4. Because otherwise, when the barrel became foul after firing, the bullet would not have entered.

5. Above.

6. A portion of the gas escapes by the windage, and thus forces the bullet down on the lower surface of the barrel, at the same time that it is driven forward; this causes the ball to rebound from the lower surface of the barrel to the upper, or from side to side, the result of which is that, on whatever side the bullet last strikes the barrel, it receives a re-actionary force deflecting it in an opposite direction.

7. No, more; when the Enfield rifle was first introduced the windage was only 009 inch, but, early in 1858, it was increased to 027 inch.

8. By an expanding bullet.

9. In the elongated bullet, we can have more weight to overcome the resistance of the air, and less surface to offer to that resistance.

10. The force of the explosion of the powder acting upon the base of the bullet, together with the great resistance it meets with, from the condensed air in front of it in its passage up the barrel, causes it to expand, thus making it fit the barrel tightly, and doing away with windage.

11. It is less likely to be affected by any imperfection in the bore, as it offers a larger surface to the sides of the barrel; it does not require such a large charge of powder as the spherical ball; and, moreover, by fitting tightly, it wipes out the bore at each shot.

12. Because the whole force of the explosion acts upo the bullet in the same direction.

13. No; it would not.

14. Because, throughout its flight, it would continue to turn over on its shorter axis.

15. By rifling the barrel.

16. The Enfield is nearly 1 lb. 3 oz. lighter than the smooth-bore musket; the diameter of its bore is ⚫176 inch less; the bullet used for it weighs 40 grains more than the spherical ball; the charge of powder is 2 drachms less; compared with the smooth-bore, it has very little recoil; moreover, with the Enfield we can fire with tolerable accuracy up to 900 yards, whilst "Brown Bess" could not be depended upon after 100 yards.

EIGHTH LESSON.

1. When it has any number of channels, or grooves, cut down the inside of it.

2. In a spiral one.

3. To cause the bullet to spin on its longer axis.

4. From left to right.

5. The right.

6. When the bullet is expanded by the explosion of the powder, its surface is moulded into the grooves, the consequence of which is that the bullet, instead of passing along the barrel in a straight line, is obliged to turn with the grooves, receives a spinning motion around its longer axis, which continues to the end of its flight.

and so

7. It prevents a rotation in another direction, and also ensures greater accuracy of flight, by constantly presenting any imperfection in the surface of the bullet to the air in opposite directions.

8. A simple way of illustrating the motions of a rifle projectile, through the air, is by means of a "Patent (Gyroscopic) Spinning Top;" spin the top with as much velocity as possible, and, immediately the string is withdrawn, form a part of it into a loop, and, in this, place the lower end of the axis; the top will continue to spin in a horizontal position, with its axis at right angles to the looped string; this curious position is produced by the swift rotatory motion of the top itself. And so, in the same way, the rotatory motion, imparted to the bullet by the grooves, causes it to retain a horizontal position during its flight; this being the case, the bullet, of course, strikes much nearer the mark than it would do, if it had not a spinning motion around its longer axis.

9. No; it would not.

10. Hard ramming in loading.

11. Not only on his attending to the rules laid down for his guidance in shooting, but also on the attention that he pays to the preservation of his rifle, and ammunition.

1. Once in each half-year, at the very least.

2. Occasionally by squads, or companies.

3. No, at some other time.

4. With a view that the officer instructor-he having previously explained the Theoretical Principles — may advance deeper into the subject, so as to give the officers and soldiers a thorough theoretical knowledge of this most important branch of their duty.

5. The school-room.

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AIMING DRILL.

1. He is taught how to aim, and to adjust the backsight of his rifle.

2. By making him aim at different distances, by means of a rest.

3. A tripod formed of three stakes, looped near the top, supporting a bag of sand.

4. Ten.

5. In single rank, at each rest, every man having his own rifle.

6. 1st. That the sights should not incline to the right or left.

2nd. That the line of sight should be taken along the centre of the notch of the back-sight, and the top of the fore-sight.

3rd. That the eye should be fixed steadily on the mark aimed at, and not on the barrel, or fore-sight.

4th. That, in aiming, the left eye should be closed 7. Three; a "fine-sight," "full-sight," and "halfsight."

8. It is, when the fine point of the fore-sight only is seen in the alignment, through the notch of the back-sight.

9. It is, when the point of the fore-sight is taken in alignment with the shoulder of the notch of the back-sight. 10. It is, when the point of the fore-sight is aligned midway between the shoulder, and bottom, of the back-sight. 11. The "half-sight."

12. A "fine-sight."

13. Each man is to align his rifle with the 100 yards

sight, on a mark that distance from him, after which he is to step aside, in order that the instructor may see whether the aim is correctly laid.

14. To call another man, who is to look along the sights and state the defects.

15. The man who first laid it.

16. It has the effect of sharpening the attention of the recruit, and of inducing him to avoid the errors that he may have witnessed in his comrade's aim.

17. At every distance of 50 yards, from 100, to 900, yards.

18. Eight inches in diameter.

19. Two feet in diameter.

20. That he might acquire a thorough knowledge of his sights, and become perfect in aiming.

21. Strengthen his sight, by making him look at small objects, at distances beyond those at which he would have to fire in practice.