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THe way of a Bullet, shot out of a good Gun, is as the square Roots of the quantity of the Gun∣powder fired; I say, of Powder fired, because what goes out unburnt, goes ra∣ther as Shot than Powder; and the Length of Guns sig∣nifies only the constraining
of the Powder within the Lines of Direction, till it be all fired: The use of hard ramming and screw∣ing of Guns, being also the same; and the excellency of Powder being to fire quick, and before it goes out of the Gun. I say there∣fore, the Velocities caused by Gun-powder are as the Roots of the Powder fired, that is to say, 4 pound of Powder, all equally fired within the Piece, shall car∣ry a Bullet twice as far as
one pound shall do; and in Time, as 10 to 7; which last mentioned numbers are the Roots of the double distances afore-mentioned. Now, if the Capacity of the Concave of Guns ought to be, as the Weight of their Bullets or Powder; then, if the just length of any one Gun hath been well found by good Experimentation, then may also be known the length of every Gun for every Bullet respective∣ly. As, for example, sup∣pose
a Gun, that carries a Ball of 5 inches Diameter, be 10 foot long in the Con∣cave, then the Content of the said Concave will be 3000 Cylindrical inches. Now the question is, how long must the Piece be, which carries a Bullet of 7 inches Diameter? I say, that forasmuch as the Weight of the 5 inch Bul∣let, to that of 7, is as 125 to 343; the Concave of the greater Gun must be in the same proportion to
3000, viz. 8232 like inches, so as it may contein and fire a proportionable quan∣tity of powder: Which 8232 being divided by the Area of the Bullet, 49, the Quotient will be 168 inch∣es, or 14 foot; that is (to speak shortly and plainly) The Length of Guns must be measured by the Diameters of their respective Bullets. I cannot say, I have tried the effects of Gunpowder to be in the abovemention'd pro∣portion, but have credibly
heard it to be so; and be∣cause of the Similitude of Sails, Weights, Knocks, and the other points above de∣scribed, unto this of Gun∣powder, I believe it; and recommend it to your fur∣ther thoughts and experi∣ence.