above breast high the bullet passes over the head of the enemy, and if they aim low the bullet drops out, ere the musket is fired, and it is to this that I attribute the little execution I have seen musketeers do in time of fight, though they fired at great battalions, and those also reasonably near.” The preceding article on Portable Fire-Arms is principally compiled from “Military Antiquities,” by Francis Grose; “Ancient Armour and Weapons of War,” by John Hewitt; “Engraved Illustrations of Ancient Armour,” by Joseph Skelton, F.S.A.; “A Critical Enquiry into Ancient Armour,” by Sir R. S. Meyrick, Knt.; and “Deane’s Manual of Fire-arms.” HISTORY OF THE RIFLE. ~Invention of the rifle.~ We shall now direct our attention to the rifle,--its invention is ascribed to Gaspard Zollner, of Vienna, towards the end of the fifteenth century. ~1466.~ The first society for firing with the arquebuss was founded at Bâle, in Switzerland. ~Rifles at Leipsic, 1498.~ In the practice of firing at a mark, at Leipsic, 1498, the greater part of the Sharpshooters or Marksmen, were armed with the Rifles. ~Rifles used first for amusement.~ At first, Rifle arms were used only for amusement, and sometimes for the defence of places, but very rarely as weapons of war in the field. ~Rifles used in war.~ Their employment in a campaign only dates from a little before the middle of the seventeenth century. ~Landgrave of Hesse, 1631.~ In 1631, the Landgrave William of Hesse had three companies of Chasseurs, armed with rifles. ~Elector Maximilian, 1645.~ In 1645, the Elector Maximilian of Bavaria formed three regiments of Chasseurs, armed with rifles which he intended to employ principally in the minor operations of war. ~Frederick William of Prussia, 1674.~ In 1647, Frederick William of Prussia, in his campaign on the Rhine, distributed in each company of infantry, some light infantry and Riflemen. ~Frederick the Great in Seven Years’ War.~ ~By Austrians ditto.~ Frederick the Great, in order to counterbalance the Austrian Light Troops, more particularly the Tyrolese Marksmen, whose fire was exceedingly deadly, felt obliged during the seven years’ war to add a company of trained light infantry to the effective strength of each battalion. ~Rifles in France, 1674.~ In France the Cavalry were supplied with rifles before the Infantry. Towards 1674 Louis XIV. created some squadrons of Cavalry armed with “Carabines rayées.” The name was given in France to all arms which were grooved, and it also served for the name of the corps which were first armed with them, viz., “Carabins.” ~Rifles in English Life Guards.~ In 1680 eight rifle carbines were carried in each troop of English Life Guards. ~Rifles in Sweden, 1691.~ In 1691 the Non-Commissioned Officers of the Swedish Dragoons received the rifled carabin, and in 1700 those of the Prussian Cavalry received the same rifled arms. ~Experiments in England, 1776.~