The old 18, 24, 32, and 48-pounders have been also rifled on the same system. The navy 30-pounder has a length of bore of 96 inches, and weighs 3550 lbs. nearly.

The projectiles used with these guns are also on the expansive principle, and consist of a cylindro-ogival body of cast iron, with a ring of soft bronze adapted to its hinder surface so that the expansive force of the gas penetrating between the body and the ring forces this latter to expand and fill up the grooves, completely closing the windage. This latter is made as small in amount as possible, and there are small projections on the surface of the groove in which the ring rests for the purpose of increasing its adhesion. It is advantageous but not indispensable that the bronze ring should be greased before loading.

Both solid and hollow projectiles are used, common shells and also shrapnells. The solid shot is used against walls and armourplated vessels, this head has its edges removed and is chilled; for the larger calibres the solid shot has a cavity for the purpose of diminishing the weight and obtaining a more favourable distribution of the metal in the casting. In the shrapnels the bullets are kept in place by molten sulphur or asphalt. Spherical projectiles may also be used with Parrott's guns, either by covering them with a jacket of papier maché, or wrapping them up in cloths, so as to centre them in the bore. Common case, like that used for smooth bore can also be employed. The charges vary from one-ninth to one-tenth of the weight of the heaviest projectile, and the quality of the gunpowder used varies according to calibre; for the lighter ones mortar powder; for the medium ones that used for cannon, and for the heavier ones the coarse-grained mammoth powder. The details of the projectiles and charges are given in the Table at pages 500 and 501.

The service charges used, are for the 10-pounder 1 lb. mortar pow der, or one-tenth weight of heaviest projectile; for the 20-pounder 2 lbs., or one-tenth; for the 30-pounder 3 lbs., or one-eighth 99th ditto; for the 100-pounder 10 lbs., or one-tenth; for the 200-pounder 16 lbs. nearly, or one-ninth and a half; and for the 300-pounder 25 lbs., or ten one-eighths.*

The fuzes employed are those already mentioned, and in addition a percussion one, invented by Parrott.

For the lighter calibres, up to 30-pounders, no account is taken of lateral deviations, and in the heavier ones only to a small extent. The writer in the Giornale d' Artiglieria says, with much truth, that although those guns have not as yet been sufficiently experimented on, there can be no doubt they labour under the following defects:-1st, All those inherent to the system of expansion; 2ndly,

* The velocity of projectiles of 100-pounder with 10lb of powder is stated at 1151 feet. A target, 8 feet 10 inches by 4 feet 2 inches at 2000 yards, was struck six times out of 14 shots. With 25 degrees elevation, the solid projectile reached a distance of 6316 metres and the shell 5878 metres.

great difficulty and uncertainty in loading, owing to the small windage; 3rdly, want of knowledge of the deviation.

With regard to the powers of resistance of these guns, it is but just sufficient for the lighter calibres, and quite inadequate for the larger ones, a great number of these latter having burst just in front of the band of wrought iron, which should probably be made broader than it is; the following table by Colonel Bassecourt gives some interesting details on this point :

But the Americans seem to suppose that the tendency to burst is a consequence of the progressive pitch of the grooves, and they have lately been trying a series of comparative experiments with 3.15-inch guns, bored only to 12 inches, and rifled according to three different systems, viz., Parrott's, which has a progressive pitch; Rodman's, which is equable; and Atwater's, which, although equable, differs from Rodman's, inasmuch as the number of grooves is reduced to one-half from the axis of the trunnions to the muzzle; this latter system has been frequently tried in Europe, especially with small arms, and rejected.

We have all heard of the great effect produced by the Parrott guns against the wall of Fort Sumpter at distances of 4300 yards and upwards, but there was an enormous quantity of ammunition expended; these guns have also done well against iron-plating, but it is very doubtful whether they are really so powerful as has been asserted, and General Gilmore shows that it required an enormous proportion of projectiles, 1 to 3.97, to move the sandbags, &c., of Fort Wagner, at distances varying from 1300 to 1800 yards. Notwithstanding its economy, Parrott's system has not yet been definitely adopted into the United States Artillery, nor is it quite certain that it will be.

The 10-pounder gun is mounted for field service on the carriage of the smooth bore 6-pounder; the 20-pounder on that of the heavy 12-pounder; and the 30-pounder on the siege carriage of the 18pounder smooth bore. The heavier calibres have been mounted either on iron-plate carriages invented by Parrott himself, or on those of Major Rodman. The former are said to be very convenient, and render the working of the largest guns very simple. There are three kinds a front pintle carriage, a centre pintle ditto, and a casemate one. A gun detachment of seven men works the three

lighter calibres in the field or for siege purposes; the 100-pounder takes five, the 200-pounder seven, and the 300-pounder nine men. Smooth-bored naval and field guns will be given in another article with general organization.

MILITARY EXPENDITURE.

Those who expected that large sums were to be saved this year on the Army and Navy were no doubt disappointed at the figures which appeared in the last number of the United Service Magazine. As regards the Army we were then enabled to give only an abstract of the Estimates; they have since been discussed in and passed by Parliament so we can now review the various items of which the fourteen millions required for this branch of the service are composed.

The old idea to which many have clung so tenaciously, that the amount of the Army Estimates is governed by the number of men, has been partially confirmed this year, inasmuch as there is a decrease in numbers as well as in money; but we still maintain that the one is not a real guide to the other, as the erection of additional barracks, an increase in the price of "stores," or several other causes, might effect the general total, while the force intended to be maintained might be considerably diminished. These remarks apply equally to the Navy Estimates, in which large sums have been for some years past, and for some years to come will be, inserted for the construction of docks and basins, and the extension of the Royal Dock Yards. This is clearly shown on a comparison of the Estimates for the present with those for former years. The total land force intended to be employed in 1866-67 is about 138,000 men, with an expenditure amounting to about fourteen millions, or £102 per man: in 1861-62 there were 145,000 men against an expenditure of rather more than fifteen millions, or £105 per man.

While, however, the economists have been disappointed at the trifling difference between the sum required for military purposes this year, and that which has just expired, they have reason to be satisfied with the progressive reduction that has taken place during the last five years, especially when they remember that, in the interval, we have been obliged to incur enormous outlay in changing the description of ordnance used, both on shore and on board ship, and in substituting rifles for the ordinary muskets with which the troops were formerly armed. The figures stand thus: