Martinsburgh Gazette

Improvement in working Marine Artillery.

On Monday the 29th ultimo, a trial of a new method of running out our ships' guns, took place a little below the Woolwich arsenal, in presence of a committee appointed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, which consisted of those two distinguished officers Sir William Hoste, Bart. (the latter lately appointed to command the Galatea frigate, fitted at Deptford.) These Lords of the Admiralty had directed those two distinguished officers to examine the merits of a spring attached to an eighteen pound carronade, the purpose of which was to run out the carronade by means of the spring. This ingenious contrivance is the invention of Lieutenant Halahan, of the Royal Navy, who spent many years of his life under the command of the enterprising Capt. Usher. Two eighteen pound carronades were placed in separate launches, and fitted in the usual way of service. One of the carronades was fitted with Lieutenant Halahan's spring.— Each boat was supplied with twenty-five rounds of blank powder and shot; the carronade of Lieutenant Halahan's invention, on the new construction, was worked by only three men, while that on the old principle was worked by seven men. Both carronades commenced firing at the same time, at a signal given by Sir W. Hoste. The gun on the new principle was fired thirteen rounds in the space of six minutes and twenty-six seconds. The gun on the old principle fired only eight rounds in the same time. It appears evident that great advantage will arise to his Majesty's naval service, by the general adoption of Lt. Halahan's invention.—Lon. pap.