieter, and would be of more fervice,
in many refpeds, if their ufual charge of powder were
diminilhed.
GUNELLUS, in ichthyology. See Blenniu's.
GUNNER, an officer appointed for the fervice of the
cannon ; or one Hulled to fire the guns.
In the tower of London, and other garrifons, as
well as in the field, this officer carries a field-fiaffi, and
a large powder-horn in a firing over his left ffioulder :
he marches by the guns ; and when there is any appre-
henfion of danger, his field-ftaff is armed with match:
his bufinefs is to lay the gun to pafs, and to help to,
load and traverfe her.
Gunner, a patent-officer of the ordnance, who
is appointed to teach all fuch as learn the art of gun¬
nery, and to certify to the mafter general the ability of
any perfon recommended to be one of the king’s gun¬
ners. To every fcholar he adminifiers an oath, not to
ferve, without leave, any other prince or ftate ; or
teach any one the art of gunnery, but fuch as have ta¬
ken the faid oath.
GUNNERY, is the art of charging, directing, and ex¬
ploding fire-arms, as cannons, mortars, muikets, <foc.
to the befi advantage.
To the Art of Gunnery belongs the know¬
ledge of the force and effefts of gun-powder, (fee
Gun powder), the dimenfions of cannon, err. and the
proportion of the powder and ball they carry, with the
method of managing, charging, pointing, fpunging, Stcv
A cannon is a military engine, or fire-arm, for throw¬
ing iron, lead, or ftone bullets, by force of gun powder,
to a place exadlly oppofite to the axis of the cylinder
whereof it confifts.
Cannons are made cylindrical, that the motion of the
ball might not be retarded in its pafiage; and that the
powder, when on fire, might not flip between the ball
and the furface of the cannon, which would hinder irs
effefl. With regard to the names, dimenfions, weight,
tic. of cannons, fee Cannon.
Each fort of ordnance is more or lefs fortified-;
which fortification is reckoned by the thicknefs of the
metal at the touch hole, at the trunnions, and at the
muzzle, in proportion to the diameter of the bore.
There are three degrees ufed irTfortifying each fort of
ordnance, both cannons and culverihes: Firft, fuch as
are ordinarily fortified, which are called legitimate pieces-;
fecondly, fuch whofe -fortifications are leflened, which are
called baftard pieces; thirdly, double fortified pieces,
or extraordinary pieces.
The cannons double fortified have fu'^one diameter of
their bore in thicknefs of metal at their touch-hole,
and aI their trunnions, and ^ at their muzzle. The
leflened cannons have, at their touch hole, but-J- or-*-^ bf
the diameter of their bore in thicknefs of metal, and-J at
their trunnions, and -/6 at their muzzle. The ordinary
fortified cannons, have 4 at the touch hole, -g at the trun¬
nions, and 4 at tbe muzzle. All the double fortified
culverines, and all lefler pieces of that kind, have one di¬
ameter and at the touch-hole, at the trunnions,,
and -jSg- at the muzzle. And all the ordinary fortified
culverines, are fortified every way as the double fortified
cannons; and the leflened culverines, as the ordinary,
cannons in all points.
With regard to bullets, or balls, wherewith cannons
are loaded, they are of various kinds, viz v i. Red-hot bul¬
lets, intended to fet fire to places, where combuflible
matters are found. The bullet is made red-hot, by
digging a place in the earth, and lighting in it a great
quantity of charcoal, or fea coal, and placing over it a
ftrong iron grate. When the fire is well lighted, the
bullets are placed on the grate, where, in a very ffiort
time, they grow red-hot,; they are taken out with tongs’,
or iron ladles for the purpofe, and carried into the piece;
having before put fome clay over the powder the cannon
is loaded with, left: it ffiould be fee on fire by the red hot
bullet: then the piece is fired. Where:ever the bullet
pafles, and meets with combuftible matters, it fets them
on fire. But when a trench is before the battery of red-
hot bullets, hay is rammed over the powder; becaufe> if
it was clay, the pieces of it would wound and kill the
workmen.
. Red-hot bullets are never fired but with eight or four
pounders. For if they were of a ftronger caliber, the
bullets could not be ferved eafily.
2. Hollow bullets are ffiells made cylindrical, with an a-
perture and fnfee atone end, which giving fire to the in-
fide, when in the ground, it buifts, and has the fame^ef-
feift with a mine.
5|. Chaim