Part 15

+--------+----+------------------------------++----------------+ | Rates. |No. | Nᵒ. of Guns of each Nature. || Carronades. | | |of +---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+ | |Guns| 42| 32| 24 | 18| 12| 9| 6 || 32| 24| 18 |12 | +--------+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+ | 1st. |100 | 28| — | 28 | — | 30| — | 18 || 2| 6| — | — | +--------+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+ | 2d. | 98 | — | 28| — | 30| 40| — | — || 2| — | 6 | — | +--------+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+ | | 80 | — | 26| — | 26| — | 24| 4 || | | | 74 | — | 28| — | 28| — | 18| — || 2 6 — | | 3d. | 70 | — | 28| — | 28| — | 14| — || | | | | | | | | | | |+---+---+----+---+ | | 64 | — | — | 26 | 26| — | 12| — || — | 2| 6 | — | +--------+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+ | 4th. | 60 | — | — | 24 | — | 26| — | 10 || — | — | — | — | | | 50 | — | — | 22 | — | 22| — | 6 || — | 6| — | 6 | +--------+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+ | | 44 | — | — | — | 20| 22| — | 6 || — | — | 8 | — | | 5th. | 36 | — | — | — | 26| 2| 8| — || 8| — | — | — | | | 32 | — | — | — | — | 26| — | 6 || — | 6| — |— | +--------+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+ | | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | 24| 4 || — | 6| — | — | | 6th. | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | 22| 2 || — | 2| 6 | — | | | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | 20| — || — | — | — | 8 | +--------+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+ | Sloops.| 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 || — | — | — | 8 | +--------+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+-----++---+---+----+---+

_Dimensions of Ships, Number of Men, and Draught of Water._

+------+--------+--------+----------------------+----------+ |Number| Length |Extreme | Complement of |Depth of | | of | on the |Breadth.|--------+-------------| water | | Guns |Gundeck.| |Sailors.| Marines. | required | | | | | | |for each. | +------+--------+--------+--------+-------------+----------+ | |Ft. In. |Ft. In. | Nᵒ. | Officers. | Feet. | | 110 |190 — | 53 — | | | 24 | | 100 |186 — | 52 — | 875 | | | +------+--------+--------+--------+ +----------+ | 98 |180 — | 50 — | 750 | 1 Captain. | 23 | | 90 |177 6 | 49 — | | 3 Subalt’s.| | +------+--------+--------+--------+ +----------+ | 80 |182 — | 49 6 | | | | | 74 |182 — | 48 7 | 650 | | | | 74 |169 — | 46 11 | +-------------+ 18 | | 64 |160 — | 44 6 | |1 Cap. 2 Sub.| | +------+--------+--------+--------+-------------+----------+ | 50 |146 — | 40 6 | 420 |2 Lieuten’ts.| | +------+--------+--------+--------+-------------+ | | 44 |140 9 | 38 8 | | | 16 | | 38 |144 — | 39 — | 300 | | | | 36 |142 — | 38 — | | +----------+ | 32 |126 — | 35 4 | | | | +------+--------+--------+--------+ 1 Subalt. | 15 | | 28 |120 — | 33 6 | | | | | 24 |114 7 | 32 3 | 200 | | | | 20 |108 — | 30 — | | | | +------+--------+--------+--------+-------------+----------+ | 18 |110 — | 29 6 | 125 | Serjeant. | 13 | | 16 |106 — | 28 — | | | | +------+--------+--------+--------+-------------+----------+ |=N. B.= The usual Complement of Marines is one | | for every Gun in the Ship. | +----------------------------------------------------------+

_ORDNANCE._—The value of all brass ordnance is at £84: 17_s._ _per_ ton, for the metal; that is, the weight of the gun, and 12lbs. _per_ hundred weight for waste: to which is added for casting, on the total weight of metal used, £64 _per_ ton for light pieces; £54 for medium; and £44 for heavy.

Iron ordnance costs £20 _per_ ton. See also the words _Guns_, _Mortars_, _Howitzers_, &c.

For the proof of all kinds of ordnance, see the word _Proof_.

_PACE._—The common pace is of no determined length; though made use of as a measure by most military writers.

In Germany, and amongst most of the northern powers, the pace is considered equal to ²/₁₀ of a Rhinland rood.

In France the pace is commonly reckoned at 2½ feet.

In England it is usually reckoned at 2½ feet.

The geometrical pace is equal to 5 French royal feet; 60,000 of which make a degree of the equator. This makes the geometrical pace equal 6.102 English feet, and 5.6719 Rhinland feet.

For the military pace, see _Marching_.

_PARALLELS_—or places of arms at a siege. See the words _Trenches_ and _Sap_.

_PAY._—_Table of the Full Pay of the Officers, Noncommissioned Officers, and Privates in the Army._

+-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-----------------+ | | Life |Cavalry.| Foot |Infantry| Artillery. | | Rank. | Guards.| | Guards.| of the +--------+--------+ | | | | | line. | Horse. | Foot. | +-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | |£. s. d.|£. s. d.|£. s. d.|£. s. d.|£. s. d.|£. s. d.| |Colonel | 1 16 — | 1 12 10| 1 19 — | 1 2 6 | — | 2 3 6| |Colonel en Second| — | — | — | — | 1 9 8| 1 3 9| |1st. Lt. Colonel | 1 11 — | 1 3 — | 1 8 6| 0 15 11| 1 5 8| — 19 9| |2d. Lt. Colonel | — | — | — | 0 15 11| — | — 16 10| +-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ |1st. Major | 1 6 — | — 19 3 | 1 4 — | 0 14 1| 1 — 9| — 14 10| |2d. Major | — | — | — | | — | — | +-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ |Captain | — 16 — |— 14 7 | — 16 6| 0 9 5| — 15 4| — 9 11| +-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ |Captain Lieut. | 0 11 — | — 9 — | — 7 10| 0 5 8| 0 10 — | — 7 — | |1st. Lieut. | | | | | 0 9 — | — 6 — | +-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ |2d. Lieutenant | — | — | — | — | — 8 — | — 5 — | |Cornets | — 8 6 |— 8 — | — | — | — | — | |Ensigns | — | — | — 5 10| — 4 8 | — | — | |Pay Master | — | — 15 — | — | — 15 — | — | — | |Quarter Master | — 6 — | — 5 6 | — 5 8| — 5 8 | — 6 — | — 6 — | |Adjutant | — 11 — | — 5 — | — | — 5 — | — 5 — | — 5 — | |Surgeon | — 12 — | — 12 — | — 12 — | — 9 5 | — 11 10 |— 9 11| |Assistant Surgeon| — | — 5 — | — 7 6| — 5 — | — 6 — | — 5 — | |Veterinary ” | — | — 8 — | — | — | — | — | |Serjeant Major | — | — | — | — | — 3 4| — 3 2| |Quarter Master ” | — | — | — | — | — 2 10| — | |Serjeant | — | — 2 2 | — 1 10¾|— 1 6¾| — 2 4| — 2 2| |Corporal | — 2 6¼| — 1 7¾ |— 1 4¾|— 1 2¼| — 2 2¼| — 2 2¼| |Bombardier | — | — | — | — |— 2 2¼| — 1 10¼| |1st. Gunner | — | — | — | — | — | — 1 7| |2d. Gunner | — | — | — | — | — 1 5¼| — 1 3¼| |Private | — 1 11¼| — 1 3 | — 1 1| — 1 — | — | — | |Farrier and Smith| — | — | — | — | — 3 4¾| — | +-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ |Collar Maker | | | | | | | |Wheeler | — | — | — | — | — 2 4¾| — | +-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ |Trumpeter | | | | | | | |Drummer |— 2 6| — 1 7| — 1 2¼| — 1 1¼| — 2 1¾| — 1 3¼| +-----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

_PARK OF ARTILLERY_—should always be placed, if possible, within a short distance of water-carriage, and have the most ready communication with every part of the line of the army. Its form must depend on its situation. Ten feet are usually allowed in front for one carriage and its interval, and near 50 feet from the hind wheels of the front row to the fore wheels of the second; this interval should allow sufficient room for putting the horses to the carriages, and for a free passage along the line. In parks not on immediate service, it is customary to arrange the guns with their muzzles to the front; but where the guns are likely to be wanted at a short notice, appearances must not be studied, and the gun carriages must be parked with their shafts to the front, ready to receive horses to them. A quarter-guard is placed in front of the park, and the noncommissioned officers and gunners’ tents on the flanks, at about 20 paces distance and 40 paces to the rear the subaltern officers; at 10 more to the rear the captains, and 10 more the commanding officer. The mess tent is 15 in the rear of the officers. At a convenient distance in the rear of the whole, are the horses, picketed in one or more lines, with the drivers on their flanks. The horses are sometimes picketed in lines perpendicular to the front, and on the flanks of the carriages, between the men and the carriages. See the word _Camp_, and _Artillery in the Field_.

_PENDULUM_—Pendulums for military purposes are best made with a musquet ball, and a piece of silk, or other small line. Their length must be measured from the centre of the ball to the end of the loop on which they are to swing. In a cylinder, or other uniform prism or rod, the centre of oscillation, (from whence they must be measured,) is at the distance of ⅓ from the bottom, or ⅔ below the centre of motion.

Pendulum’s length in latitude of London, to swing

2 Seconds 39⅛ Inches. ½ Seconds 9.8 ¼ Seconds 2.45

_Length of Pendulums to vibrate 2 Seconds at every Fifth Degree of Latitude._

+----------+---------+ |Degrees of|Length of| |Latitude. |Pendulum.| | |Inches. | +----------+---------+ | 0 | 39.027 | | 5 | 39.029 | | 10 | 39.032 | | 15 | 39.036 | | 20 | 39.044 | | 25 | 39.057 | | 30 | 39.070 | | 35 | 39.084 | | 40 | 39.097 | | 45 | 39.111 | | 50 | 39.126 | | 55 | 39.142 | | 60 | 39.158 | | 65 | 39.168 | | 70 | 39.177 | | 75 | 39.185 | | 80 | 39.191 | | 85 | 39.195 | | 90 | 39.197 | +----------+---------+

=Rule.=—_To find the Length of a Pendulum to make any Number of Vibrations, and_ vice versa.

Call the pendulum, making 60 vibrations the standard length; then say, as the square of the given number of vibrations is to the square of 60; so is the length of the standard to the length sought. If the length of the pendulum be given, and the number of vibrations it makes in a minute be required; say, as the given length is to the standard length, so is the square of 60, its vibrations in a minute, to the square of the number required. The square root of which will be the number of vibrations made in a minute.

_PETARDS_—are of four different sizes:—First, contain 12 lbs. 13 oz.—Second, 10 lbs. 11 oz.—Third, 1 lb. 10.—Fourth, one lb.

Blind fuze composition { mealed powder 7 lbs. for Petards. { wood ashes 3 oz.

_Stores for One Petard._

Hooks to hang the petard 2 Gimblets 2 Brass fuze 1 Wrench to screw the fuze 1 Blue paper portfires 6 Slow match yards 4 Props or forks 2 Copper funnels 1 Tallow ounces 8 Cartridges 1

_PLATFORMS._—The common platforms for gun batteries require the following materials for each:—5 sleepers or joists, 6 inches square, 14 feet long.—1 hunter, 8 or 10 inches square, 8 feet long, 14 planks, 1 foot wide, 11 feet long, 2½ inches thick.—20 pickets.

The usual slope of platforms for guns is one inch to every yard.

The platforms for mortar batteries are made with 3 sleepers 8 inches square, and covered with about 11 timbers of the same thickness. They are laid perfectly horizontal, about 15 feet asunder, and 12 feet from the epaulment. This is the distance commonly practised for firing only at 45 degrees elevation; but if the platforms be placed at the undermentioned distances from the epaulment, the mortars may be fired at the angles corresponding.

At 13 feet distance for firing at 30 degrees. 21 feet ” ” ” at 20 30 feet ” ” ” at 15 40 feet ” ” ” at 10 over an epaulment of 8 feet high.

See also the word _Battery_.

_POINT BLANK._—For the point blank ranges of different pieces of ordnance, see the different natures.

The French _point blank_ or _but en blanc_, is what the English artillery call the _line of metal elevation_; in most guns between one and two degrees.

_PONTOONS._—Length at { top 21 ft. 6 in. { bottom, 17 2

Width, 4 feet 9 inches. Depth, 2 feet 3 inches.

_Equipage of One Pontoon._

Ft. In. Ft. In. In. 4 Baulks 22 8 long 1 0 wide 4 thick. 1 Gang-board. 22 0 ” 1 0 ” 2½ ” 6 Chesses, 11 6 ” 2 4 ” 1½ ” 2 Oars. 1 Anchor. 1 Graplin. 1 Setter. 4 Iron bolts, with keys. 2 Mounting bars. 4 Binding sticks. 4 Spring lines. 4 Faukes. 1 Cable 1 Sheer-line. 1 Boat hook. 1 Maul. 4 Pickets. 1 Small pump. 1 Windlass. 1 Pontoon carriage, complete.

_Dimensions of Colonel Congreve’s Wooden Pontoons._

feet. inches. Length at top 26 ” at bottom 23 Depth 2 8 Width 2 3

The common pontoons will support a weight of 4 or 5000 pounds. They are generally placed, in forming a bridge, about their own width asunder. See the word _Bridge_.

_PORTFIRES._

Composition. Saltpetre, 60 parts; sulphur, 40 parts; mealed powder, 20 parts. Length of each, 16½ inches.

One will burn from 12 to 15 minutes.

Weight of one dozen, 3 lbs. 12 oz.

Portfires were made at Gibraltar in the following manner; two ounces of nitre was dissolved in a gallon of water, and sheets of soft brown paper dipped in the solution: these when dry were rolled up to about the size of common portfires.

_PROVISIONS._—See the word _Ration_.

_PROOF_—of ordnance.

All natures of ordnance undergo several kinds of proof before they are received into his Majesty’s service; _viz._ 1st, They are guaged as to their several dimensions, internal and external, as to the justness of the position of the bore, the chamber, the vent, the trunnions, _&c._

2d, They are fired with a regulated charge of powder and shot, and afterwards searched to discover irregularities or holes produced by the firing.

3d, By means, of engines an endeavour is made to force water through them; and,

4th, They are examined internally, by means of light reflected from a mirror.

_Iron Guns._—The guns are first examined as to their proper dimensions, in which, in no case more than ³/₁₀ of an inch variation is allowed; and in the diameter of the bore only ¹/₃₀ from 42 to 18 pounders, and ¹/₄₀ from 12 to 4 pounders; but in the position of the bore ½ an inch out of the axis of a piece from a 42 to an 18 Pr. and ⅓ of an inch from a 12 to a 4 Pr. is allowed. They are then fired twice with the charge in the following table, with one shot and two high junk wads; and examined with a searcher after each round. In this examination they must not have any hole or cavity in the bore of ²/₁₀ of an inch in depth, behind the first reinforce ring, or ¼ of an inch in depth before this ring.

+---------+--------------+ | Nature. |Proof Charge. | +---------+--------------+ | Prs. | lbs. oz. | | 42 | 25 — | | 32 | 21 8 | | 24 | 18 — | | 18 | 15 — | | 12 | 12 — | | 9 | 9 — | | 6 | 6 — | | 4 | 4 — | | 3 | 3 — | | 2 | 2 — | | 1½ | 1 8 | | 1 | 1 — | +---------+--------------+

Iron guns are scaled with ¹/₁₂ the weight of the shot.

_Brass Guns._—From 1 pounders to 12 pounders the diameter of the bore must not vary more than ¹/₁₀ of an inch, and in no dimensions more than ²/₁₀. The following are the established charges for their proof. The heavy and medium guns with a charge equal to the weight of the shot, except the medium 12 pounder, which is proved with only 9 lbs. The light guns with half the weight of the shot. The brass ordnance have not however been proved of late with such heavy charges, but with the following:

3 Prs. light, 3 times, with 1 lb. each round. 6 Prs. light, 3 times, with 2 lbs. each. 12 Prs. light, 2 times, with 4 lbs. each. 12 Prs. Med. 2 times, with 5 lbs. each.

Any hole .15 of an inch deep upwards or sideways in the bore, or .1 in the bottom, between the breach and first reinforce; or .2 of an inch upwards or side ways, or .15 in the bottom of the bore, before the first reinforce ring, will be sufficient to condemn them.

_Brass Mortars and Howitzers._—The exterior dimensions are in no respect to deviate more than ¹/₁₀ of an inch in an 8 inch howitzer, and ¹/₂₀ in the royals and Coehorn mortars and howitzers. Their bores and chambers not to deviate from their true diameters or positions more than ¹/₄₀ of an inch.

The brass mortars and howitzers are fired twice with their chambers full of powder, and an iron shell. The mortars on their own beds, at about 75° elevation; and the howitzers on their carriages, at about 12°. Iron mortars are proved on their iron beds; with a charge equal to the full chamber, and an iron shot equal in diameter to the shell.

Royals, or Coehorn mortars, having a hole .1 of an inch in depth in the chamber, or .15 in the chase, are rejected: royal howitzers the same. 8 inch howitzers having a hole .15 of an inch in depth in the chamber, or .2 in the chase, will be rejected.

_Carronades._—The diameter and position of their bore and chamber must not deviate ¹/₂₀ of an inch. They are proved with two rounds, with their chambers full of powder, and 1 shot and 1 wad. A hole of ²/₁₀ of an inch in depth in the bore, or ¹/₁₀ in the chamber condemns the piece.

_Proof Charges._

+--------+----+----+----+----+----+ |68 Prs. | 42 | 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 | +--------+----+----+----+----+----+ |13 lbs. | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | +--------+----+----+----+----+----+

All ordnance, after having undergone this proof, and the subsequent searching, are subject to the water proof: this is done by means of a forcing pump, having a pipe or hose fixed to the mouth of the piece: after two or three efforts to force the water through any honeycombs or flaws which may be in the bore, they are left to dry; and generally the next day examined by the reflected light from a mirror. If the bore contains any small holes or flaws which have not been discovered by the former proofs, they are very readily found by this; the water will continue to weep, or run from the holes, when the solid parts of the bore are perfectly dry. Ordnance suspected of being bad are often subject to a more severe proof: that of firing 30 rounds quick, with the service charge and 2 shot; and in doubtful cases, where the purity of the metal is suspected, recourse has been had to chemical trials and analysis. A quantity of clean filings taken from a part of an iron gun free from rust, are dissolved in the dilute sulphuric acid, and the quantity of gas disengaged during the solution accurately ascertained. The plumbago which remains after solution is also separated by filtration, and carefully weighed. Now it is well known that the purer the iron, the greater the quantify of inflammable gas obtained, and the less the proportion of plumbago which remains after the solution; from these two parts therefore a tolerable judgment may be formed of the quality of the metal. When the plumbago exceeds 4½ _per_ cent. the iron will always be found deficient in strength; and there has been no instance of a gun bursting where the plumbago did not exceed 3 _per_ cent; that is, where 100 grains of the metal did not leave more than 3 grains of plumbago. The colour of the plumbago is also to be attended to; when it is brown or reddish, it is an indication of hard metal, and when in quantities and mixed with coals, there can be no doubt but that the iron is too soft for cannon.

For the proof of _Gunpowder_, see that word.

_Proof of Iron Shells._—After the shells are guaged and examined as to their dimensions and weight, they must be well scraped out, and the iron pin at the bottom of the inside must be driven down or broken off. They are then to be hammered all over, to knock off the scales, and discover flaws, and no hole, in the large shells is allowed, of more than ¾ of an inch deep. An empty fuze is then driven into the fuze hole, and the shell is suspended in a tub of water, in such manner that the shell be covered by the water, but that it does not run into the fuze: in this situation the nose of a pair of bellows is put in at the fuze hole, and several strong puffs given with the bellows; and if no bubbles rise in the water, the shell is concluded to be serviceable.

Ordnance condemned as unserviceable for any of the foregoing reasons, are marked as follows: =X D=, or =X S=, or =X W=. The first signifies that they are found to be faulty in their dimensions, by Desagulier’s instrument; the second, by the searcher; and the third, by the water proof.

_RATION._—For an officer or soldier.

_Complete Ration of the Small Species._

Flour, or bread 1½ lbs. Beef 1 Or Pork ½ Peas ¼ pint. Butter, or cheese 1 oz. Rice 1 oz.

When the small species are not issued, 1½ lbs. of flour or bread, with 1½ lbs. of beef, or 10 oz. of pork, forms a complete ration: or 3 lbs. of beef; or 2 lbs. of cheese; or half a pound of rice, forms a complete ration.

At sea the ration is different. The following table contains the allowance for six soldiers, or four seamen on board of ship, for each day in the week. Women are provisioned at ½, and children at ¼ of a soldier’s allowance, but receive no rum.