will lie compact in the caliber; though if I went out solely for the purpose of shooting wild-fowl with a small gun, then I should of course prefer No. 3 to No. 7.

No. 9 is rather too small, and the use of dust shot absurd, except for small birds; as, at any distance snipes will fly away with it, if shot in the body; and, to break a bone with it, the bird must be very close: add to which its disadvantage in windy weather, and the impossibility of manufacturing it so well as the regular numbered shot.

The reason why small shot answers best is, that it lies more compact in the barrel; and, consequently, receives more effectually the force of the powder than large shot, which can only have this advantage in a proportionably large caliber. Thus it is, that a grain of small shot, from a small gun, will kill far better, in proportion than one of large; and, with it, you have not only the chances multiplied in favour of taking a vital part, but the same advantage of penetrating feathers, that a pin would have (with a moderate pressure on it) over a nail; and it shoots so regular a surface, that a bird at forty yards could very seldom get away; whereas the large shot, from the objection before named, will often fly so wide and irregular, that the game will escape between the void spaces of the circle.

It must, however, be admitted, that, with No. 3 or 4, a few more accidental shots, at immense distances, may be made, than with No. 7; but then let it be recollected, that, for the sake of killing one bird now and then at seventy yards, we are not only wounding many others, by being tempted to fire large grains at such distances, but sacrificing the almost certainty of killing fair shots, for the mere chance of making long ones; as well as uselessly dirtying and wearing our guns.

Now, as I have recommended small shot, many persons may say, "Suppose we go out in November, we may then possibly get twenty shots in a morning, provided we choose to take our chance at fifty or sixty yards, and perhaps during the whole day may not have one opportunity of firing our guns within thirty. yards; do you mean to argue that, in this case, small shot is best?" In answer, I should say, "If you go out with the pros

pect of getting shots only at long distance, or through thick wood, you certainly may succeed better with No. 2 or 3 than 7; but if you wish to avoid occasionally missing the fairest shots, although with the most accurate aim, you will, for this purpose, lay aside your double gun, and take the largest single gun that you can possibly manage, as you may then use No. 1, 2, or 3 shot, without any risk of throwing it in patches."

The annexed schedule is about the usual weight of shot.

SCHEDULE OF SHOT,

According to labelled samples, which were sent me from Messrs. Walker and Co., Patent Shot Tower, Lambeth. The firm is now Messrs. Walker, Parker, and Co., who have purchased, from Mr. Maltby, the fine round tower to the south of Waterloo Bridge.

Many sportsmen recommend the use of unglazed shot; others wet their shot with sweet oil. I had tried both these plans, but not finding sufficient advantage in either to justify my recommending them, I passed the matter, as one of little importance. I have since, however, in 1832, discovered, that with unglazed shot a gun will keep clean much longer than with shot which is glazed; or, in other words, uselessly dirtied by being polished off, for mere show, with black lead.

JOE MANTON'S PATENT SHOT.

Mr. Joseph Manton, some years ago, obtained a patent for a

* In the general use of a common duck-gun, at flight, where the coast is much disturbed, I have found this to be the best shot for wild-fowl, as they most commonly present ten long shots for one fair one, and are so apt to fly after being mortally wounded. But for the proper night-shooting afloat, with a 70 lb. barrel, that will burn 2 oz. of powder, No. 1 in the long run is worth all the other sizes put together.

great improvement in shot, which simply consists in mixing a little quicksilver with the lead. By means of this process the shot is rendered harder and heavier, and wholly divested of the arsenic, which was one of the chief objections to the original patent shot.

ELEY'S PATENT SHOT-CARTRIDGES.

I have taken as much trouble about these cartridges as if I had been a partner in the concern, because I found the invention to be one of great merit. But, for want of their being brought to perfection before they were served to the public, there arose many prejudices, which it may be a work of time to overcome. It would be an absolute waste of paper to publish the experiments I have made, and the correspondence I have had with Mr. Jenour, the inventor, and Mr. Eley, the purchaser of the patent: because all that the public can wish for is, to hear, from some disinterested person who has thoroughly investigated the subject, the merits or demerits of the invention. Those with patent shot, and particularly the small shot, I have used for years, without their once "balling." But I found it necessary, with large puntguns, at short distances, to take aim lower with the patent cartridge than with common shot; because it keeps rising in the same ratio with the cylinder of the gun; instead of falling, from its gravity, to the pointblank object. In short, for a wild open country, or shooting by day at wildfowl, I cannot say too much in favour of the cartridge in its present improved state.

FLINTS.

NONE are better than the most transparent of the common black flint. Great quantities (considered as good as any) come from Lord Cadogan's estate, at Brandon. They should be put in with the flat side upwards, stand well clear of the hammer, and yet be long enough to throw it. Screw them in with leather; as lead strains the cock, and cloth is dangerous, from being liable to catch fire. If very particular about the neat appearance of your gun, get a punch for stamping the leathers, and change them as often as you put new flints.

To make a flint strike lower, you have only to reverse the usual way of putting it in; but if you want it to strike higher, you must either put a very thick leather, or screw the flint in with a bit of something under it.

WADDING.

PAPER not being stiff enough, hat dirty, card too thin, and leather apt to soften with the heat of the barrel, the common, and perhaps the best punched wadding, is pasteboard. The larger the bore, the thicker should be the wadding.

All this attention, however, is only required in covering the powder; as (except in double guns, where the charge of one barrel has to encounter the explosion of the other,) it would be