New Hampshire Statesman

From the New York American.

New Inventions. Our countrymen alone almost establish the truth of the remark, that this is properly characterized as the "age of inventions." Our government affords no other aid and no other encouragement to the enterprising genius, than the use of the products of his labour. After he has accomplished the object he proposed, and to his own conviction has proved its utility, he has yet the more slow, the more arduous, and the still more vexatious end to attain—the conviction of the public of the fact.

To these reflections I was led by observing the repeating guns, a manufactory of which is established in the city. To them I would beg leave to call more general notice. No doubt remains in the mind of any who have examined them, of the complete accomplishment of the object proposed. These guns ordinarily contain from five to twelve charges, but the number may be extended to twenty or even thirty without adding materially to the incumbrance of the piece. The communication between the several charges is so completely cut off as to prevent all danger of a simultaneous discharge. By means of a sliding lock the piece is cocked and primed at one operation, and discharged at the rate of less than two seconds to the charge.

The principle is applied to muskets, rifles, fowling-pieces and pistols; by which they have all the use of ordinary fire arms; and the great additional advantage of priming themselves, and keeping in reserve any number of charges the gunner may choose.

These guns will be seen to be very serviceable in the customary employment of firearms in time of peace as a material of national defence, they are conceived to be of vast importance.

Had Capt. Allen's boats crew of eighteen men been armed with these guns, they would have been more than a match for the hundred and fifty Pirates that came against them. For they would have been able to have discharged 216 shots in less than twenty seconds. If five hundred men could have been armed with such muskets, at the time the English army of five thousand attacked Washington, the Capitol, with the other public buildings, would probably not have been destroyed, for the five hundred men would possess six thousand charges, which they could have fired in less time than a common musket could have been reloaded; giving the five hundred men the advantage of one thousand charges, over the army of five thousand men.

If the mail guard had been armed with a brace of pistols, containing five or six charges each, the late attack on the mail in the neighborhood of Baltimore, would, probably, have resulted differently.

2,016.

That these guns would be of immense consequence in defence against the pirates cannot be questioned; for it is believed that a very few guns well managed, would effectually prevent their boarding merchant vessels.

I am persuaded this invention needs only to be known to be appreciated. On its utility alone, when known, it may rest all its claim to public patronage.

AN OBSERVER

P. S. A manufactory of these guns is now conducted at 51 Fulton-street by Mr. Ellis, who is ever ready to have them examined, and their use tested.