in its most limited sense, signifies fire-arms, mounted on their carriages and ready for action, with their balls, their bombs, their grenades, &c.

If we take the term in a more extensive meaning, it includes the powder, the matches, instruments for fireworks, the utensils of ordnance, the machines which facilitate their motion and transport them, the vehicles over which they traverse rivers, every thing necessary to them, and all that enters into the form of a train of artillery.

The same word, still farther extended in its meaning, likewise comprehends the men destined for the service of the artillery; the people who provide the artillery with materials and implements when engaged, the cannoniers, the bombardiers, the officers of every rank, and engineers of every kind.

By artillery is likewise understood the science which the officers of artillery ought to possess. This science teaches to know the nature of all the materials and ingredients which enter into the composition and the structure of every thing relative to the artillery: such as, nitre, sulphur, charcoal; the properties of air and fire; the composition and preparation of gun-powder; the materials for fireworks; the construction, proportions, &c. of the different warlike machines; the arrangement, movement, and whole management, of cannon, &c. in the field or in sieges, in such a manner, that each of them, according to the length of its tube and the diameter of its bore, may be situated in the best place and at the properest distance for execution, and that the whole train taken together may reciprocally assist and support each other with the greatest advantage.

Artillery, taken in its most limited acceptation, has undergone many changes from its origin to the present time. The artillery of the ancients were the catapults, the ballista, the different kinds of flings, &c. The chevalier Folard was extremely attached to these ancient machines, and seemed even to prefer them to our fire-arms: an opinion which must appear not a little extraordinary, from such a person. Father Daniel might well be mistaken in the comparison which he made between the effects of ancient and modern artillery, and in his conclusion that the latter was of little use: the situation of this good father removed him from the scenes of war, and the opportunities of military experience. But it is astonishing, that one so learned in the military art as the commentator of Polybius, who had ocular demonstration of the success of modern artillery, should have declared so violently against it. Whatever be the case with these authors and their maxims, it may be asserted, that cannon is one of the most singular discoveries which have been made amongst men; and by little and little it has changed the whole art of war, and of consequence influenced the whole system of policy, in Europe. The era of artillery is dated from the battle of Creasy in 1346, because it is only from that day that cannons were mentioned in battle. Edward III. of England successfully employed some pieces of artillery placed in the front of his army. The invention of artillery was then known in France as well as in England; but probably Philip Artillery, Artificer.

IIP VI. marched with so much hurry and precipitation to attack his enemy, that he left his cannon as useless incumbrances behind him. The ignorance of that age in mechanical arts considerably retarded the progress of artillery; and that of which they were then possessed was so unwieldy and imperfect, that they could not possibly discern its importance and efficacy in practice. Even to the present period, they never have ceased, nor ever will cease, to labour for the improvement of these ignominious machines that mock the thunder, which, though they seem to be invented for the destruction of the human race, and the subversion of empires, have yet by their effects rendered war less savage and less sanguine; political alliances have been more successfully conciliated among all nations, conquests are become less frequent and less rapid, and successes in war have been more easily reduced to calculation.

Figueria, in his embassy in 1518, relates, that the Persians would neither make use of infantry, nor of artillery, because by them the impetuosity of attack and the facility of retreat were equally incumbered and retarded; in these expedients alone their address and their glory consisted. This method of advancing and recalling is widely different from the present conduct of war, as the artillery in armies is now prodigiously multiplied, and must be transported to every place where any body of troops whatever is destined to operate.

The length and diameter of cannon has been much diminished, which must likewise proportionably diminish their weight. It is by long practice and experience that they have discovered how much might be deduced from their magnitude in both these respects with propriety, without hurting the grand effects which, on some occasions, it is necessary they should produce, by rendering them more easy to be wielded, which was the advantage pursued by lessening their size.

Artillery-Park, the place in the rear of both lines in the army, for encamping the artillery, which is drawn up in lines, of which one is formed by the guns; the ammunition-waggons make two or three lines, 60 paces behind the guns, and 30 distant from one another; the pontoons and tumbrils make the last line. The whole is surrounded with a rope which forms the park; the gunners and matroos encamp on the flanks; and the bombardiers, pontoon-men, and artificers, in the rear.

Artillery-Train, a certain number of pieces of ordnance mounted on carriages, with all their furniture fit for marching.

Artillery-Company, a band of infantry, consisting of 600 men, making part of the militia or city-guard of London.