16 smoothbore, with a large charge of four drachms of powder and a lead ball, also bulged and split the iron into a star.

This gun, with a hard tin ball and the same charge of powder, did not produce any other effect than an almost imperceptible indentation.
if a person wishes to harden a bill for any purpose, it should be done by an admixture of quicksilver to the lead while the latter is in a state of fusion, a few seconds before the ball is cast.

The mixture must be then quickly stirred with an iron rod, and formed into the moulds without loss of time, as at this high temperature the quicksilver will evaporate.

Quicksilver is heavier than lead, and makes a ball excessively hard; so much so that it would very soon spoil a rifle.

Altogether, the hardening of a ball has been shown to be perfectly unnecessary, and the latter receipt would be found very expensive.
If a wonderful effect is required, the steel-tipped conical ball should be used.