terminating in long, stout rods to enable them to pass through the
barrel. The barrels are fixed very firmly in the boring-banks, the shank
of the auger inserted into the centre of a wheel placed at one end of
the bank, and a slow rotary motion given to the auger, together with a
still slower progressive motion at the same time. By this means the
auger gradually enters the hollow of the barrel, and enlarges the cavity
as it advances. After it has passed through, another auger, a trifle
larger, is substituted in its place, and thus the calibre of the barrel
is gradually enlarged to nearly the required size. Formerly, six borings
were given to each barrel, but at the present time only four are
permitted, aside from the rifling, which is a distinct operation,
performed at the works on the till, and will be described hereafter.

After the boring of the barrel, it is placed in a lathe, and the outside
turned down to the proper size. The piece is supported in the lathe by
means of mandrels inserted into the two ends, and there it slowly
revolves, bringing all parts of its surface successively under the
action of a tool fixed firmly in the right position for cutting the work
to its proper form. The barrel has a slow progressive as well as rotary
motion during this process, and the tool advances or recedes very
regularly and gradually, forming the proper taper from the breech to the
muzzle, but the main work is performed by the rotation of the barrel. In
the boring, it is the tool which revolves, the piece remaining at rest;
but in the turning, the barrel must take its part in action, being
required to revolve against the tool, while the tool itself remains
fixed in its position in the rest.

A curious and interesting part of the operation of manufacturing muskets
is the straightening of the barrel. This straightening takes place
continually in every stage of the work, from the time the barrel first