~Early guns loaded at the breech.~ It is worthy of notice that, while numerous attempts are now making to perfect the breech-loader for sporting as well as military purposes, our early cannon and first hand guns were loaded at the breech, and if all mechanical difficulties could be overcome, the breech-loading principle for portable fire-arms would deserve the preference. We can easily understand why it did not continue in favour in early days, as this mode includes a great deal of perfection in mechanical workmanship, and to which the ancient gun maker was a stranger. ~Disadvantages of breech-loaders.~ The great argument against breech-loaders as military weapons is the expense, their intricate construction, the escape of gas, and the probable waste of ammunition, in the hands of an uneducated soldier. It may be briefly answered. ~1st. As to expense.~ 1st.--As to expense, the most destructive weapon, by preventing and curtailing war, must in the long run be the cheapest. ~2nd. As to intricacy.~ 2nd.--As to intricacy of construction, the soldier is the user, not the maker of his gun; it matters not how delicate the mechanism of a watch may be, the only question is, does it continue to go well!! And who dare say that the brains of man shall never suggest a simple mode of construction. Of course anything fragile would be totally unfit for military purposes. The escape of gas has been entirely overcome. ~3rd. As to waste of ammunition.~ 3rd.--As to waste of ammunition, is it absolutely necessary that a soldier should remain uneducated? Are not soldiers men? And men can be taught almost anything, or are they incapable of being taught? Does a soldier fire how, when and where he chooses? Is it too high an aspiration that the British army should carry the best arm that can be made, to be placed in the hands of a taught and skilful soldier, acting under the guidance and control of intelligent officers? ~Breech-loaders highly improved.~ ~Ammunition the difficulty.~ As far as the arm only is concerned, breech-loaders have now (1860) attained a high degree of perfection, as is proved by the deserved celebrity of that made by Mr. Westley Richards. The only remaining difficulty is one of ammunition. Loose powder cannot be employed in loading with a breech as it can with a muzzle-loader. We are up to this time under the necessity of introducing the whole of the cartridge, this of course augments fouling and lessens accuracy; there is also increased difficulty in producing ignition through the fold of the cartridge paper. ~Capt. Brown’s compressed powder.~ Recently a most ingenious mode of compressing the grains of powder contained in a charge into one mass, so that every description of rifle may be rapidly loaded without any paper, has been invented by Captain Brown, R. N., and I have every hope and confidence that the only remaining breech-loading difficulty may now be considered overcome. ~Advantages of breech-loaders.~