§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether the 12-ton gun of Sir William Armstrong's construction has burst during the recent experiments at Shoeburyness; also, how many Guns of the same description and weight have been ordered, and if any of a still larger size are to be constructed on Sir William Armstrong's principle?
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, he had to state, in answer to the question of the hon. Gentleman, that on the occasion of the recent experiment at Shoeburyness the breech of the 12-ton gun was blown off, the cause of it being the unusual severity of the proof to which it was subjected, the charge of powder extending to 60, 70, 80, and 90 lbs. of powder. Not less than 162 rounds had been fired; and as the gun was merely an experimental one, it must be considered that it was exposed to a stronger trial than such guns were usually subjected to. The number of the guns of this size ordered was fourteen, and there were also a 600-pounder rifled gun and a 300-pounder smooth-bore in course of construction.