The class of wounds most peculiar to a sea engagement are scorches from the accidental explosion of gunpowder; and in most of the campaigns in which I have served they have been very frequent and fatal. Few accidents, however, of this kind happened in the late engagements; so that we had but little experience of this sort of wounds in April, 1782. But on former occasions they were very frequent, and the best application to the burnt parts was found to be linseed oil, which some of the surgeons mixed with lime water, others with cerusse, and both compositions answered well. Opium was found of great use in alleviating pain and procuring rest, care being taken to guard against costiveness by the use of clysters. In the battles of 1780 and 1781, one-fourth part of the whole killed and wounded was from this sort of accident; but on the 9th and 12th of April, 1782, only two accidental explosions of gunpowder happened in the whole fleet, by one of which one life was lost, by the other, two. This difference was owing partly to greater experience and habits of caution acquired in the course of the war, and partly to certain improved methods in working the artillery introduced by Sir Charles Douglas, which, like all his other valuable improvements, tend to give facility and expedition, as well as to save the lives of men. The circumstances which tend to prevent explosions are, 1st, The wetting of the wads, which prevents their inflaming and blowing back when they fight the weather side of the ship; a circumstance which, without this precaution, gives occasion to a number of accidents by the burning parts catching the loose powder, or setting fire to the cartridges. 2dly, The use of goose-quill tubes and small priming boxes, made of tin, instead of the large horns formerly in use, whereby great quantities of powder were scattered about and exposed to accidental fire. 3dly, The use of locks, which was practised with great success in several ships, and was found to make the operation both more safe and more expeditious.