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VIII. Observations upon the History of Hand Fire-arms, and their Appurtenances; by Samuel Rush Meyrick, Esq. LL.D. and F.S.A. in a Letter to Henry Ellis, Esq. F.R.S. Secretary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2012

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Extract

It has been suggested to me, that by collecting the scattered notices to be found in military writers on the subject of Hand Fire-arms and their appurtenances, and adding thereto my own inferences from actual observation, I might form a Paper calculated to elucidate the matter, and perhaps afford some entertainment. I have done so, but whether it be of that high order that is befitting to be read to the Society of Antiquaries, I ought to leave to your critical acumen rather than your friendly partiality to determine.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1826

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References

page 63 note a Page 57. Arc-à-bouche would seem a more obvious derivation.

page 65 note b Liv. viii. ch. 7.

page 65 note c With sleeves and hand coverings of mail to their jackets.

page 65 note d Skull-cap.

page 65 note e French measure.

page 67 note f It is a small duodecimo in Latin, and is so scarce as to have escaped the notice of Fabr'etti. I have availed myself of the copy in the library of the Advocates at Doctors' Commons.

page 67 note g Page 704. Grose says, the arquebus à croc, from the size of its calibre, was used to fire through loop-holes, and generally carried a ball of about three ounces in weight. I know not his original authority, but should not think this sufficient to answer the description of Grimeston.

page 69 note h In the Office of Ordnance.

page 69 note i MS. in the Cottonian library, Brit. Mus. Titus F. xiii. fol. 220.

page 70 note k In the possession of the Society of Antiquaries.

page 70 note l Robertson's Charles Vth.

page 70 note m A modern writer, the Chevalier Coqueugniot, absurdly imagines that he discovers the nation where it originated in its name, “le mousquet, inventé par les Muscovites.”

page 71 note n The weight of the musket has been wrongly attributed to the arquebus in an article signed Le Chevalier Coqueugniot, Colonel en retraite, which appeared in the Spectateur Militaire, vol. ii. livraison viii. p. 125. “Ce fut vers la fin du regne de Louis XII. que les Français commencèrent à se servir de l'arquebuse, et comme cette arme tirait des balles du poids d'environ deux onces, elle étoit trop pesante pour remplacer la pique, et dut ne pas faire changer les Evolutions, d'autant plus qu'il fallait la bander avec un rouet.”

page 73 note o The original is in the Harleian Collection, Brit. Mus. marked 4685.

page 73 note p In his 15th Military Discourse.

page 75 note q French measure.

page 76 note r Memoirs, vol. i. p. 182. Roscoe's Translation.

page 77 note s State Papers by the Earl of Hardwick.

page 77 note t Birch's Memoirs.

page 77 note u Page 25. See also Chalmers's Churchyard, p. 92.

page 77 note v The barrel.

page 78 note g See Mr. Gage's History of Hengrave.

page 78 note y This, however, appears to allude to the wheel-lock.

page 78 note z Peck's Desiderata Curiosa.

page 81 note a Part i. p. 325.

page 81 note b Traité des Armes.

page 82 note c Rayé et cannelé.

page 82 note d Memoirs, by Roscoe, vol. i. p. 88.

page 83 note c Page 194.

page 83 note d Page 333.

page 83 note e Page 258.

page 83 note f So in Roscoe's translation. It were much to be wished that authors would keep the original terms.

page 84 note g Memoirs, vol. i. p. 296.

page 84 note h Vol. ii. p. 9.

page 85 note i Encyclopedi a Brit.

page 86 note l Act ii. scene 2.

page 86 note m Page 137.

page 88 note n Count Bismark.

page 92 note p Spanner, which shows that by fire-locks he means wheel-locks.

page 94 note q Page 19.

page 95 note r P. 164, sec. lxvi.

page 96 note s P. 136.

page 99 note s “Pallas Armata,” p. 176.

page 99 note t A large kind of gun picker.

page 102 note u Page 176.

page 102 note x PI. xl, fig. 5.

page 104 note y Velvet wrapped round to give a firmer hold.

page 104 note z The Artillery-Ground.

page 105 note a “English Military Discipline,” p. 13.