William Greener's book 'Gunnery in 1858: Being a Treatise on Rifles, Cannon, and Sporting Arms' offers a historical account of guns, rifles, cannon, and sporting arms from ancient times to the mid-19th century. Greener also stresses the importance of scientific principles in the development of weaponry, and warns of the urgent need for progress in the science of gunnery. He highlights the unfortunate reluctance of previous British governments to investigate and experiment with warlike inventions, and the danger of being unprepared in a time of war. Meanwhile, other countries, such as France, are forging ahead with advancements in weaponry. This work provides an informative and engaging account of the history of guns and their development over the centuries.