HITHERTO we have only treated on mortars uƒed for throwing bombs; there are however others for the diƒcharging ƒtones.
        This mortar is repreƒented by Figure 1. Plate IX.
        a Are the trunnions.
        b The muzzle, with the touch-hole upon the breech.
        c The renfort with its mouldings.
        d The belly.
        e The platband of the renfort of the chace, with its mouldings.
        f The rings, or renforts on the chace.
        g The rim.
        h The mouth.
        i The handle.
        The bore of this piece is marked by the pricked lines from the rim to the bottom of the belly.
        The chamber, by the pricked line from the belly to the touchhole.
        The range of this piece, when charged with two pound and an half of powder, is not leƒs than 150 fathoms.
        Its mouth is about 15 inches diameter, the depth of the bore one foot 7 inches, and that of its chamber about 8 or 9 inches; this is ƒhaped like the fruftum of a cone, four inches diameter at the top, and 2 and an half at the bottom; the length of its trunnions is 20 inches, and their diameter 5 inches and an half; its touch-hole comes preciƒely to the bottom of the chamber, and is bored in a piece of copper, as thoƒe of cannon and mortars; this piece weighs about 1000 pounds.
 

SEC T. II. Of the Carriage of the Pedrero.

THE Pedrero is placed on a carriage like that of a mortar, but as the ƒhock is not ƒo great, the carriage need not be ƒo ƒtrong, The carriage of the Pedrero conƒiƒts only of one ƒtrong piece of wood, about 5 foot long, 18 or 20 inches wide, and about 12 or 14 thick. In the middle of this piece of wood is a groove, or intail, for the reception of the trunnions of the Pedrero; on the ƒides of the groove are two circular cramps or hold-faƒts of iron, which bend over the trunnions, to keep the piece firm in its carriage; on each ƒide of the carriage, two caƒtors, or ƒmall wheels, are let into the wood, by which the carriage is moved backward and forward.
 

SECT. III. Of the manner of charging the Pedrero.

THE Pedrero is charged in the ƒame manner as the mortar; firƒt a quantity of powder is put in, which ought to be fuƒƒicient to fill the chamber; this powder is covered with hay and earth, beat down with the rammer, upon which is placed a proper quantity of ƒtones or pebbles. Some officers cauƒe theƒ ƒtones to be incloƒed in a basket made for that purpoƒe, but this practice is not general.
        There have been ƒome Pedreros made in ƒuch a manner as to be charged at the breech, but theƒe are entirely diƒuƒed at preƒent.
        The effect of the Pedrero is very confiderable, and the ƒhowers of ƒtones thrown from it like hail do great execution, and create much diƒorder.
        To give theƒe pieces their utmoƒt effect, they ƒhould not be above 150 paces from the place where their contents are intended to fall. Small bombs are ƒometimes mixt among theƒe pebbles, which ƒtill increaƒe the effect.