Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/493

 tube to facilitate the tedious operation of unloading a gun to insure an effectual broadside, admirably adapted for shells and heated shot, and increasing the rapidity of firing, the gun will traverse as far as the size of the port will admit, the trucks being brought back more to the angle of resistance, whilst the gun is prevented tipping by a pivot piece. The helm must ever be considered the grand traversing bar, keeping an opponent within the bearing of the guns by my angular extreme bearing plate, united to my plan for concentrating the broadside of a man-of-war, and to be fixed on the binnacle, which will prevent a ship being too much yawed to bring the bow gun to bear in chase. I beg to express my acknowledgments to your Lordships for your attention to my former letter, and hope the model which accompanies this letter, with the saving of powder and cordage, will induce your Lordships to allow me a fair trial of this improved method of working a giui; having been subjected to the mortification of seeing many of my plans transferred to the credit of others and adopted in the service. I am, &c.

(Signed)“.”

“To the Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.”

In answer to this letter, Captain Tayler was acquainted “that their Lordships could not order any trial of his improved gun-carriage to be made at the expence of Government;” upon which he addressed himself to their secretary as follows:–

“Devizes, 12th Feb. 1832.

“Sir,– I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant. Presuming that I was in error in requesting a trial of my invention at the expence of Government, I beg to request a similar indulgence as granted to Commander Marshall may be extended to me; and that their Lordships will permit me to attend at Portsmouth arsenal the alteration of an old carriage at my expence; being convinced of the utility of my improved carriage, and tenacious of introducing it as a naval invention.

“The facility afforded to military men in carrying into effect their inventions at Woolwich, no doubt creates a stimulus, and gives them a decided advantage over naval men in bringing science to the acme of perfection. I am, &c.

(Signed)“.”

This application was attended with the same provoking result as the former. Mr. Barrow was commanded to acquaint Captain Tayler that his request could not be complied with. Thus terminated his correspondence with the Admiralty on the subject of naval gunnery. The model of his gun-carriage is now deposited in the United Service 