,,transcriber',s ,,note    ,italic text 
is denoted by underscores4    ,footnote 
anchors are denoted by number1 and the  
footnotes have been   placed at the end 
of the book4    ,basic fractions are    
displayed as    etc2 other fractions are
 shown   in the form a_/b1 for example  
#c_/aj or #a-a_/g4    ,some minor       
changes to the text are noted at the end
 of the book4     ,illustration3 ,,plate
 #a4 7,figs4 #a to #af7       ,a        
,,manual   ,,of   ,,pyrotechny2    ,,or1
    ,a ,,familiar ,,system   ,,of       
,recreative ,fire-,works4    ,,by ,g4   
,w4 ,,mortimer4    ,admotam rapiunt     
vivacia sulfura flammam4                
,,ovid4    ,,london3   ,,printed ,,for  
,w4 ,,simpkin  ,r4 ,,marshall1          
,,stationers' ,,hall ,,court1 ,,ludgate 
,,street4    ,,mdcccxxiv4     ,w4       
,,tyler1 ,,printer1 #e1 ,,bridgewater   
,,square4     ,,preface4   ,the         
,introduction prefixed to the following 
little ,manual supersedes the necessity 
of an extended ,preface1 and leaves     

little more to be mentioned than the    
design and occasion of the work4  ,the  
design of it is to be a useful assistant
 to those who are fond of a rational and
 scientific amusement1 and the occasion 
of it arises from the great scarcity and
 general difficulty of procuring any    
work on the subject2 none having        
appeared worthy of notice since that    
published by ,lieutenant ,robert ,jones1
 in #agfj1 and those by the ,french     
,artists mentioned in our ,introduction4
  ,in didactic particulars the ,author  
has occasionally availed himself of the 
language of the best writers1 where such
 has been corroborated by subsequent    
experience4  ,perspicuity has been a    
particular object through the work1 and 
when technical terms have been used they
 are generally followed by familiar     
explications1 and the ,author feels     
assured that the whole will be found    
perfectly intelligible to every reader4 
,to experienced ,pyrotechnists this     
little work cannot be expected to afford

 much additional information1 yet to    
them it may contain some little         
particulars not known to them before1   
which from their practical utility it is
 hoped will prove acceptable4  ,the     
,author publishes this little work1 with
 the desire that it may prove a useful  
assistant to those who are unacquainted 
with the principles of the art on which 
it treats4 ,if in any way it should     
contribute to this purpose1 an apology  
for obtruding it upon the ,public will  
certainly be unnecessary4    ,january   
#ast1 #ahbd4     ,,contents4            
,page    ,introduction                  
#a     ,,section ,i4    ,history and    
description of ,gunpowder               
#aj     ,,section ,,ii4    ,materials   
#bi    ,nitre                           
ibid4    ,sulphur                       
#cb    ,to purify ,sulphur              
#cd    ,charcoal                        
ibid4    ,steel-dust                    
#ce    ,to prepare ,iron-sand           
#cg    ,second method                   

ibid4    ,oil of ,camphor               
#dj    ,benzoin                         
ibid4     ,,section ,,iii4    ,apparatus
                                        
#db    ,grinding ,machines              
#dc    ,another method of ,grinding     
#dd    ,method of ,mixing the           
,ingredients                            
#de     ,,section ,,iv4    ,description 
and ,variety of ,fire-works             
#dg    ,touch-paper                     
#dh    ,to make ,touch-paper            
ibid4    ,quick-match                   
#di    ,to make ,quick-matches2 and     
composition for ditto                   
#ej    ,port-,fires                     
#ea    ,compositions for ditto          
#eb    ,port-fires for ,illuminations   
#ec    ,leaders1 or ,pipes of           
,communication                          
ibid4    ,application of ditto          
#ed     ,,section ,v4    ,of single     
,fire-works                             
#eg    ,serpents                        
ibid4    ,crackers                      

#ei    ,pin wheels                      
#fa    ,stars                           
#fc    ,strung ,stars                   
#fd    ,tailed ,stars                   
#fe    ,driven ,stars                   
ibid4    ,rolled ,stars                 
#f    ,sparks                           
#fh    ,another method of making ditto  
#fi    ,marroons                        
ibid4    ,construction                  
#gj    ,saucissons                      
ibid4    ,batteries of ,marroons1 c4    
#ga    ,gerbes                          
#gb    ,small ,gerbes                   
#ge    ,roman ,candles                  
#gf    ,chinese ,fire                   
#gi    ,composition for ditto1 ,red and 
,white                           ibid4  
,,section ,,vi4    ,rockets             
#ha    ,sky ,rockets                    
#hc    ,dimensions of ,rockets          
#hh    ,calibre and ,weight of ,rockets 
#hi    ,calibre of ,moulds              
#ij    ,remarks on the foregoing ,tables
                                   #ia  

,preparing the ,cartridges              
#ic    ,filling and ,ramming the ,cases 
#if    ,directions for ditto            
#ig    ,preparing and fixing the pots to
 the ,heads of ,rockets            #aja 
,table for the ,length and ,proportion  
of ,rods                      #aje      
,tables of ,composition for ,rockets    
#ajf    ,to cause a ,rocket to ascend in
 a ,spiral form                     #aji
    ,towering ,rockets                  
#aaj    ,honorary ,rockets              
#aaa    ,caduceus ,rockets              
#aab    ,signal ,rockets                
#aac    ,table ,rockets                 
#aae    ,scrolls for ,rockets           
#aaf    ,courantines1 or ,line ,rockets 
#aag    ,revolving ,courantines         
#aba    ,to represent by ,rockets       
various forms in the air                
#abb    ,to cause a ,rocket to form an  
arc in rising                       #abh
    ,to fire ,rockets without ,rods     
#abd    ,theory of the flight of        
,rockets                                

#abe     ,,section ,,vii4    ,tables of 
various compositions                    
#acj     ,,section ,,viii4    ,compound 
,fire-,works                            
#aci    ,girandole chests of ,serpents  
ibid4    ,girandole chests of ,rockets  
#ada    ,pots des ,brins                
#adb    ,jets of ,fire                  
#adc    ,chinese ,fountain              
#ade    ,pyramid of ,flower ,pots       
#adf    ,wheels                         
#adi    ,ditto single ,horizontal       
#aej    ,ditto ,plural                  
#aeb    ,wheels ,spiral                 
#aeb    ,ditto ,ditto ,illuminated      
#aec    ,ditto ,balloon                 
#aed    ,ditto ,ground                  
#aee    ,ditto ,horizontal changed to a 
,vertical                           #aef
    ,ditto ,vertical ,scroll            
#aeh    ,ditto remarks on               
ibid4    ,fir tree1 to represent        
#aei    ,yew tree of ,brilliant ,fire   
#afj    ,fixed ,fire ,globes            
#afa    ,globes which leap or roll on   

the ground                        ibid4 
,moon and seven ,stars                  
#afd    ,suns1 fixed and moveable       
#afe    ,composition for representing   
,animals and other devices in fire      
#afh    ,aquatic fire-works             
ibid4    ,fire fountain for the water   
#agj    ,conclusion                     
#agb   ,illustration3 7,figs4 #ag to    
#bi7     ,introduction4   ,the term     
,pyrotechny is derived from pyr and     
techny1 the two ,greek words for ,,fire 
and ,,art2 or it is the art of employing
 fire for purposes of utility or        
pleasure4 ,the term has been applied by 
some writers to the use and structure of
 fire-arms1 and ,artillery employed in  
the art of warfare2 but in the present  
publication1 we shall take a different  
view of the subject2 for we can see no  
amusement in the motion of a bullet1    
which decimates so many of our          
fellow-creatures1 nor in the action of a
 bomb-shell1 that carries with it more  
dreadful devastations4  ,we shall       

confine ourselves in this ,work to a    
more pleasing application of fire1 and  
endeavour to give plain and efficient   
rules for the safe management of that   
element1 and for the making1 by means of
 gunpowder1 and other inflammable       
substances1 various compositions1       
agreeable to the eye1 both by their form
 and splendor1 and to describe every    
principal article and instrument made   
use of in these pleasing operations4    
,on the other hand1 our ,work does not  
pretend to dictate an original set of   
rules and receipts1 for those who term  
themselves ,artists in ,fire-works1     
whose exclusive business it is to       
manufacture the different articles on   
which it treats2 to those1 it is        
expected it will yield but little       
instruction2 but1 to the sciolistic     
,tyro in the ,art1 it is intended 7as   
its title expresses7 to be a ,manual of 
,pyrotechny1 and to treat of fire-works 
as objects of rational amusement2 to    
describe in a perspicuous manner the    

materials and apparatus made use of in  
their construction2 and to select such  
examples of their particular            
combinations1 as are calculated rather  
for private diversion than public       
exhibition4 ,the directions herein given
 7if strictly attended to7 will enable  
youth to gratify their taste for this   
species of recreation at a comparatively
 small expense1 and at the same time    
will guard them against those accidents 
which often arise to the ignorant1 in   
firing the larger works purchased from  
the makers2 and throughout the whole it 
will strictly observe a principle of    
economy1 the neglect of which has so    
frequently retarded the operations of   
genius4  ,in regard to the origin of    
,pyrotechny1 our knowledge is very      
limited4 ,the ,chinese are said to have 
been the first people who had any       
practical knowledge of it1 or brought   
the art to any degree of perfection2    
with them the use of fire-works is said 
to have been very general1 long before  

they were known in ,european countries2 
and from accounts given of some recent  
exhibitions at ,pekin1 it should seem   
that they have attained to a degree of  
perfection not surpassed by any of our  
modern artists3 ,mr4 ,barrow1 in his    
8,travels in ,china0 gives1 from the    
,journal of ,lord ,macartney1 the       
following description of one of their   
exhibitions3 8,the fire-works1 in some  
particulars10 says he1 8exceeded any    
thing of the kind ,i had ever seen4 ,in 
grandeur1 magnificence1 and variety1    
they were1 ,i own1 inferior to the      
,chinese fire-works we had seen at      
,batavia1 but infinitely superior in    
point of novelty1 neatness1 and         
ingenuity of contrivance4 ,one piece of 
machinery ,i greatly admired3 a green   
chest1 five feet square1 was hoisted up 
by a pulley fifty or sixty feet from the
 ground1 the bottom of which was so     
contrived as then suddenly to fall out1 
and make way for twenty or thirty       
strings of lanterns1 inclosed in a box1 

to descend from it1 unfolding themselves
 from one another by degrees1 so as at  
last1 to form a collection of full five 
hundred1 each having a light of a       
beautifully coloured flame burning      
brightly within it4 ,this devolution and
 development of lanterns were several   
times repeated1 and at every time       
exhibiting a difference of colour and   
figure4 ,on each side was a             
correspondence of smaller boxes1 which  
opened in like manner as the other1 and 
let down an immense net-work of fire1   
with divisions and compartments of      
various forms and dimensions1 round and 
square1 hexagons1 octagons1 c4 which    
shone like the brightest burnished      
copper1 and flashed like prismatic      
lightnings1 with every impulse of the   
wind4 ,the whole concluded with a       
volcano1 or general explosion and       
discharge of suns and stars1 squibs1    
crackers1 rockets1 and grenads1 which   
involved the gardens for an hour in a   
cloud of intolerable smoke40 ,the       

diversity of colour1 with which the     
,chinese have the secret of clothing    
their fire1 seems one of the chief      
merits of their 8,pyrotechny20 and which
 alone would set them upon an equal     
footing with the ,europeans4 ,it is to  
them1 no doubt1 that we are indebted for
 the discovery of that beautiful        
composition1 which is still known by the
 name of the 8,chinese fire30 and to    
them we are likewise indebted1 for the  
method of representing with fire1 that  
pleasing and perpetual variety of       
figures1 which 7when judiciously        
arranged7 seem to emulate in splendour  
those endless beauties1 which adorn our 
celestial hemisphere4 ,in ,europe1 the  
,florentines are said to have been the  
first people that gained a knowledge of 
the invention1 and1 we have reason to   
think it was not long after the         
discovery of the use of gunpowder and   
fire-arms1 about the end of the         
thirteenth1 or beginning of the         
fourteenth century2 we say the use of   

gunpowder1 or application of it to      
fire-arms1 for we believe the discovery 
of it to be of much earlier date1 than  
what is generally given to it3 and1     
whether the invention of the art of     
fire-works is not coeval with that of   
gunpowder1 is a question not            
over-burthened with improbability4 ,the 
,french have published several treatises
 on ,pyrotechny1 such as the 8,trait des
 ,feux d',artifice pour le spectacle et 
pour la ,guerre10 by ,perrinet d',orval4
 ,the ,manuel d',artificier1 by ,father 
d',incarville1 and several others of the
 like nature3 in some of which1 they    
attach to the ,chinese a very early     
knowledge of the art1 and consequently  
the composition of gunpowder1 or at     
least the effects of a similar          
combination1 was not entirely unknown to
 them4 ,but as the ,french gained their 
knowledge of the art from the ,italians1
 they may probably be in an error       
respecting its invention3 whether they  
are or not1 it will have but a negative 

effect on the present ,work4 ,tracing   
its progress to ,england1 we shall      
endeavour to give as good a delineation 
of the state in which it now exists1 as 
the nature of our ,work will admit2     
supposing it to be much nearer          
perfection than when in its earlier     
stages1 for we believe the ,english     
import nothing but what they improve4   
,an art which furnishes such an         
extensive field for amusement1 reduced  
to plain and simple rules1 digested in a
 familiar manner1 7which the most       
limited capacities will be able to      
understand17 cannot fail to be          
entertaining to every admirer of        
scientific amusement4  ,it has been     
regretted by many that no publication of
 a like nature is now extant2 and a     
celebrated writer1 long known to the    
popular reader1 has even said1 that 8the
 ,english have no respectable work on   
the subject40  ,how far the present will
 supply such a desideratum must be left 
for the candid reader to determine4 ,the

 ,author would wish it to be understood1
 that although he has conducted some    
part of his ,work upon mathematical     
principles1 it is not intended as a     
perfect philosophical work on the       
subject1 but as an attempt to embody    
into one small volume1 all that has     
hitherto been written on the subject2   
and if from which1 the ,pyrotechnic     
,tyro receive any assistance for the    
attainment of an ,art1 which has for its
 object such an endless source of       
entertainment1 the ,author's purpose    
will be positively realized4  ,though   
very much protracted1 we cannot close   
our ,introduction without observing1    
that few spectacles are more beautiful  
or more calculated for entertainment1   
than a well-conducted display of        
fire-works1 in which are exhibited such 
various bodies1 so brilliantly          
illuminated1 and arranged in the most   
variegated forms3 sometimes producing   
surprising and unexpected manations1    
moving with velocity through the air1   

throwing out innumerable sparks or      
blazing balls1 which fly off into the   
infinity of space3 others suddenly      
exploding1 scatter abroad luminous      
fragments of fire1 which are trajected  
with the most speedy trepidation3 and   
again1 others are revolving on a        
quiescent centre1 and by their          
revolutions produce the most beautiful  
circles of fire1 which seem to vie with 
each other in their emanations of       
splendour and light4  ,such is a faint  
delineation of the various effects which
 are producible by fire1 and for which  
we shall endeavour to give every        
requisite instruction2 and for preparing
 the most pleasing garbs1 in which this 
element may be presented4     ,,manual1 
c4     ,,section ,i4  ,,of ,,gunpowder4 
,before we enter into the practical part
 of ,pyrotechny1 we deem it consistent  
with the nature of our ,work to give an 
ample description of the materials made 
use of2 for we do not take it for       
granted that all our readers are        

chemists1 or that they are sufficiently 
versed in that science to render such   
description unnecessary4 ,but before the
 principles of the art can be well      
understood1 or successfully applied1 it 
is proper that the artist should possess
 a portion of chemical and mechanical   
knowledge2 the first will teach him to  
select his materials with judgment1 to  
free them from impurities1 and combine  
them in the proportions most suitable   
for each particular purpose2 and the    
latter will assist him in constructing  
his different pieces so as to produce   
the desired effect with the least loss  
of time and force4 ,the mechanical      
apparatus we shall defer describing till
 they come immediately under hand1 and  
such protraction we think will be       
conducive to a better understanding of  
their utility3 and1 in some other       
,section1 we shall teach him to         
calculate the direction which the flying
 fire-works 7from their principles of   
construction7 are to move1 and the      

velocity with which they are to proceed4
  ,gunpowder is the principal ingredient
 made use of in ,pyrotechny2 and1 being 
of itself a compound1 we shall make it  
the first object of description1 and    
endeavour to point out the cause of     
every property it possesses4  ,the      
invention of it is ascribed1 by         
,polydore ,virgil1 to a chemist1 who    
accidentally put some of the            
composition1 viz4 nitre1 sulphur1 and   
charcoal into a mortar1 and covered it  
with a stone1 when it happened to take  
fire1 and1 what was a natural 7though   
unexpected7 consequence of such         
combination1 it shattered the stone to  
pieces4  ,thevet says1 the person here  
spoken of was a monk of ,fribourg1 named
 ,constantine ,anelzen2 but ,belleforet1
 and other authors1 with more           
probability1 suppose him to be          
,bartholdus ,schwartz1 or the ,black1   
who discovered it1 as some say1 about   
the year #acbj2 and the first use of it 
is ascribed to the ,venetians in the    

year #achj1 during the war with the     
,genoese2 and it is said to have first  
been employed in a place anciently      
called ,fossa ,clodia1 now ,chioggia1   
against ,lawrence de ,medicis2 and that 
all ,italy made complaints against it1  
as a manifest contravention of fair     
warfare4  ,but this account is          
contradicted1 and ,gunpowder shewn to be
 of an earlier era1 for the ,moors1 when
 they were besieged in #acdc by         
,alphonsus ,,xi4 ,king of ,castile1 are 
said to have discharged a sort of iron  
mortars upon them1 which made a noise   
like thunder2 and this assertion is     
seconded by what ,don ,pedro1 bishop of 
,leon1 relates of ,king ,alphonsus1 who 
reduced ,toledo1 viz4 8that in a        
sea-combat between the ,king of ,tunis1 
and the ,moorish ,king of ,seville1     
about four hundred and fifty years ago1 
those of ,tunis had certain iron tubes  
or barrels1 wherewith they threw        
thunder-bolts of fire40  ,farther1 it   
appears that our ,roger ,bacon knew of  

,gunpowder near a hundred years before  
,schwartz was born4 ,that excellent     
friar tells us1 in his treatise1 8,de   
,secretis ,operibus ,artis  ,natur1  de 
,nullitate ,magi10 that from salt-petre1
 and other ingredients1 we are able to  
make a fire that shall burn at what     
distance we please2 and the writer of   
the life of ,friar ,bacon says1 that    
,bacon himself has divulged the secret  
of this composition in a cypher1 by     
transposing the letters of the two words
 in chap4 xi4 of the above-cited        
treatise1 where it is thus expressed2   
8sed tamen salis petr lura mope can     
ubre1 7i4 e4 carbonum pulvere7 et       
sulphuris2 et sic facies tonitrum       
corruscationem1 si scias artificium30   
and from hence ,bacon's biographer      
apprehends the words carbonum pulvere   
were transferred to the sixth chapter of
 ,dr4 ,longbain's ,,ms4 ,in this same   
chapter ,bacon expressly says1 that     
sounds like thunder1 and coruscations1  
may be formed in the air1 much more     

horrible than those that happen         
naturally4 ,he adds1 that there are many
 ways of doing this1 by which a city or 
an army might be destroyed2 and he      
supposes that1 by an artifice of this   
kind1 ,gideon defeated the ,midianites  
with only three hundred men1 7,judges1  
chap4 #gth47 ,there is only another     
passage to the same purpose1 in his     
treatise 8,de ,scientia                 
,experimentalia30 see ,dr4 ,jebb's      
edition of the ,opus ,magus1 p4 #dgd4   
,mr4 ,robins apprehends 7see the preface
 to his ,tracts17 that ,bacon describes 
,gunpowder1 not as a new composition    
first proposed by himself1 but as the   
application of an old one to military   
purposes1 and that it was known long    
before this time4  ,dr4 ,jebb1 in his   
preface to the above-cited work1        
describes two kinds of fire-works2 one  
for flying1 inclosed in a case or       
cartouche1 made long and slender1 and   
filled with the composition closely     
rammed1 like our modern rocket1 and the 

other thick and short1 strongly tied at 
both ends1 and half filled1 resembling  
our cracker2 and the composition which  
he prescribes for both1 is two pounds of
 charcoal1 one pound of sulphur1 and six
 pounds of salt-petre1 well powdered and
 mixed together in a stone mortar4  ,mr4
 ,dutens in his 8,inquiry into the      
,origin of the discoveries attributed to
 the moderns10 carries the antiquity of 
,gunpowder much higher2 and refers to   
the accounts given by ,virgil1 ,hyginus1
 ,eustathius1 ,valerius ,flaccus1 and   
many other writers of the same date4    
,to close this tedious detail1 we will  
mention one more work1 which seems to   
confirm the antiquity of this           
composition1 viz4 the 8,code of ,gentoo 
,laws10 #aggf2 in the preface of which  
it is asserted1 that ,gunpowder was     
known to the inhabitants of ,hindostan1 
far beyond all periods of investigation4
  ,having said thus much concerning the 
history and antiquity of this wonderful 
composition1 it remains for us to       

describe the method by which it is now  
manufactured3 but to retain that        
gradatum1 or progressive order1 with    
which we commenced our ,work1 it is     
necessary that we first describe the    
ingredients of which it is composed2 for
 it is only by a knowledge of the parts 
of any composition1 that we can gain a  
good understanding of the properties of 
the whole4  ,there are only three       
ingredients that enter into the         
composition of ,gunpowder2 these are    
,salt-petre1 ,sulphur1 and ,charcoal4   
,the first is a combination of ,nitric  
,acid#a and ,potash1#b and is better    
known in modern chemistry by the name of
 ,nitrate of ,potash4 ,the second is a  
substance very well known1 from the     
inflammable properties it possesses2 it 
is found alone1 or combined with other  
bodies1 in various situations2 in       
volcanic productions it is found almost 
in its last degree of purity3 it is     
found also1 in the state of sulphuric   
acid2 that is to say1 combined with     

oxygen3 it is found in this state in    
argil1#c gypsum1#d c4 and it may be     
likewise extracted from vegetable       
substances and animal matter4 ,the third
 and last1 is an article so well known  
in commerce1 that it is almost needless 
to describe it2 we shall therefore only 
observe1 that the ,charcoal found to be 
best for the composition of ,gunpowder1 
is that made from the alder1 willow1 or 
black dog-wood4  ,this powerful         
composition is a mixture of these three 
ingredients1 combined in the following  
proportions3 for each #ajj parts of     
,gunpowder1 salt-petre #ge parts1       
sulphur #aj1 and charcoal #ae4 ,in some 
countries1 the proportions are somewhat 
different2 but this is the combination  
made use of by most of the ,english     
manufacturers4  ,the salt-petre is      
either that imported from the ,east     
,indies1 or that which has been         
extracted from damaged ,gunpowder4 ,it  
is refined by solution1 filtration1     
evaporation1 and crystallization2 after 

which it is fused1 taking care that too 
much heat is not employed1 or there is  
danger of decomposing the nitre4  ,the  
sulphur used is that which is imported  
from ,sicily1 and is refined by melting 
and skimming2 the most impure is refined
 by sublimation4  ,the charcoal is made 
in the following manner4 ,the wood is   
first cut into pieces of about nine     
inches in length1 and put into an iron  
cylinder placed horizontally4 ,the front
 aperture of the cylinder is then       
closely stopped3 at the other end there 
are pipes connected with casks4 ,fire   
being made under the cylinder1 the      
pyro-ligneous acid#e comes over4 ,the   
gas escapes1 and the acid liquor is     
collected in the casks3 the fire is kept
 up till no more gas or liquid comes    
over1 and the carbon#f remains in the   
cylinder4  ,the three ingredients being 
properly prepared1 are ready for        
manufacturing4 ,they are first          
separately ground into a fine powder1   
then mixed in the proper proportions1   

and afterwards committed to the mill for
 the purpose of incorporating their     
component parts4 ,the powder-mill is a  
slight wooden building1 with a boarded  
roof1 so that in case of accidental     
explosions1 the roof may fly off without
 difficulty1 and in the least injurious 
direction1 and thus be the means of     
preserving the other parts of the       
building4  ,the operative parts of the  
mill consist of two stones placed       
vertically1 and running on another      
placed horizontally1 which is called the
 bed-stone1 or trough4 ,on this         
bed-stone1 about forty or fifty pounds  
of the composition are spread out1 and  
moistened with water till reduced to    
about the consistency of a very stiff   
paste3 after the stone-runners have made
 the proper revolutions over it1 which  
requires about eight hours continued    
action of the mill1 which is worked     
sometimes by horses1 and sometimes by   
water1 it is then taken from the mill1  
and sent to the corning-house1 to be    

corned or grained4 ,here it is formed   
into hard lumps1 and these are put into 
circular sieves1 with parchment bottoms1
 perforated with holes of different     
sizes1 and fixed in a frame connected   
with a horizontal wheel4 ,each of these 
sieves is also furnished with a runner  
or spheroid of lignum vit1 which1 being 
set in motion by the action of the      
wheels1 forces the paste through the    
holes of the parchment bottom1 forming  
grains of different sizes4 ,the grains  
are then separated from the dust by     
sieves and reels made for that purpose4 
,the grains are next hardened1 and the  
rougher edges are taken off by shaking  
them for some time in a close reel1     
moved in a circular direction with a    
proper velocity4  ,when the powder has  
been corned1 dusted1 and glazed1 it is  
dried in the stove-house1 where great   
care should be taken to avoid explosion4
 ,the stove-house is a square apartment1
 three sides of which are furnished with
 shelves or cases1 on proper supports1  

arranged round the room2 and the fourth 
contains a large cast-iron vessel1      
called a 8gloom10 which projects into   
the room1 and is heated from the        
outside1 so that no part of the fuel may
 touch the powder4 ,for greater security
 against sparks by accidental friction1 
the glooms are covered with             
sheet-copper1 and are always cool when  
the powder is put in or taken out of the
 room4  ,here the grains are thoroughly 
dried1 losing in the process what       
remains of the water added to the       
mixture in the mill1 for bringing it to 
a working stiffness4 ,a method of drying
 powder1 by steam-pipes running round   
and crossing the apartment1 has been    
successfully tried2 and thus the        
possibility of any injurious accident   
from over-heating is prevented4 ,the    
temperature of the room1 when heated in 
the common way by a gloom-stove1 is     
always regulated by a thermometer hung  
in the door of the stoves4  ,if         
,gunpowder is injured by damp in a small

 degree1 it may be recovered by again   
drying it in a stove2 but if the        
ingredients are decomposed1 the nitre   
must be extracted by boiling1 filtering1
 evaporating1 crystallizing1 c4 and     
then1 with fresh sulphur and charcoal1  
to be re-manufactured4  ,there are      
several methods of proving and trying   
the goodness and strength of ,gunpowder4
 ,the following1 as common methods1 are 
frequently made use of4 #a1 ,by sight2  
for if it be too black1 it is too moist1
 or has too much charcoal in it2 so also
 if rubbed upon white paper1 it blackens
 it more than good powder does4 #b1 ,by 
touch2 for if in crushing with your     
finger-ends1 the grains break easy1 and 
turn into dust1 without feeling hard1 it
 has too much charcoal in it2 or if in  
pressing under your fingers upon a      
smooth1 hard board1 some grains feel    
harder than the rest1 or1 as it were1   
dent your finger-ends1 the sulphur is   
not well mixed with the nitre1 and the  
powder is bad4 ,and also by burning1 in 

which method1 little heaps of powder are
 laid on white paper three or four      
inches asunder1 and one of them fired2  
which1 if the flame ascend rapidly1 and 
with a good report1 leaving the paper   
free from white spots1 and without      
burning holes in it1 and if sparks fly  
off and set fire to the adjoining heaps1
 the quality of the powder may be safely
 relied on2 but if otherwise1 it is     
either badly made1 or the ingredients   
are impure4  ,these are some from among 
the common methods made use of for this 
purpose2 but for greater accuracy in    
determining the relative strength of    
,gunpowder1 various machines have of    
late been invented by men connected with
 military affairs4 ,that excellent      
mathematician and philosopher1 ,c4      
,hutton1 ,,ll4,d4 ,f4,r4,s4 and late    
,professor of ,mathematics in the ,royal
 ,military ,academy1 ,woolwich1 has     
constructed a machine for this purpose1 
which1 for convenience and accuracy1 far
 surpasses any thing of the kind        

hitherto invented4 ,it is called        
,eprouvette1 or a ,gunpowder ,prover1   
7for plans and description see third    
vol4 ,hutton's ,tracts1 page #aec27 and 
from its possessing so many peculiar    
advantages1 is now generally used4 ,it  
consists of a small cannon1 the bore of 
which is about one inch in diameter1    
suspended freely like a pendulum1 with  
the axis in a horizontal direction4     
,this being charged with the proper     
quantity of powder1 which is usually    
about two ounces1 and then fired1 the   
gun swings or recoils backward1 and the 
instrument itself shews the extent of   
the first or greatest vibration1 which  
indicates the strength to the utmost    
nicety4 ,the whole machine is so simple1
 easy1 and expeditious in its use1 that 
the weighing of the powder is the       
greatest part of the trouble2 and it is 
also so uniform with itself1 that the   
successive repetitions or firings with  
the same quantity of the same kind of   
powder1 hardly ever yield a difference  

of the hundredth part from the first    
vibration4  ,having thus given an       
account of almost every thing necessary 
to be known in regard to the process of 
making and ascertaining the relative    
strength of ,gunpowder1 we shall close  
this article with a few observations    
7which will be selected from the best   
authorities7 on the physical causes of  
its inflammation and exploding4 ,when   
the several ingredients of ,gunpowder   
are properly prepared1 mixed1 and       
grained1 in the manner already          
described1 if the least spark be struck 
thereon from a steel and flint1 the     
whole will be immediately inflamed1 and 
burst out with extreme violence4  ,the  
effect is not hard to account for3 the  
charcoal part of the grains whereon the 
spark falls1 catching fire like tinder1 
the sulphur and nitre are ready melted1 
and the former also breaks into flame2  
and at the same time the contiguous     
grains undergo the same fate4--,now it  
is known that salt-petre1 when ignited1 

rarefies to a prodigious degree4 ,sir   
,isaac ,newton reasons thus on the      
subject3 8the charcoal and sulphur in   
,gunpowder easily take fire1 and kindle 
the nitre2 and the spirit of the nitre1 
being thereby rarefied into vapour1     
rushes out with an explosion much after 
the manner that the vapour of water     
rushes out of an olipils2 the sulphur   
also1 being volatile1 is converted into 
vapour1 and augments the explosion3 add1
 that the acid vapour of the sulphur1   
namely1 that which distils under a bell 
into oil of sulphur1 entering violently 
into the fixed body of the nitre1 lets  
loose the spirit of the nitre1 and      
excites a greater fermentation1 whereby 
the heat is farther augmented1 and the  
fixed body of the nitre is also rarefied
 into fume2 and the explosion is thereby
 made more vehement and quick40  ,for if
 salt of tartar be mixed with           
,gunpowder1 and that mixture be warmed  
till it take fire1 the explosion will be
 greatly more violent and quick than    

that of ,gunpowder alone1 which cannot  
proceed from any other cause than the   
action of the vapour of ,gunpowder upon 
the salt of tartar1 whereby the salt is 
rarefied4  ,the explosion of ,gunpowder 
arises1 therefore1 from the violent     
action whereby all the mixture being    
quickly and vehemently heated1 is       
rarefied and converted into fume and    
vapour2 which vapour1 by the violence of
 that action1 becomes so hot as to      
shine1 and appear in the form of a      
flame4  ,another cause of the effects of
 ,gunpowder1 may be owing to the sudden 
formation of a quantity of gas1 and are 
consequently greater when the gas is    
confined in all directions but one1 as  
in our guns and cannons4 ,the nitric    
acid of salt-petre is decomposed1 and   
affords the gas4 ,the other ingredients 
dispose it to be easily inflamed1 which 
is necessary to the decomposition of the
 acid4 ,dr4 ,ingenhousy accounts for the
 effect of ,gunpowder by observing that 
nitre yields by heat a surprising       

quantity of pure dephlogisticated air1  
and charcoal a considerable quantity of 
inflammable air2 the fire employed to   
inflame the powder extricates these two 
airs1 and sets fire to them at the      
instant of their extrication4  ,count   
,rumford is of opinion that the force of
 the elastic fluid1 generated in the    
combustion of ,gunpowder1 may be        
satisfactorily accounted for upon the   
supposition that its force depends      
solely on the elasticity of watery      
vapour or steam4  ,m4 de la ,hire1 in   
the history of the ,french ,academy for 
#agjb1 ascribes all the force and effect
 of ,gunpowder to the spring or         
elasticity of the air inclosed in the   
several grains thereof1 and in the      
intervals or spaces between the grains1 
the powder being kindled sets the       
springs of so many little parcels of air
 playing1 and dilates them all at once1 
whence the effect2 the powder itself    
only serving to light a fire which may  
put the air in action1 after which the  

whole is done by the air alone4  ,dr4   
,hutton seems to differ from the opinion
 of ,m4 de la ,hire1 in regard to the   
expansion of inflamed gunpowder4 ,is it1
 he observes1 occasioned by the air     
interposed between its grains1 or by the
 aqueous fluid which enters into the    
composition of the nitre8 ,we doubt much
 7continues he7 whether it be the air1  
as its expansibility does not seem      
sufficient to explain the phenomenon2   
but we know that water1 when converted  
into vapour by the contact of heat1     
occupies a space #ad1jjj times greater  
than its original bulk1 and that its    
force is very considerable4  ,the same  
learned author says1 that the discovery 
of the true cause of the expansive force
 of fired ,gunpowder1 is chiefly due to 
the ,english philosophers1 and          
particularly to the learned and         
ingenious ,mr4 ,robins4 ,this author    
apprehends that the force of fired      
gunpowder consists in the action of a   
permanently elastic fluid1 suddenly     

disengaged from the powder by the       
combustion1 similar in some respects to 
common atmospheric air1 at least as to  
elasticity4 ,he shewed1 by satisfactory 
experiments1 that a fluid of this kind  
is actually disengaged by firing the    
powder2 and that it is permanently      
elastic1 or retains its elasticity when 
cold1 the force of which he measured in 
this state4 ,he also measured the force 
of it when inflamed1 by a most ingenious
 method1 and found its strength in that 
state to be about a thousand times the  
strength or elasticity of common        
atmospheric air4 ,this1 our ,doctor     
observes1 is not its utmost degree of   
strength1 as it is found to increase in 
its force when fired in larger          
quantities than those employed by ,mr4  
,robins2 so much so indeed1 that by more
 accurate experiments1 we have found its
 force rise as high as #afjj or #ahjj   
times the force of atmospheric air in   
its usual state4 ,much beyond this it is
 not probable it can go1 nor indeed     

possible1 if there be any truth in the  
common and allowed physical principles  
of mechanics4 ,with an elastic fluid1 of
 a given force1 we infallibly know1 or  
compute the effects it can produce1 in  
impelling a given body2 and on the other
 hand1 from the effects or velocities   
with which given bodies are impelled by 
an elastic fluid1 we certainly know the 
force or strength of that fluid1 and    
these effects we have found perfectly to
 accord with the force above mentioned4 
,mr4 ,robins's discovery and opinions   
have also been corroborated by others1  
among the best chemists and             
philosophers4 ,lavoisier was of opinion 
that the force of fired gunpowder       
depends1 in a great measure1 on the     
expansive force of uncombined caloric1  
supposed to be let loose in a great     
abundance1 during the combustion or     
deflagration of the powder4 ,and        
,bouillon ,lagrange1 in his course of   
,chemistry says1 when gunpowder takes   
fire there is a disengagement of azotic 

gas1 which expands in an astonishing    
manner when set at liberty2 and we are  
even still ignorant of the extent of the
 dilatation occasioned by the heat      
arising from the combustion4 ,a         
decomposition of water also takes place1
 and hydrogen gas is disengaged with    
elasticity2 and by this decomposition of
 water there is formed carbonic acid    
gas1 and even sulphurated hydrogen gas1 
which is the cause of the hepatic smell 
emitted by burnt powder4  ,it has been  
found by experiment1 that granulated    
powder inflames with much greater       
rapidity than that which is not         
granulated2 the latter only puffs away  
slowly1 while the other takes fire      
almost instantaneously2 and of the      
granulated kinds1 that in round grains  
much sooner than that in oblong         
irregular grains2 the cause of which may
 arise from the former leaving to the   
flame larger and freer interstices1     
which produce the inflammation with much
 more rapidity4  ,gunpowder is supposed 

to explode at about #fjj ,fahr4 but if  
heated to a degree just below that of   
faint redness1 the sulphur will mostly  
burn off1 leaving the nitre and charcoal
 unaltered4  ,experiments have also     
proved1 that the variations in the state
 of the atmosphere do not any way alter 
the action of powder4 ,by comparing     
several trials made at noon in the      
hottest summer sun1 with those made in  
the morning and evening1 no certain     
difference could be perceived2 and it   
was the same with those made in the     
night1 and in winter4 ,and indeed1      
considering the principles of the       
explosion1 and that it always contains  
the same quantity of the elastic fluid1 
it is difficult to conceive how its     
force can be affected by the density or 
rarity of the atmosphere4  ,the action  
and nature of this formidable           
composition being now somewhat fully    
described1 we shall proceed to the      
principal object of our ,work1 that of  
constructing the most common and curious

 articles for ,pyrotechnic exhibitions4 
,,section ,,ii4  ,,materials4   ,having 
in the preceding ,section1 entered      
somewhat largely on the nature and      
properties of ,gunpowder1 and           
consequently of the ingredients which   
compose it1 any further observations on 
them would be unnecessary1 providing the
 ingredients and proportions always     
remained the same4 ,but as the          
ingredients used in the manufacture of  
that article are frequently employed in 
various other proportions1 to form      
compositions for filling fire-works1 it 
is necessary to give some further       
directions for the choice and           
purification of these articles1 which1  
together with the apparatus made use of 
in the making of fire-works1 will form  
the subject of the present section4  #a4
 ,,nitre4--,among the various articles  
made use of in the composition1 none are
 of greater importance than salt-petre1 
for on the quantity and purity of this  
depends all the force and much of the   

brilliancy of the fire4 ,the most common
 sort is that usually sold by the       
grocers1 and is generally in large lumps
 formed of an assemblage of small       
crystals somewhat transparent1 and often
 mixed with earthy matter and many other
 impurities4 ,in its purest state it is 
in the form of small six-sided prismatic
 crystals1 not apt to grow moist or     
powdery on exposure to the air4 ,the    
pure nitre is now become very expensive1
 so it is of consequence to know how the
 common nitre1 or nitre of commerce may 
be purified1 for it is found to answer  
no purpose in ,pyrotechny unless such   
change or purification in it have been  
effected4  ,nitre is found1 7like most  
of other saline bodies7 to be much more 
soluble in boiling water1 than in water 
of the ordinary temperature4 ,if        
therefore the nitre of commerce be      
dissolved in a small quantity of boiling
 water1 and the solution be properly    
strained1 the liquor1 when cold1 will   
afford crystals that are very pure4 ,the

 following is the most convenient method
 of proceeding3 dissolve the nitre in   
boiling water1 7which should be soft    
water17 in the proportion of about a    
quart to each pound of nitre2 and that  
the solution may be more easily         
effected1 let the nitre be reduced to a 
powder1 previous to its being immersed1 
and let the vessel containing the nitre 
and water be kept at the boiling heat   
till all the salt is dissolved2 then    
strain the liquor1 while hot1 through   
thick blotting paper1 placed in a clean 
funnel2 and set by the filtered liquor  
in a shallow vessel1 in a cold place1 to
 crystallize4 ,the crystals thus        
obtained are to be dried1 first in      
blotting-paper1 and then before the     
fire1 and kept for use4 ,from the       
remaining solution1 which is sometimes  
called mother-water1 fresh crystals may 
be procured by boiling it in a clean tin
 vessel till a filming scum arises to   
the surface1 then filtering it through  
paper1 and setting it aside to          

crystallize as before4  ,very pure nitre
 may also be obtained from damaged      
gunpowder1 which may be sometimes       
procured at a cheap rate1 at the shops  
where it is sold for this purpose4 ,the 
damaged powder must be ground with a    
small quantity of hot water1 in a large 
wooden or stone mortar1 otherwise it may
 be boiled over a gentle fire1 with as  
much water as will cover it1 till as    
much as possible of the nitre is        
dissolved2 the liquor is then to be     
strained through a thick flannel bag1   
afterwards filtered through             
blotting-paper while hot1 the sediment  
to be boiled down till a film rises on  
the surface2 again filtered and set by  
to cool and crystallize1 as directed in 
the process for the former method4  ,as 
the nitre must always be reduced to fine
 powder1 previous to mixing it with     
other substances1 this is easily done by
 dissolving it in a little more than its
 own weight of boiling water1 keeping   
the solution over a gentle fire1 and    

continually stirring it with a flat     
stick till all the water is evaporated1 
when the powder is to be taken out and  
dried before a gentle fire2 during      
which1 care must be taken not to let it 
remain too long1 or exposed to too great
 a heat1 otherwise it will be melted    
into a firm cake4 ,the drying may be    
completed by suffering it to remain a   
sufficient time on paper before the     
fire4 ,for the purification of          
salt-petre1 both these methods may 7by  
attending to the foregoing              
instructions17 be practised with        
success2 but of the two1 we would more  
strongly recommend the former4  #b4     
,,sulphur4--,sulphur is the next        
ingredient1 in regard to importance1 as 
being the most inflammable material we  
are acquainted with4 ,it exists in three
 states1 in all of which it is          
occasionally employed in fire-works2 the
 first is that brought from the         
neighbourhood of volcanoes1 and is      
called native sulphur1 but more commonly

 sulphur vivum1 though 7it may be       
observed17 what is sold in the shops    
under this name is a drossy powder1 the 
refuse left after purification4 ,the    
second is that in the roll1 called roll 
sulphur1 or stone brimstone4 ,the third 
is the sublimed sulphur1 or as it is    
commonly called flower of sulphur2 this 
when genuine is the purest1 and is found
 to answer best for all nice and        
delicate articles1 and from its being   
already in a state of powder it is by   
far the most convenient1 as the others  
require to be ground or mealed previous 
to their being used4 ,the first kind is 
the cheapest1 and answers pretty well   
for all large and coarse articles1 but  
as it is most frequently mixed with     
earthy matter and other impurities1 the 
use of it we would not very much        
recommend4 ,the second is found to be   
the strongest1 and which is mostly used1
 particularly for most of the ordinary  
articles2 but such is the desire of     
gain1 that this article of sulphur is   

not suffered to pass through the hands  
of dealers without its quality being    
reduced by adulteration1 which they     
effect by mixing with it rosin1 flour1  
c42 when pure it is of a bright yellow  
colour1 dense but not too heavy1 easily 
cracks with the heat of the hand1 and   
the broken parts look bright and        
crystallized4 ,there is another kind of 
sulphur 7though not generally known     
among dealers7 which does not burn like 
the others1 and what is rather singular1
 it emits no sulphurous smell1 for being
 put upon the fire it melts just like   
common wax2 this sort is found in great 
abundance in ,iceland near ,mount       
,hecla1 and ,carniola4 ,this sulphur is 
commonly of a reddish colour1 like that 
found in the straits of ,heildesheim1   
where it is likewise of several colours1
 as pale yellow and green1 and generally
 adheres to the surface of stone and    
rocks1 from which it may be easily      
broken off and collected2 that which is 
perfectly yellow of each kind is the    

best4 ,that of our first description1 or
 sulphur vivum1 is sometimes called     
quick sulphur from its undergoing no    
change by fire1 since its productions by
 nature2 and in some countries it is    
called virgin sulphur1 because the women
 and girls in ,campania frequently make 
a kind of paint of it1 for no less      
delicate purpose than that of           
beautifying the face4 ,should either    
kind be met with in an impure state the 
following method may be applied for the 
purpose of purification4  #c4 ,to purify
 ,sulphur4--,melt a quantity of it in an
 iron pan1 by which means the earthy and
 metallic parts will be precipitated1   
and then pour it into a copper-kettle1  
where it will form another deposit of   
the impure matter with which it is      
mixed2 after keeping it for some time in
 a melted state1 pour it into cylindric 
wooden moulds1 for the purpose of       
forming it into sticks2 the moulds may  
be about an inch in diameter2 their     
length may be various4 ,if the sulphur  

should take fire during this operation  
it may be quickly extinguished by       
covering the pan close over at the top4 
#d4 ,,charcoal is also a considerable   
ingredient in our compositions1 but is  
of a much more simple nature than that  
of the foregoing ones4 ,it may generally
 be procured at the hardware shops1 or  
at foundries1 or it may be easily       
prepared1 for which put a quantity of   
small pieces of wood1 such as beech or  
alder1 into a large earthen or iron pot1
 filling up the vacuities1 and covering 
the top with sand2 then placing the pot 
in the middle of a strong fire1 and     
keeping it at a red heat for two or     
three hours1 as the sand excludes the   
air1 the wood is thus reduced to        
charcoal without the possibility of its 
being consumed2 and when the pot is     
cold1 the charcoal is to be taken out   
and kept for use in some very dry place4
 ,small quantities should only be made  
at a time1 as it is always best newly   
prepared4  #e4 ,,steel-,,dust is another

 important ingredient in fire-works1 for
 being mixed with mealed powder or some 
other composition1 and the mixture      
inflamed in a proper tube1 or case1 the 
jet of fire produces a most brilliant   
appearance by the sparks arising from   
the ignition of the iron in the oxygen  
gas of the nitre4  ,iron-filings1 7for  
this ,steel-dust is nothing more than   
pure iron reduced into small particles  
by filing or some other method17 when   
free from rust1 and not mixed with any  
impurities1 answer very well2 but       
fire-work makers generally prefer       
cast-iron reduced to powder1 by beating 
thin plates of it on a cast-iron anvil  
with a heavy hammer1 and sifting the    
broken particles through sieves of brass
 or iron wire1 of different degrees of  
fineness1 so as to separate the         
particles into grains of various sizes1 
according to the magnitude of the       
pieces4 ,the grains thus sorted have    
been called iron-sand1 and have been    
distinguished into sand of three or four

 orders1 according to their respective  
fineness2 thus the sand that passes     
through the finest sieve1 is called sand
 of the first order2 and that which     
passes through the second1 sand of the  
second order2 and so on to the fourth1  
which is generally very coarse4 ,the    
finest is calculated for fire-works of  
the smallest size1 the second for pieces
 somewhat larger1 and that of the last  
order1 only for pieces of the largest   
size1 such as gerbes of six or eight    
pounds1 the composition of which being  
of proportionate strength to bring such 
large particles into a state of         
ignition4  ,as these grains are very apt
 to rust by keeping1 they should be     
preserved either in close stopped       
bottles1 well dried1 or in boxes that   
shut close1 and are lined with paper    
moistened in linseed oil4 ,it sometimes 
happens that fire-works may be required 
to be kept a long time1 or sent abroad2 
neither of which could be done with the 
brilliant fires1 if made with filings   

unprepared1 for this reason1 that the   
salt-petre being of a damp nature it    
causes the iron to rust2 the consequence
 of which is1 that when the works are   
fired there will appear but very few    
brilliant sparks1 but instead of them a 
number of red and drossy sparks2 and    
besides1 the charge will be so much     
weakened that if this were to take place
 in wheels1 the fire would scarcely be  
strong enough to force them round2 but  
to prevent such failures in the firing  
of them1 the filings1 or iron-sand1 may 
be thus prepared3--  #f4 ,to prepare    
iron-sand4--,melt in a glazed earthen   
pan some brimstone over a slow fire1 and
 when melted throw in some filings1     
which keep stirring till they are all   
covered with brimstone1 this must be    
done while it is on the fire2 then take 
it off and stir it very quickly till    
cold1 when it must be rolled on a board 
with a wooden roller1 till broken as    
fine as corned powder1 after which sift 
from it as much of the brimstone as     

possible4  ,second method4--,there is   
another method of preserving filings so 
as to keep two or three months in       
winter1 which is done by rubbing them   
between strong brown paper1 which has   
been previously moistened with linseed  
oil4 ,in heating the brimstone the      
caution given in ,article #c1 must be   
observed in the event of its catching   
fire4  ,we must observe in fine on this 
article1 that it will be well to        
anticipate a little trouble in the      
preparation of this granulated          
,iron-sand1 for cast-iron being of so   
hard a nature as not to be cut by a     
file1 we are obliged to pulverize it1 or
 reduce it to grains by the method we   
have described1 which is rather         
difficult to perform2 but when we       
consider what beautiful sparks this iron
 yields1 no pains should be spared to   
granulate such an essential material4   
,we must further observe1 that when     
these plates of iron cannot be procured1
 an old cast-iron pot may be employed2  

but especial care must be taken that its
 surface be perfectly free from rust and
 other impurities previous to its being 
pulverized1 otherwise it will entirely  
destroy the effect it is intended to    
produce4  ,it is to the ,chinese we are 
indebted for this method of rendering   
fire so brilliant and variegated in its 
colours1 who discovered it long before  
,father d',incarville made it known to  
the ,european countries4 ,this sand1    
when it inflames1 emits a light         
exceedingly vivid2 and it is surprising 
to see fragments of this matter not     
larger than a poppy seed1 form all of a 
sudden luminous flowers of stars1 twelve
 and fifteen lines in diameter4 ,these  
flowers are also of different forms1    
according to that of the inflamed grain1
 and even of different colours1         
according to the matters with which the 
grains are mixed4 ,but rockets1 into    
which this composition enters1 cannot be
 long preserved1 unless prepared as     
described in the early part of this     

article4  ,there are many other         
substances occasionally employed in the 
composition of fire-works1 but as they  
can be procured at all ,chemists and    
,druggists ready for the purpose1 we    
consider it unnecessary to give any     
detail respecting them1 further than    
enumeration4 ,they are chiefly the      
following1 viz4 ,camphor1 which is used 
to improve the appearance of the fire2  
,antimony1 or ,sulphuret of ,antimony1  
,sal-ammoniac1 ,verdigrease1 and ,pitch1
 for giving to the fire different and   
particular shades of colour2 ,flowers of
 ,benjamin1 or ,benzoic-acid1 for       
imparting to it an agreeable odour2 and 
,spirits of ,wine1 or ,camphorated      
,spirits1 for mixing up the ingredients 
into a paste4 ,these liquids are found  
to answer much better than common water1
 or gum-water1 which is sometimes used1 
as they do not dissolve the salt-petre1 
and are therefore not so liable to      
produce a separation of the materials   
employed4 ,lamp-black is sometimes used 

instead of charcoal1 and is supposed to 
have the effect of diminishing the heat 
of the fire1 while it does not          
materially lessen its brilliancy4       
,thence it is a considerable ingredient 
in what is called cold-fire1 the seeming
 paradox of which we shall hereafter    
reconcile4 ,for the same purpose1 that  
of diminishing the force of the         
composition1 powdered glass and saw-dust
 have been frequently employed2 but     
probably these effects might be better1 
and with more certainty answered1 by    
lessening the proportion of nitre4  #g  
,,oil ,,of ,,camphor4--,this liquid is  
frequently used for the purpose of      
moistening the compositions2 it is thus 
easily procured3 put a small quantity of
 ,camphor into a brass mortar1 and to it
 add some oil of sweet almonds1         
sufficient to reduce it to a stiff      
paste1 then work the mixture well       
together1 and it will turn to a green   
colour1 after which add a sufficient    
quantity of oil to liquify it for use4  

,we must observe on the use of this     
liquid1 that the composition into which 
it enters must be kept as much as       
possible from the air1 as an exposure to
 it will cause it to evaporate1 and     
thereby cause a failure in the          
exhibition4  #h4 ,,benzoin4--,benzoin1  
or as it is vulgarly called ,benjamin1  
is a resinous matter obtained from the  
tree called ,benzoin1 and is brought    
from different parts of the ,indies1    
where it is found of various kinds1 and 
of different colours2 the best is that  
which is full of white spots and is     
easily broken4 ,it is used in           
odoriferous fire-works1 but prior to    
which it must be reduced to a fine      
powder1 which may be effected by the    
following method3--put about three or   
four ounces of ,benzoin grossly pounded 
into a deep and narrow earthen pot1 and 
cover the pot over with a cone of thick 
paper1 which tie closely round the edge1
 then place the pot over the fire and   
apply a moderate heat2 after the        

interval of an hour take off the cone1  
and you will find some flower sticking  
to the under-side of it2 or in the      
language of chemistry1 the acid is      
sublimed and is deposited on the paper2 
the cone must be returned to the pot1   
and the operation continued till the    
flower appears very white and fine4     
,the acid which is frequently used may  
be obtained by digesting ,benzoin in    
sulphuric acid1 and by this it is       
obtained much purer and in finer        
crystals than by any other method4  ,on 
this article we deem it requisite to    
give the above information2 but to the  
private practitioner1 it will be more   
eligible to purchase it ready prepared4 
,,section ,,iii4  ,,apparatus4   ,in the
 practical part of ,pyrotechny1 the     
constructing and due proportioning of   
the moulds is a very material           
consideration1 for on these the goodness
 of the article depends nearly as much  
as on the purity of the ingredients4    
,they consist chiefly of solid and      

hollow cylinders made either of wood or 
metal2 those that are hollow are called 
moulds1 and those that are solid        
formers2 both are used in the           
construction of rockets2 similar        
cylinders either of wood or metal are   
used for ramming down the composition2 a
 machine for contracting the aperture of
 the cases1 the operation of which is   
called choaking2 another for boring them
 after they are filled2 and a simple    
apparatus for grinding the materials    
previous to the cases being filled1 as  
well as others of less importance1 which
 we shall choose rather to describe as  
their assistance is required4  ,we shall
 begin the important ,apparatus with    
describing those which come most        
immediately into use4  #a4 ,,grinding   
,,machines4--,for the purpose of        
triturating or properly mixing the      
several ingredients together1 various   
contrivances have been resorted to4 ,a  
common iron mortar1 such as is used by  
druggists and apothecaries1 is found to 

answer very well for grinding or        
pounding the brimstone1 charcoal1       
salt-petre1 c4 separately2 and          
apothecary's close sieves1 fitted with  
wire-cloth1 are the best possible       
implements for obtaining the fire       
powder2 but when corn gunpowder is to be
 mealed1 or the various ingredients are 
to be mixed together1 such mortars      
cannot be used1 as the heat generated by
 the continued action of the pestle     
might inflame the mixture1 and thereby  
place the life of the operator in       
imminent danger4 ,to obviate these      
dangerous probabilities a very simple   
contrivance has been effected2 this is  
called the mealing table1 and for that  
purpose has proved very speedy and      
effectual4 ,it consists of a rectangular
 elm board1 with a rim round its edge1  
four or five inches high1 at one end of 
which a part of the rim is made to slide
 in a groove1 so that after mealing the 
powder it may be swept clean out from   
the table4 ,a representation of it may  

be seen at plate #a1 fig4 #c4 ,fig4 #d  
is a small copper shovel1 generally made
 use of for filling and emptying the    
table4 ,when about to meal a quantity of
 powder1 observe not to put too much on 
the table at once2 but when you have put
 on a moderate portion1 take the muller 
7fig4 #e17 and rub it till all the      
grains are well broken2 then sift it in 
a lawn sieve1 that has a receiver and   
top to it1 such as is generally used by 
the apothecaries1 and that which does   
not pass through the sieve must be      
returned to the table1 and with an      
additional quantity ground over again4  
,sulphur and charcoal may be ground in  
the same manner1 only these being much  
harder than powder the muller must be of
 ebony1 or any other hard wood1 else the
 ingredients would stick in the grain of
 the elm1 and be very difficult to      
grind4 ,as sulphur is apt to stick and  
clod to the table1 it will be found best
 to have one for that purpose1 as they  
are easily procured2 this will be but   

little trouble1 and more than           
compensated by your sulphur being always
 kept clean and well ground4  ,the      
following is another method for the     
above purpose1 which some consider      
equally effective4 ,this is a mortar    
made of hard wood1 shaped like that of  
the druggists1 with the bottom rounded  
within1 and having a wooden lid fitting 
close on the top1 and in the centre a   
hole just large enough to admit easily  
the stalk of the pestle1 to the lower   
end of which is connected a piece of    
marble terminating in a spherical       
surface4 ,with this apparatus gunpowder 
may be safely ground to meal1 or its    
ingredients mixed by the continued      
motion of the pestle in the hole of the 
lid4  #b4 ,method of mixing the         
,ingredients4--,connected with that of  
grinding is the operation of mixing the 
ingredients1 and which is considered a  
principal part of the business of       
,pyrotechny2 and indeed many articles   
depend as much on the well mixing as on 

the proportion of their composition2    
therefore great care should be taken in 
this part of the work1 and particularly 
so in the composition of sky-rockets4   
,when you have about four or five pounds
 of ingredients duly prepared for       
mixing1 7which is a sufficient quantity 
to mix at one time17 first put them     
together in some vessel convenient for  
the purpose1 then work them about with  
your hands1 till their various natures  
are pretty well incorporated2 after     
which put them into your lawn sieve with
 the receiver and top to it1 and sift it
 into some other clean vessel1 and if   
any remains that will not pass through  
the sieve1 grind it again till fine     
enough2 and if it be suffered to pass   
twice through the sieve it will be more 
than the trouble the better4 ,for       
rockets and all fixed works1 from which 
the fire is to play regular1 the        
ingredients must be prepared as above2  
and we may observe here1 that all       
compositions which contain steel or iron

 filings must be mixed or shifted with  
the copper shovel1 for the hands are apt
 to impart a moisture1 which is         
injurious to their nature4 ,nor will any
 works which have iron or steel in their
 charge keep long in damp weather       
without being properly prepared1 as was 
directed in the preceding ,section4     
,there are several other moulds and     
apparatus made use of1 but as most of   
them are used in the making of rockets1 
and some few other articles1 and are so 
immediately connected with the practice 
thereof1 we think their use and         
application will be better understood   
when we come to treat of that article in
 the next ,section1 rather than by      
entering their descriptions in this     
place4     ,,section ,,iv4  ,,division  
,,of ,,fire-,,works4   ,fire-works are  
generally divided into two classes1     
those which compose the first are       
chiefly squibs1 serpents1 crackers1     
sparks1 marroons1 saucipons1 pin-wheels1
 leaders1 gerbes1 or roman candles1 and 

7when without any appendages7 rockets2  
these by their requiring but little     
dexterity in the preparation are called 
simple1 or more properly single         
fire-works1 and are said to be of the   
first class4 ,others which are of more  
difficult constructions1 are called     
compound or complex fire-works1 and are 
said to be of the second class4 ,these  
consist of suns1 moons1 stars1 wheels1  
globes1 balloons1 batteries1            
flower-pots1 fire-pumps1 pyramids1 c42  
these are generally composed of some of 
the single pieces1 as gerbes1 serpents1 
marroons1 saucipons1 c4 properly        
arranged on suitable frames1 according  
to the taste of the operator1 and       
connected with each other by long pipes 
filled with inflammable composition     
called leaders1 and fired by means of   
quick-matches or port-fires1 and very   
frequently by common touch-paper4 ,we   
shall begin our descriptions and        
instructions1 with those of the simple  
or single kind1 which will lead us      

progressively to those which are more   
complex1 the order we purposed pursuing 
at the commencement of our ,work4  ,in  
the subsequent directions we shall have 
frequent occasion to mention pipes of   
communication1 commonly called leaders1 
by which the several parts of a compound
 work are connected with each other2 and
 several other articles of less         
importance1 as touch-paper1 quick-match1
 port-fires1 c4  #a4                    
,,touch-,,paper4--,this is a paper      
impregnated with a solution of          
salt-petre1 by which it acquires the    
property of burning slowly away without 
flame1 and yet with sufficient strength 
to communicate its fire to meal powder1 
with which it comes in contact4 ,it is  
prepared in the following manner3--  #b4
 ,to ,make ,touch-,paper4--,dissolve a  
quantity of salt-petre in vinegar or any
 other acid1 more or less of the        
salt-petre according as you would have  
your paper to burn slow or fast2 then   
dip into this solution some thin blue   

paper1 let it be well saturated1 then   
take it out1 and dry it for use4 ,if1 on
 trial1 it is not found to burn         
properly1 or if it blazes on being set  
on fire1 it is an indication that your  
solution is too weak2 you must therefore
 strengthen it by adding more of the    
nitre1 and the paper must be passed     
through again4 ,on the application of   
this paper to fire-works1 two modes are 
in use3--,for small articles1 or such as
 are choaked 7to be hereafter explained7
 tie a piece round the orifice with     
thread or fine twine1 leaving enough of 
the paper at the end to form a small    
tube1 in which is put some mealed       
gunpowder1 and the paper is then twisted
 over it1 and ready for firing4  ,for   
larger articles1 as ,rockets1 ,roman    
,candles1 c4 the paper1 instead of being
 tied should be pasted round the orifice
 with thin flower paste2 but care must  
be taken that the paste does not extend 
beyond the end of the case1 for this    
would prevent the fire from             

communicating with the composition1 and 
the piece would consequently fail in the
 going off4  #c4 ,,quick-,,match4--,the 
purpose of the ,quick-match is similar  
to that of touch-paper1 but chiefly used
 to form the inside of leaders2 it is   
generally made of cotton-wick1 7such as 
is usually made use of in the           
manufacture of candles7 impregnated with
 nitre4 ,it is made of several sizes1   
from one to six threads1 as is most     
suited to the pipes1 or articles for    
which it is designed4 ,the pipes must be
 sufficiently large to receive the match
 easily1 as its quality will be much    
diminished by its breaking4 ,the        
following is the best method of making  
this match3--,having distributed the    
cottons into the number of threads      
requisite for your purpose1 coil it very
 lightly into a flat bottomed copper or 
earthen pan1 then pour in a part of the 
salt-petre and liquor1 and boil them    
together about twenty minutes1 after    
which coil it again into another pan and

 put to it the remainder of the liquor1 
then put in some meal powder1 and well  
mix it with the liquid2 after which     
place the pan beneath the wooden frame  
7fig4 #ab7 and tying one end of the     
cotton to one side of the frame1 then by
 one hand by means of the handle 7,a7   
turn the frame round while you let the  
cotton pass through the other1 holding  
it very lightly1 and at the same time   
keeping your hand full of the wet       
powder2 if the powder is too wet to     
stick to the cotton put more in the pan1
 so as to keep a supply until the match 
is all wound up2 you may wind it as     
close on the frame as you please1       
providing it do not stick together2 when
 the frame is full take it off the      
joints and sift dry meal powder on both 
sides the match1 till it appears quite  
covered1 afterwards hang it in some warm
 place to dry1 which1 if it be in       
summer1 will be effected in a few days1 
but if it be in winter it will be a     
fortnight before it is fit for use2 when

 it is perfectly dry1 cut it along the  
outside of one of the side-pieces of the
 frames1 and tie it up in skains for    
use4  ,the proper ingredients for the   
,match are1 cotton1 one pound twelve    
ounces1 salt-petre1 one pound1 spirits  
of wine two quarts1 water three quarts1 
isinglass three gills1 and meal powder  
ten pounds2 or half the quantity may be 
prepared by taking the ingredients in   
the same proportion4 ,four ounces of    
isinglass should be dissolved in about  
#c pints of water4  #d4 ,,port          
,,fires4--,this term is applied to paper
 tubes1 filled with mealed powder1 or a 
similar composition1 and which is       
generally used in setting fire to       
rockets1 or compound fire-works1 which  
require to be lighted very              
expeditiously2 there are two kinds1 the 
one used as above1 the other for        
illuminations3 those of the former kind 
are usually called common ,port-,fires1 
and may be made of any length1 but are  
seldom more than #ba inches2 they are   

rolled on rods about half an inch in    
diameter1 and made of cartridge paper in
 three or four folds till their exterior
 diameter is about five-eighths of an   
inch1 the last fold being well secured  
at the edge by paste1 and one end       
pinched or folded down4 ,the moulds1    
five-eighths of an inch diameter1 should
 be made of brass or tin1 and to take to
 pieces length-wise1 forming two        
semi-cylindrical tubes1 and when used1  
to be connected together by several     
rings fitted to the outside of the tube4
 ,if about an inch of metal be made fast
 to one extremity of the half tube of   
the diameter of the rod or former1 it   
will supersede the necessity of a foot1 
and be much more convenient2 but the    
part of the former as we may term it1   
must be made very fast to the tube1 or  
it will easily be detached by the       
ramming of the cases4 ,the composition  
for filling these cases generally       
consists of salt-petre1 sulphur1 and    
mealed powder1 in various proportions1  

according to the intended strength of   
the fire1 though salt-petre is generally
 in the greatest proportions4 ,when the 
fire is to be very slow1 saw-dust is    
sometimes added1 and the ingredients are
 frequently moistened with spirits of   
wine or linseed oil2 these compositions 
should not be rammed too hard4 ,in using
 this kind of ,port ,fires1 the close   
end is fixed in a metal socket made like
 a port crayon1 which is attached to a  
stick of sufficient length to reach any 
required part of the fire-work4  ,the   
following compounds are recommended for 
filling ,port ,fires to ,fire ,rockets1 
c4          ,salt-petre   ,sulphur      
,meal-powder    ,i4     #ab ozs4      #d
 ozs4      #b ozs4   ,,ii4     #h do4   
#d do4       #b do4   ,,iii4   #ah do4  
#aj do4      #bd do4   ,,iv4    #cd do4 
#aj do4       #f do4   ,v4      #h do4  
#b do4       #b do4  ,,port ,,fires     
,,for ,,illuminations4--,these differ   
only as it regards their length from    
those above described1 their diameter is

 the same1 their length from three to   
six inches1 pinched close at one end and
 left open at the other2 they are filled
 by small quantities at a time and      
rammed very lightly1 or their cases will
 be endangered4 ,three or four rounds of
 paper1 with the last round pasted1 will
 be strong enough for these cases1 the  
compositions the same as before4  #e4   
,leaders1 or pipes of                   
communication4--,these are small tubes  
of paper1 of lengths adapted to the     
distances to which they are to extend1  
and filled with a combustible           
composition that will not burn too fast4
 ,as it is much the best to have them in
 long lengths some large size paper must
 be used for the purpose1 that which is 
called 8,elephant0 is found most        
convenient1 and which for this purpose  
is generally used4 ,it is cut into slips
 two or three inches broad1 or          
sufficient to go four times round the   
formers1 which will make the tube strong
 enough for most ordinary purposes2     

indeed1 if they are made with greater   
substance much inconvenience will be    
found in the application of them to the 
different works to which they are       
designed1 from flying off without       
communicating their fire4  ,the formers 
for these leaders should be about one   
fourth of an inch diameter2 this size ,i
 have found to answer most purposes1    
though they are sometime1 made of less1 
as well as larger diameters1 but from   
one-eighth to three-eighths must be the 
extreme2 smooth brass wire of proper    
dimensions make the best formers we can 
use1 which when you use observe to dip  
them in oil or grease to prevent their  
sticking to the paper1 which must be    
pasted all over2 in rolling them1 make  
use of a rolling board1 but press it    
very lightly upon them2 when you draw   
out the former1 which must be done with 
one hand while you retain the tube with 
the other1 great care must be taken in  
doing this1 or the former will stick and
 tear the paper4  ,in the joining and   

placing these leaders you must be as    
particular and careful as in their      
manufacture for on the well securing and
 adjustment of them depends much of the 
performance of all complex pieces1 on   
which account we shall give in detail   
the best method1 and that in as plain a 
manner as possible3--your works being   
ready to be clothed 7as this operation  
is termed7 cut your pipes in lengths    
sufficient to reach from one case to the
 other1 then put in the ,quick-match    
7prepared as taught in the last         
article17 which must always be made to  
go in very easy2 when the match is in   
the tube1 cut it off about an inch      
beyond the end of the pipe1 and let it  
project as much at the other end1 then  
fasten the pipe to the mouth of each    
case with a pin1 and put the loose ends 
of the match into the mouths of the     
cases of the works1 with a little mealed
 powder2 this done1 paste over the mouth
 of each two or three bits of paper1 and
 the joint will be pretty well secured4 

,for ,illuminations and small cases1 the
 following method is generally employed4
  ,first thread a long pipe1 then lay it
 on the tops of the cases and cut a     
piece off the under side over the mouth 
of each case1 so that the match may     
appear2 then pin the pipe to every other
 case1 but before you put on the pipes  
put a little mealed powder into the     
mouth of each case4 ,if the cases thus  
clothed are ,port-fires or illuminated  
works1 cover the mouth of each case with
 a single paper2 but if they are choaked
 cases so situated that a number of     
sparks from other works may fall on them
 before they are fired1 secure them with
 three or four papers1 which must be    
pasted on very smooth that there be no  
creases for the sparks to lodge in1     
which often set fire to the works before
 their time4  ,avoid as much as possible
 placing the leaders too near or one    
across the other1 so as to touch1 as it 
may happen that the flash of one will   
fire the other1 and thereby destroy the 

beauty of your arrangements4  ,if your  
works should be so formed that the      
leaders must cross or touch each other1 
be very careful to make them strong and 
secure at the joints1 and likewise at   
every opening4  ,when a great length of 
pipe is required1 it must be made by    
joining several pipes together1 after   
the following manner4 ,having put on one
 length of match as many pipes as it    
will hold1 paste paper over every joint1
 but if a still greater length is       
required more pipes must be joined by   
cutting about an inch off one side each 
pipe near the end1 and laying the       
quick-match together and tying them with
 small twine1 after which cover the     
joining with pasted paper4     ,,section
 ,v4  ,,of ,,single ,,fire-,,works4     
,we now proceed to enumerate and        
describe that class of articles1 which  
from the simplicity of their            
construction have obtained the name of  
,single ,fire-works2 among these1 the   
first which offers itself to notice is  

the serpent1 or what is commonly called 
the squib4  #a4 ,,serpents4--,these     
,serpents are generally made about six  
or eight inches long1 and about half an 
inch in diameter1 they are sometimes    
made strait1 and sometimes with a choak 
in the middle of them2 the name which   
they bear1 probably rose from the       
hissing noise which they make when      
fired1 or from the zigzag or vibrating  
directions in which they move when      
properly constructed1 on their being    
projected from the hand4 ,fig4 #ag      
represents a ,serpent complete1 where ,a
 ,c1 the length of the case1 may be     
about six inches for an ordinary size4  
,these cases must be made of some strong
 paper1 and rolled in a former about    
one-fourth of an inch diameter1 or      
somewhat more1 and having choaked or    
tied one end up close1 with strong      
twine1 fill the case about two-thirds of
 the way with some of the composition   
described in the general ,table in      
,section ,,vii1 rammed moderately hard  

in the mould proper for the diameter of 
the case1 and then it is either choaked 
in the part ,b4 that is1 pinched with a 
piece of twine1 so as to leave a very   
small aperture1 or some obstructing     
body1 such as a small piece of paper1 or
 a vetch seed is introduced1 and the    
remainder of the case must be filled    
with grained or corn powder4 ,lastly1   
this other extremity is to be well      
secured with twine1 and is commonly     
dipped into melted pitch3 the other end 
must be now untied and a little         
moistened meal powder is introduced1    
over which a piece of touch-paper being 
properly fastened1 the ,serpent is      
completed4  ,if the ,serpents are not   
choaked towards the middle1 instead of  
moving in a zigzag direction they will  
ascend and descend with an undulating   
motion1 till the fire is communicated to
 the grained powder in the part ,b ,c1  
when they will burst with a loud report4
  ,to introduce the compositions into   
small cases1 a quill cut into the form  

of a spoon will be found very useful4   
,the trouble of first temporarily       
choaking and tying the ends of the cases
 may be dispensed with1 if the mould in 
which they are rammed have attached to  
them a foot and nipple as described in  
the article ,rockets4  ,the common      
squibs1 or such as are of small         
dimensions1 may be made with still less 
trouble1 for the cases being rolled1    
pasted1 and dried as before1 one end may
 be permanently tied and sealed1 or     
dipped into hot pitch1 after which they 
may be filled in the following          
manner3----first put in a small quantity
 of grained powder1 which with your     
rammer and mallet ram down quite hard1  
then fill up the case as before with the
 composition1 ramming it hard down in   
the course of the filling two or three  
times2 this done1 cap it with touch     
paper1 as before directed1 and the      
,squib is fit for action4  #b4          
,,crackers4--,the best material for the 
cases of ,crackers is cartridge paper1  

the dimensions of which for an ordinary 
size is about #ae inches long1 by three 
and a half ditto wide1 folded in the    
following particular manner2 we call it 
particular1 because on it depends the   
goodness of the ,cracker2 the method is1
 first to fold one edge down about      
three-quarters of an inch broad1 then   
the double edge is turned down about a  
quarter of an inch1 and the single edge 
is bent back over the double fold1 so as
 to form within a channel a quarter of  
an inch wide1 which when opened is to be
 filled with mealed powder1 not ground  
very fine1 this powder is then to be    
covered by the folds on each side1 and  
the whole to be pressed very smooth and 
close1 by passing over it the edge of a 
flat ruler or some like instrument1 and 
this part containing the powder is to be
 gradually folded into the remainder of 
the paper1 taking care to press down    
every fold in the same manner4  ,the    
,cracker thus far advanced is to be     
doubled backwards and forwards in folds 

about two and a quarter inches1 as many 
times as the length of the paper will   
allow4 ,after this1 the whole should be 
pressed quite close together by means of
 a small wooden vice1 7similar to those 
known by carpenters under the name of   
hand-screws1 the use of which would be  
found extremely convenient for many     
other purposes17 and a piece of twine   
passed twice round the middle across the
 folds1 and the joinings secured by     
causing the twine to take a turn round  
the middle at every fold successively2  
one of the ends of the folds may be     
doubled short under1 which will produce 
an extra report1 the other must project 
a little beyond the rest for the purpose
 of priming and capping with the touch  
paper2 when this is done the cracker is 
complete4 ,crackers when well made and  
of sufficient strength1 are productive  
of much mirth1 and when of considerable 
magnitude1 furnish excellent means of   
dispersing a crowd2 at the same time    
they are so perfectly harmless that no  

evil consequence may be expected to     
follow the amusement they afford4  #c4  
,,pin ,,wheels4--,pin or ,catherine     
,wheels are of very simple construction1
 nothing more being wanted than a long  
wire former1 about three sixteenths of  
an inch diameter2 on this wire are      
formed the pipes1 which being filled    
with composition are afterwards rolled  
round a small circle of wood1 so as to  
form an helix or spiral line4  ,the     
cases are generally made of ,elephant   
paper1 or such as will admit of the     
greatest length2 rolled about four times
 round the wire and pasted as they are  
rolled2 when a number of pipes are made 
and got perfectly dry1 they are filled  
with the composition described at ,no4  
#b1 in the table2 these cases are not   
rammed1 but filled by means of a tin    
funnel with a long pipe1 made so as     
easily to pass down the case1 which is  
gradually filled by shaking the         
composition out of the funnel2 all the  
cases prepared being thus filled1 one of

 them being closed at one end1 is to be 
pasted round the flat circle of wood1   
which must not be above half an inch    
thick1 and one inch in diameter1 and    
secured at every half turn by sealing   
wax2 when this is all wound round the   
circle and the wheel not sufficiently   
large1 a second case may be inserted    
into the mouth of the last1 taking care 
that the end introduced is only loosely 
twisted1 otherwise it might obstruct the
 communication and destroy the effect2  
but this being properly adjusted and the
 joining secured by pasting paper round 
it1 the spiral is to be continued in the
 same way as before1 till the wheel be  
increased to the proper dimensions1 or  
such as suits the taste of the ,tyro4   
,the central block must be pierced in   
the middle for the purpose of receiving 
a strong pin1 or a small piece of wire1 
by which the wheel may be attached to a 
post or any other convenient object1 or 
the pin or wire being inserted into the 
pith of an hazel stick1 the wheel       

without any danger may be let off in the
 hand2 when the mouth of the last round 
is primed and capped with touch-paper1  
on its being lighted1 the impulse of the
 flame against the air forces back the  
ignited part of the wheel1 which        
continues to revolve till the whole of  
the composition is consumed4#g  #d4     
,,stars4--,these are small paper globes 
filled with a composition that emits a  
most beautiful radiating light1 which   
has been compared to the light of 8those
 endless beauties which adorn our       
celestial hemisphere20 as the purposes  
for which they are used are chiefly as  
ornaments to other articles1 such as    
rockets1 roman candles1 c4 their        
dimensions must of consequence be       
limited or adapted to those articles1   
therefore their diameters must seldom   
exceed three-quarters of an inch1 unless
 the articles to which they are attached
 are of more than ordinary dimensions1  
and for small articles their diameter   
must be less in proportion4 ,at the     

beginning of this article we called them
 8paper globes10 but we must observe    
that they are only put in paper1 when   
their composition is prepared dry2 and  
instead of paper they are frequently    
wrapped in a small piece of linen rag1  
tied closely round with small twine1 and
 when either of these wrappers are used1
 a hole must be pierced through its     
middle1 to receive a piece of match left
 projecting a little on each side4      
,though the above mode of making ,stars 
is frequently practised1 yet ,i have    
always found it best to use the         
composition moist1 in the form of stiff 
paste1 when it will not be necessary to 
inclose the ,star in any thing1 because 
when prepared of such paste it can      
retain its roundness2 there will be no  
need also of piercing a hole in it for  
the match1 because when newly made and  
consequently moist1 it may be rolled in 
pulverized gunpowder1 which will adhere 
to it2 this powder when kindled will    
serve as a match1 and inflame the       

composition of the ,star1 which in      
falling will form itself into stars1 and
 exhibit a most beautiful appearance4   
,for the composition for stars consult  
the table ,sect4 #g1 ,no4 #c1 and ,no4  
#d4  ,,strung ,,stars4--,to make these  
cut some thin paper into pieces of about
 an inch and a half square1 then on each
 piece lay equal quantities of dry star 
composition1 nearly as much as the paper
 will contain1 then twist up the paper  
as light as possible1 when done rub some
 flower paste on your hand and roll the 
star between them1 then set them in some
 warm place to dry2 the stars being thus
 prepared1 get some flax or fine tow1   
and roll a little over each star1 then  
paste the band and roll them as before1 
after which set them again to dry2 which
 when that is quite effected1 with a    
piercer make a hole through the middle  
of each1 and thread them on a cotton    
quick-match1 long enough to contain #aj 
or #ab stars three or four inches       
distance2 by joining sundry lengths of  

match we may string any number of stars 
we choose4  ,,tailed ,,stars4--,or1 as  
they are sometimes called cometic-stars1
 from their sending out a great number  
of sparks1 which represent a tail       
similar to that of comet2 there are two 
kinds which bear the above name1 which  
are those that are rolled1 and those    
that are driven2 when rolled they must  
be moistened with a liquor made of half 
a pint of spirit of wine1 and half a    
gill of thin size1 7vellum or any other 
that is fine17 of which as much as will 
bring the composition to a consistency  
proper for rolling into balls2 when that
 is done1 sift mealed powder over them  
and set them to dry4  ,,driven          
,,stars4--,for these1 the liquid used   
for moistening the composition must be  
spirit of wine1 with a little camphor   
dissolved in it1 and but a very small   
quantity of it1 as for ,driven ,stars   
the composition does not require to be  
wet2 cases containing one or two ounces 
are best for this purpose1 which must be

 made of some very thin paper4  ,the    
composition being damped with the spirit
 of wine and camphor as above1 they are 
to be filled and rammed moderately hard1
 taking care that the case be not broken
 or the paper drove down on the inside2 
as a protection to them1 while filling  
and ramming1 it will be best to procure 
several moulds fitted to their exterior 
diameter4 ,these moulds may be of tin1  
or any kind of wood1 of dimensions      
suited to ,stars from #h drams to #d    
ounces2 when they are filled1 their     
cases must be made considerably lighter1
 which is effected by unrolling the     
paper within three or four rounds of the
 charge1 which is to be cut off1 and the
 loose edge made fast with a little     
paste1 and afterwards set by for two or 
three days to dry2 when they have       
attained sufficient dryness they must be
 cut into lengths proportionate to their
 weights1 which will be nearly as       
follows3 from quarter to half-ounce     
cases1 their lengths may be five or six 

eighths of an inch2 from half to one    
ounce cases1 their lengths may be one   
inch2 if two ounces1 one inch and a     
quarter2 from #c to #d ounces one inch  
and a half long3 of the smaller pieces1 
one end must be dipped into melted wax  
in a manner to cover the composition1   
the other end must be sprinkled with    
mealed powder wetted with spirit of     
wine4 ,of the larger pieces both ends   
must be primed with mealed powder wetted
 as before4  ,stars made after the above
 manner are used almost exclusively for 
,air ,balloons1 and are driven in cases 
to secure them from the force of the    
composition with which the ,balloons are
 filled1 therefore their application to 
,rockets1 and other small articles1 is  
quite incompatible with their nature4   
,,rolled ,,stars4--,these are so called 
chiefly from the operation employed in  
their manufacture4 ,their dimensions are
 from half an inch to one inch diameter4
 ,in the composition care must be taken 
that the ingredients are well mixed1 and

 previous to its being made up1 it must 
be wetted with the following liquid     
sufficient to convert it into paste2    
spirit of wine one quart1 in which      
dissolve one fourth of an ounce of      
,isinglass4 ,too much of the composition
 must not be prepared at once1 one pound
 will be sufficient for an ordinary     
number of ,stars1 for if a greater      
quantity is wetted the spirit will be   
liable to evaporate1 and leave the      
composition dry and unfit for the       
purpose1 before it can be all rolled up4
 ,to make the stars of uniform          
dimensions1 ,i have found the following 
method most eligible1 and of least      
trouble2 when the composition is        
properly moistened1 roll it with a      
smooth round stick on any flat even     
surface1 as stone or wood1 till its     
thickness is about half an inch1 then   
divide it accurately into squares1 of   
dimensions suitable to the desired      
magnitude of the ,stars2 there are other
 methods for regulating the size of the 

,stars1 but this ,i have found most     
practicable which will justify me in    
recommending it4 ,having rolled up the  
portion of prepared composition as      
directed1 shake them in some meal powder
 while they are damp1 and set them in   
some warm place to dry1 which will be   
effected in two or three days2 but if   
wanted immediately they may be quickly  
dried1 in an earthen pan over a slow    
fire1 or in an oven of moderate         
temperature2 when the ,stars are        
perfectly prepared they must be         
preserved in some small box for use1 for
 if exposed to the air they will grow   
weak1 and produce but few of those      
effects which at other times render them
 so beautiful4  #e4 ,,sparks4--,it is   
only as it regards magnitude that       
,sparks differ from stars above         
described1 they being generally made of 
very small size1 and consequently of    
short duration in their exhibition4 ,the
 method of preparing them is as follows3
 put into an earthen vessel one ounce of

 mealed gunpowder1 three ounces of      
powdered salt-petre1 and four ounces of 
camphor1 reduced to powder by rubbing it
 in a mortar with a small quantity of   
spirit of wine2 pour over this mixture  
some weak gum-water1 in which some      
gum-adraganth has been dissolved1 till  
the composition is brought to a state of
 thin paste2 then take some lint1       
prepared by boiling it in vinegar or    
salt-petre1 and afterwards dried and    
unravelled1 and put into the composition
 enough of it to absorb the whole1 at   
the same time take care to stir it well4
 ,this matter is to be formed into small
 balls1 of about the size of a pea1     
which being dried by a moderate heat are
 to be sprinkled with mealed gunpowder1 
for the purpose that they may readily   
catch fire4  ,another method of making  
,sparks4--,take some saw-dust made from 
fir1 or any kind of wood that burns     
readily1 and boil it in water in which  
salt-petre has been dissolved2 after    
boiling about a quarter of an hour1 the 

vessel must be removed from the fire1   
and the liquid poured off so as to leave
 the saw-dust at the bottom of the      
vessel1 then place the saw-dust by      
itself upon a flat board or table1 and  
while in a moist state sprinkle it with 
sulphur1 sifted through a fine hair     
sieve1 the sifting powder 7sulphur7 will
 be improved if to it be added a small  
portion of bruised gunpowder4 ,when the 
whole has been well mixed and of proper 
consistence1 it is to be made up into   
,sparks1 as described in the other      
method4  #f4 ,,marroons4--,marroons are 
of very easy construction1 being nothing
 more than small cubical boxes1 filled  
with a composition proper for making    
them burst1 and thence producing a loud 
report1 which1 and the suddenness of it1
 is their chief property4 ,they are used
 principally in combination with other  
pieces1 or to form a battery1 in which1 
by different lengths of quick-match1    
they are caused to explode at distinct  
intervals4  ,construction4--,cut a piece

 of pasteboard into the form represented
 in fig4 #ah1 which will fold up into a 
cubical case1 the angles must be well   
secured by pasting paper over them1 the 
top being left till it is filled3 when  
this is done the box is to be filled    
with grained powder1 then cement strong 
paper over the top1 and again in various
 directions over the body2 and to       
increase the strength of the box 7which 
will produce a louder report7 wrap round
 two or three rows of packthread dipped 
in some strong glue1 then make a hole in
 one of the corners1 and introduce into 
it a piece of quick-match1 and your     
,marroon is ready for action4  ,marroons
 may be rendered luminous1 or caused to 
emit a brilliant appearance previous to 
their explosion4  ,this is effected by  
covering them with paste made of flower 
of sulphur1 mixed up with thin starch1  
and afterwards rolling them in          
pulverized gunpowder1 which will serve  
as a match or communication2 when made  
after this manner they are called       

luminous marroons4  #g4                 
,,saucissons4--,these differ only in    
form from the foregoing articles2 till  
lately no distinction was made between  
them1 nor 7in our opinion7 ought any to 
exist1 but the ,french ,artists have    
thought proper to give them the above   
name from the supposed resemblance they 
bear to a sausage4  ,the cases of       
,marroons are made cubical1 those for   
the present articles are made           
cylindrical1 and in proportion must be  
about four times their exterior diameter
 in length2 their diameters may be from 
one to two and a half or three inches1  
and their cases increasing in strength  
as their dimensions4  ,the cases must be
 choaked or pinched at one end after the
 manner of rockets1 and tied quite      
close2 and afterwards the former1 on    
which they are rolled1 should be pressed
 hard upon the bottom to make it smooth1
 and to take out the wrinkles left by   
the choaking2 the former1 or interior   
diameter1 should not exceed one half of 

the exterior diameter of the case4  ,the
 cases being thus prepared1 they are to 
be filled with coarse powder one        
diameter1 and one fourth high1 and the  
rest of the paper must be folded down   
tight upon the powder2 then bind them   
tight in every direction with strong    
packthread dipped in glue1 and they are 
then left to dry as before4  ,they may  
be rendered luminous1 and the match     
applied in the same manner as to        
,marroons4  ,batteries of ,marroons1    
c4--,these1 it has been said1 if well   
managed1 will keep time to a march1 or a
 slow piece of music4 ,they must indeed 
be well managed to do so2 ,i have 7with 
care7 made several trials1 but in       
neither was ,i fortunate enough to      
produce that uniformity in their        
intervals1 as to mark correctly their   
commencement of each bar of the music2  
which1 if they do not1 they fail        
entirely as to this property4 ,but1     
however1 much effect may be produced by 
these noisy pieces by arranging them on 

several stands1 with a number of cross  
rails1 on which they are to be nailed1  
and connected together by means of      
leaders c4 of different lengths1        
according to their distance asunder1    
observing to use the large and small    
marroons and saucissons in order to     
produce a greater variety in the        
reports1 which during the exhibition of 
other articles is their chief purpose4  
,a ,battery with the leaders complete is
 represented in ,fig4 #ai4  #h4         
,,gerbes4--,this is a species of        
,fire-work which1 from a cylindrical    
case1 throws up a luminous and sparkling
 jet of fire1 which ,from its partial   
resemblance of a water-spout1 the       
,french have given it the appellation of
 ,gerbe4  ,gerbes consist of a strong   
cylindrical case made of thick paper or 
paste-board1 and filled with brilliant  
composition1 and sometimes with stars or
 balls placed at small distances1 so    
that the composition and balls are      
introduced alternately2 immediately     

below each ball is placed a little      
grained powder4 ,this last kind of      
,gerbes are more properly called ,roman 
,candles1 which we shall describe in the
 next article4 ,gerbes are sometimes    
made wholly cylindrical1 and sometimes  
with a long narrow neck2 the reasons for
 making them with a neck are deduced    
from rather philosophical               
considerations3 when fired they exert   
great force on all parts of the case1   
especially at the mouth1 from which it  
proceeds with great velocity2 the       
reasons therefore deduced for making    
them with a long neck are--first1 that  
the particles of iron1 which enter into 
their composition1 will have more time  
to be heated1 by meeting with greater   
resistance in getting out than with a   
short neck1 which would be burnt too    
wide before the charge be consumed1 and 
spoil the effect2 secondly1 that with   
long necks the stars will be thrown to a
 greater height1 and will not fall      
before they are spent or spread too     

much2 but when made to perfection1 will 
rise and spread in such a manner as to  
represent pretty exactly the form of a  
wheat-sheaf4  ,the diameter of ,gerbes  
is generally estimated by the weight of 
a leaden ball1 which the case is capable
 of receiving2 thus we say ,gerbes of   
eight ounces1 of one pound1 c4 ,their   
length from the bottom to the top of the
 neck should be about six diameters2 the
 neck being about one-sixth diameter1   
and three-fourths diameter long4 ,they  
are filled in two ways1 according as    
they have a neck1 or are wholly         
cylindrical2 the cases of the latter    
kind are closed below1 and are filled   
like those of serpents1 but the         
composition must be put in by small     
quantities1 and rammed very hard2 cases 
with necks are filled from the bottom1  
but you must be careful1 before you     
commence ramming1 to plug up the        
aperture of the neck with a piece of    
wood fitted to its diameter1 for if this
 is not done1 the composition will fall 

into the neck1 and leave a vacancy in   
the case1 which will cause it to burst  
as soon as the fire arrives at that part
 of it4  ,you must observe1 too1 that   
the first ramming or two be of some     
weaker composition than the body of the 
case4 ,when filled the plug must be     
removed1 and the neck filled with some  
slow charge1 and capped with            
touch-paper2 a foot of wood is          
afterwards to be fixed to the ,gerbe and
 well secured1 either by a cylinder     
fixed to the outside of the case1 or by 
having in it a hole1 into which the case
 may be inserted2 when either of these  
methods is employed the foot must be    
firmly attached4  ,sometimes sparks     
7,article #e17 are introduced during the
 filling of the cases1 but in this case 
special care must be taken that they are
 not broken by hard ramming2 their      
number should be regulated by the size  
of the case1 and when carefully used1   
they produce a pleasing effect1 but they
 are most adapted to such ,gerbes as are

 wholly cylindrical4  ,the following    
method of finding the interior diameter 
of ,gerbes is generally                 
employed3--supposing the exterior       
diameter of the case at bottom 7which is
 usually made somewhat larger than the  
top7 to be four inches1 then by taking  
two-fourths for the sides of the case1  
there will remain two inches for the    
bore1 which will be a tolerable good    
size1 and from the rules given for the  
height the same will be about           
twenty-four inches to the top of the    
neck4 ,fig4 #bj represents a wooden     
former2 and fig4 #ba a ,gerbe with its  
foot complete4 ,the composition for     
filling will be found in the ,table1    
,section #g4  ,in ramming large ,gerbes 
an external mould will not be requisite1
 the cases being sufficiently strong to 
support themselves4  ,,small            
,,gerbes4--,these are frequently called 
8,white ,fountains20 they differ but    
little1 when used as ,gerbes1 from the  
foregoing3 they are made of four1 eight1

 or twelve ounce cases1 of any length1  
pasted and made very strong3 before they
 are filled1 drive in about one diameter
 of their orifice high some good stiff  
clay1 and when the case is filled1 bore 
through the centre of the clay to the   
composition a vent-hole of common       
proportion1 which must be primed and    
capped as before4  ,these cases are     
sometimes filled with ,chinese fire1 in 
this case the clay must not be used1 but
 filled the same as cylindrical cases1  
and footed and primed in the same       
manner4  #i4 ,,roman ,,candles4--,roman 
,candles are constructed nearly after   
the manner of ,gerbes2 their cases are  
made perfectly cylindrical1 as above    
described1 and between the layers of    
composition1 are interposed balls1 or   
stars1 which are prepared as directed in
 ,article #d4 ,in filling and ramming   
,roman ,candles1 especial care must be  
taken that the stars are not broken in  
the operation4 ,when the cases have been
 properly rolled and dried1 and their   

bottoms firmly secured by tying them    
with some strong twine1 it is best1     
previous to putting in the composition1 
to ram a little dry clay1 which will    
fill up the hollow1 and leave a better  
bottom to the case4 ,this being properly
 done1 put in a small quantity of corn  
powder1 and over this a small piece of  
paper1 just to prevent the composition  
from mixing with the powder2 then as    
much of the composition is to be put in 
as will1 when rammed hard down1 fill the
 case about one sixth of its height2    
then over this a small piece of paper   
7covering about two thirds of the       
diameter7 as before1 then a little corn 
powder1 and upon that a ball is to be   
placed1 observing to let the ball be    
somewhat less than the diameter of the  
case4 ,over this first ball more of the 
composition is to be introduced1 and    
pressed lightly down1 till the case is  
about one third full1 when it may be    
rammed1 but with some gentle strokes1   
lest the ball is broken by it2 then a   

piece of paper1 a little corn powder1   
and upon it another ball1 as before2 so 
that the case after this manner will    
contain five or six balls with regular  
beds of composition between them1 and   
have about the same length of           
composition above the highest ball4     
,when the case is thus filled it is to  
be capped with touch-paper by pasting it
 round the orifice1 and a little priming
 of mealed powder being added1 the piece
 is rendered complete4  ,in regard to   
the stars or balls1 it is best that     
their form be flat and circular1 or even
 square rather than spherical1 as they  
will be less liable to be injured in the
 filling2 they should also be somewhat  
different in size1 which is found to add
 much to their effect2 that is1 let the 
first star be about two thirds the      
diameter of the case1 let the next be a 
little larger1 and so on increasing to  
the fourth1 fifth1 or sixth1 which last 
should fit tight into the case4         
,observe also to let the quantity of    

powder at the bottom of each ball       
increase as the balls increase in       
diameter1 or as they come nearer the top
 of the case2 not on account of the     
additional weight of the ball1 but1 as  
on those balls situate near the top1 the
 force of the powder ceases to act on   
the ball1 sooner than on those situate  
lower in the case1 consequently the     
force to throw the ball to the same     
distance must increase proportionally2  
another reason for decreasing the       
quantity of powder towards the bottom   
is1 that the same quantity used with the
 bottom as with the top ball1 would     
cause the case to burst1 and destroy all
 the effect which they are intended to  
produce4  ,the composition for filling  
will be found in the ,table1 ,section   
#g4  ,the best way of exhibiting these  
,roman ,candles is to place them in rows
 on a stand1 some fixed quite           
perpendicular1 others declining at      
different angles1 that the balls may be 
projected to various distances1 and     

produce a more beautiful effect4 ,the   
greatest angle of declination should not
 exceed forty-five or fifty degrees4  ,a
 very pleasing variety of ,gerbes may be
 produced by filling the cylindrical    
cases with the compositions called      
,chinese fire1 7see next article17 being
 filled with red or white1 and used with
 different proportions of the           
ingredients1 they may be cast into many 
and various shades of colours4  #aj4    
,,chinese ,,fire4--,the principal       
ingredient which forms this beautiful   
composition1 has been already described 
in article #f1 section #b1 under the    
name of ,iron-sand2 what we have to give
 in this place is1 the proportion in    
which it is used with the other         
ingredients2 the composition is rendered
 into two particular distinctions1      
namely1 red and white1 and each of them 
made with different proportions of the  
ingredients according to the calibres of
 the cases intended to be filled with   
it1 which calibre is estimated by the   

weight of lead balls1 which will just   
fill out their diameter1 as was taught  
in the ,article ,gerbes4   ,for ,red    
,chinese ,fire4          ,calibres4     
,salt-  ,sulphur4 ,charcoal4 ,sand #ast 
petre4                      order4   ,i4
   #ab to #af lb4   #a lb4   #c ozs4    
#d ozs4    #g ozs4   ,,ii4  #af to #bb  
lb4   #a lb4   #c ozs4   #e ozs4    #g  
ozs4 #h drs4   ,,iii4 #bb to #cf lb4    
#a lb4   #d ozs4   #f ozs4    #h ozs4   
,for ,white ,chinese ,fire4             
,calibres4     ,salt-  ,bruised         
,charcoal4     ,sand #c;d               
petre4  powder4                   order4
   ,i4   #ab to #af lb4   #a lb4  #ab   
ozs4   #g ozs4 #h drs4  #aa ozs4   ,,ii4
  #af to #bb lb4   #a lb4  #aa ozs4   #h
 ozs4         #aa ozs4 #h drs4   ,,iii4 
#bb to #cf lb4   #a lb4  #aa ozs4   #h  
ozs4 #h drs4  #ab ozs4  ,after carefully
 weighing the several ingredients1      
observe to sift the salt-petre and      
charcoal two or three times through a   
hair sieve in order that they may be    

well mixed2 the iron-sand is then to be 
moistened a little with brandy or       
spirits of wine1 which will make the    
sulphur adhere1 and they must be well   
incorporated4 ,the sand now said to be  
sulphured1 must be put to the mixture of
 salt-petre and charcoal1 and then      
stirred and turned about till the parts 
are thoroughly incorporated4            
,,section ,,vi4  ,,rockets4   ,we come  
now to that part of our work which      
treats on the most beautiful of all     
,pyrotechnic productions4  ,rockets have
 ever held the first place among single 
fire-works since the invention of the   
art2 and to which they are justly       
entitled1 both for the pleasing         
appearance they produce when fired by   
themselves1 and the extensive           
application of them to increase the     
beauty of the other exhibitions4  ,they 
are called by the ,italians ,rochette   
and ,raggi2 by the ,germans ,raketen and
 ,drachetten2 by the ,french ,fuses2 and
 by the ,latins ,rochet2 from which     

appears to be derived the name given    
them by the ,english2 so much for their 
names3--as to their invention it is most
 probable that it took place at a very  
early period1 if not among the first    
productions of the art4 ,by the ancient 
,pyrotechnicians1 they were considered  
as the most difficult articles of       
manufacture1 insomuch that it was the   
first task enjoined to the disciples of 
,prometheus1#h or professors of the art2
 and the goodness of the article1       
furnished a criterion of their          
pretensions4  ,it is to be questioned   
whether the ancients had such a variety 
of these articles1 as we now have2 but  
it is pretty certain that they were well
 acquainted with the proper proportions 
of the moulds requisite for their       
manufacture1 insomuch that in many of   
their treatises1 we find them employing 
the most difficult mathematical         
calculations1 and giving intricate      
algebraic formul1 for the purpose of    
finding their true proportion2 but many 

of such useless difficulties we shall   
endeavour to evade1 and essay to render 
our explications familiar without wholly
 sacrificing scientific investigations4 
,rockets consist of strong paper        
cylinders1 which being filled with the  
proper composition rammed hard1 and fire
 being applied to their apertures they  
are caused to ascend into the air1 or in
 any required directions2 they have     
generally a head fixed to them          
containing corn powder1 sparks1 and many
 other decorations1 which1 when the body
 of the ,rocket is consumed1 take fire1 
burst in the air1 and produce a most    
beautiful appearance2 these are called  
,sky-rockets4 ,others are made to run   
with great velocity along a line1 and   
are therefore called ,line-rockets1 or  
,courantines4 ,some are fixed on the    
circumference1 or on the axle of a      
wheel1 and are denominated              
,wheel-rockets2 while another kind have 
their cases made perfectly water-tight1 
and being filled with stronger          

composition1 admit of being plunged in  
and under water without retarding their 
inflammation2 these receive the         
significant appellation of              
,water-rockets4  #a4                    
,sky-rockets4--,sky-rockets1 in regard  
to size1 are divided into three kinds1  
namely1 those the calibre or internal   
diameter of which does not exceed that  
of a pound bullet2 or having their      
orifice equal to a leaden bullet1 which 
weighs exactly one pound2 for the       
relative magnitude of ,rockets is       
estimated by the diameter of lead balls 
or bullets1 after the manner taught in  
the ,article ,gerbes4 ,those1 therefore1
 the calibre of which does not exceed a 
pound bullet1 are termed small-size     
,rockets2 those whose calibre is from   
one to three pounds are of the middle   
size2 and those whose calibres exceed   
the last dimensions1 are termed ,rockets
 of the largest size2 or are named after
 their weight1 estimated as above4  ,we 
now proceed to describe the moulds and  

apparatus requisite for making ,rockets1
 for on the due proportion of which 7as 
was before observed7 depends much of the
 goodness of the article4 ,these moulds 
are also requisite in order that any    
number of ,rockets may be prepared of   
the same size and force4 ,as ,rockets   
are made of various sizes1 it is evident
 that moulds of different diameters must
 be produced4  ,fig4 #a1 plate #a1      
represents a mould made and proportioned
 by the diameter of its calibre1 which  
is divided into equal parts and rendered
 into scale1 by which the relative      
proportions may be understood1 merely by
 a contemplation of the figure4 ,thus ,a
 ,b is the calibre1 or diameter2 ,c ,d  
its whole height1 including the foot    
complete1 and equal to eight diameters1 
as per scale3 ,e is the thickness of the
 mould1 and may be about half a         
diameter2 it should be made of some hard
 wood1 such as lignum vit1 or box1 and  
may be either ornamented or plain2 ,f is
 an iron pin1 which serves to fix the   

cylinder firm to its foot4 ,fig4 #b1 is 
the foot detached from the cylinder1 and
 drawn in true proportion as per scale2 
,g1 ,h1 ,i1 ,j1 is the base1 and may be 
about one and half diameter high2 ,k1   
the choak1 which serves to connect the  
cylinder to the foot2 ,l is the nipple1 
which is half a diameter high1 and in   
thickness equal to the former1 or       
five-eighths diameter2 ,m is the        
piercer1 whose height is three diameters
 and a-half from the nipple1 and at the 
bottom one third or fourth diameter1    
from thence tapering to one-sixth       
diameter in thickness4 ,this piercer    
should be of iron1 and inserted firmly  
into the foot2 its purpose is to        
preserve a vacuity in the centre of the 
charge1 the nature of which we shall    
hereafter explain4 ,fig4 #c1 is a former
 in two pieces1 connected by an iron    
pin1 7in diameter equal to the bottom of
 the piercer17 to which both ends are   
rounded off1 in order that the choak or 
contraction in the cartridge may be     

effected more easily2 the diameter of   
this former must be the same as that of 
the nipple1 or suppose the diameter of  
the mould be divided into eight equal   
parts1 7which is done on one part of the
 scale17 then the diameter of the former
 must be equal to five of these parts4  
,the length of this former1 or roller1  
is not particular1 providing it be long 
enough to admit of good hand-hold in the
 rolling of the cases2 the short part of
 the former ,a may be two diameters in  
length1 and should have a line ,b marked
 round it in the middle1 or one diameter
 from the end2 the longer part may be   
seven or eight diameters1 which will    
give good hand-hold in the rolling4     
,fig4 #d and #e1 are rammers1 or drift  
pins1 used in loading the cases1 which  
must be pierced lengthwise to fit on to 
the piercer4  ,fig4 #d4 ,the first      
rammer should be pierced the whole      
length of the piercer1 the second rammer
 should be pierced one and a half       
diameter2 when the case is loaded and   

rammed above the piercer1 a short solid 
rammer must be used1 and these rammers  
should be a little less than the former1
 to prevent injury to the inside of the 
cartridge1 when driving in the charge4  
,they should be made of some hard wood1 
and their extremities secured by ferrels
 of brass1 or any other metal1 which    
will keep them from splitting or        
extending3 their lengths are of little  
consequence1 providing they do not much 
exceed the relative depths of the       
cartridge2 for1 as the workmen say1 the 
longer the rammer the less will be the  
pressure on the composition by the blow 
given by the mallet4  ,the proportion   
between the length of ,rockets and their
 calibre1 is not the same in ,rockets of
 greater or less dimensions than those  
given above1 but should vary nearly as  
their magnitude2 that is to say1 their  
length should be diminished as their    
calibre is increased4 ,the length of the
 mould for small ,rockets should be six 
times the calibre1 but for ,rockets of  

the mean and larger size1 it will be    
sufficient if the length of the mould be
 five times1 or even four times that of 
the calibre4  ,the following is a table 
computed to regulate the height and     
diameter of the mould according to the  
weight of the ,rockets1 when they are   
driven solid1 or without the use of a   
piercer4 ,it is extracted from an old   
treatise on fire-works by ,lieutenant   
,robert ,jones2 and inserted for the    
assistance of those who may wish to     
construct ,rockets without the piercer1 
a practice we would never recommend to  
those for whom our 8,manual0 is         
designed4 ,to those who manufacture     
fire-works for sale it is certainly the 
most expeditious method to ram them     
solid1 and with the machine to bore or  
pierce them afterwards2 but to those who
 make ,rockets for their own private    
recreation1 it is by far the most       
eligible to load them over a piercer1   
for by the other method it will require 
a very expensive apparatus1#i and at    

first more skill to use it than what the
 ,tyro will possess1 and at last he will
 never be certain that he has made a    
good article4   ,,table ,i4             
,,dimensions ,,of ,,rockets4            
,length of the   ,weight of  moulds     
without   ,interior diameter    ,heights
 of the   ,rockets4     their feet4     
of the moulds4        nipples4    #f    
lbs4     #cd4g inches4       #c4e       
inches4         #a4e inches4    #d do4  
#ca4f do4           #b4i do4            
#a4d do4    #b do4      #ac4c do4       
#b4a do4             #a4j do4    #a do4 
#ab4b do4           #a4g do4            
#j4he do4    #h ozs4     #aj4ab do4     
#a4c do4             #j4f do4    #d do4 
#g4ge do4          #a4ab do4            
#j4e do4    #b do4       #f4b do4       
#j4i do4             #j4de do4    #a do4
       #d4i do4           #j4g do4      
#j4cc do4     do4       #c4g do4        
#j4ee do4            #j4be do4    #f    
drs4      #c4e do4           #j4e do4   
#j4bb do4    #d do4       #b4b do4      

#j4c do4             #j4b do4  ,by this 
table we find that a six-pound ,rocket  
rammed solid1 must be thirty-four       
inches1 seven-tenths in length2 its     
external diameter three inches          
five-tenths or three and half inches1   
and the height of the nipple one inch   
and a-half4 ,the diameter of the nipple 
in this and all other cases must be     
equal to that of the former1 and in     
regard to its height ,i have never found
 it to answer better than when the      
cavity which it formed at the mouth of  
the ,rocket was hemispherical1 or equal 
in height to half its diameter4  ,we    
shall now1 by the following table1 shew 
the method of finding the calibre of    
,rockets according to their weight1     
which is computed by the principles     
already given2 that is1 a pound ,rocket 
is such that its aperture will just     
admit a bullet of a pound weight1 and so
 of the rest4   ,,table ,,ii4  ,,of     
,,the ,,calibre ,,of ,,rockets ,,of ,a  
,,pound ,,weight ,,and ,,below4    #af  

ounces4     #ai lines4#aj   #ad drams4  
#g lines4   #ab do4         #ag   do4   
#ab  do4      #g   do4    #h do4        
#ae   do4         #aj  do4      #f  do4 
#g do4         #ad  do4          #h  do4
      #f  do4    #f do4         #ad  do4
          #f  do4      #e  do4    #e do4
         #ac   do4          #d  do4     
#d  do4    #d do4         #ab  do4      
#b  do4      #c  do4    #c do4          
#aa  do4    #b do4          #i  do4     
#a do4          #f  do4  ,the use of    
this table will be easily understood1   
for1 as in the first instance1 if a     
,rocket of #af ounces ought to be       
nineteen and a-half lines in diameter1  
one of #ab must be #ag lines1 one of #h 
ounces #ae lines1 one of #h drams six   
and a-quarter lines2 and so of the      
others4  ,if the diameter of the ,rocket
 be given1 we can as easily1 by the     
reverse method1 find the weight of the  
ball corresponding to that calibre4 ,for
 example1 if the diameter be #ae lines1 
it will be immediately seen1 by seeking 

for that number in the column of lines1 
that it answers to a ball of eight      
ounces4  ,as the foregoing table extends
 only to ,rockets of #af ounces1 or one 
pound1 and from that downwards1 the     
following will be found equally useful  
for those of superior dimensions4       
,,table ,,iii4  ,,of ,,the ,,calibre    
,,of ,,moulds ,,from #a ,,to #eg        
,,pounds ,,ball4    ,pounds4  ,calibre4 
,pounds4  ,calibre4      ,pounds4       
,calibre4     #a        #ajj            
#bj       #bga          #ci       #cci  
#b        #abf           #ba       #bge 
#dj       #cda     #c        #add       
#bb       #bhb          #da       #cdd  
#d        #aeh           #bc       #bhd 
#db       #cdg     #e        #aga       
#bd       #bhh          #dc       #cej  
#f        #aha           #be       #bib 
#dd       #cec     #g        #aia       
#bf       #bif          #de       #cee  
#h        #bjj           #bg       #cjj 
#df       #ceh     #i        #bjh       
#bh       #cjd          #dg       #cfa  

#aj        #bae           #bi       #cjg
          #dh       #cfc    #aa         
#bbb           #cj       #caj           
#di       #cff    #ab        #bbh       
#ca       #bad          #ej       #cfh  
#ac        #bce           #cb       #cag
          #ea       #cga    #ad         
#bda           #cc       #cbj           
#eb       #cgc    #ae        #bdg       
#cd       #cbc          #ec       #cgf  
#af        #beb           #ce       #cbf
          #ed       #cgh    #ag         
#beg           #cf       #ccj           
#ee       #chj    #ah        #bfb       
#cg       #ccc          #ef       #chb  
#ai        #bfg           #ch       #ccf
          #eg       #che  ,by this      
,table1 the weight of the ball being    
given1 the size of the mould may be     
found after the following manner3       
suppose it be #ah pounds2 opposite to   
it1 in the column of calibres1 is #bfb2 
then say by the rule of proportion1 as  
#ajj is to #ai and a half1 so is #bfb to
 a fourth term1 viz4 #ea4ji which is the

 number of lines of the calibre         
required2 therefore1 the ,calibre of a  
,rocket of #ah pounds1 will be #eb lines
 nearly1 or #d inches and #d lines4 ,the
 calibre may be also found by           
multiplying the number answering to the 
pounds by #ai1 and cutting off from the 
product the two last figures2 thus      
suppose the number be #beb1 which       
multiply by #ai1 the product #diad      
separated by the decimal point will give
 #di4ad1 or four inches a line and      
one-eighth4  ,now suppose the calibre to
 be given in lines1 the weight of the   
ball may be found with equal ease1 e4 g4
 if the calibre given be #cf lines1 then
 as #ai 3 #ajj 33 #cf 3 #ahd2 the       
nearest number in the table to this is  
#aha1 which shews that the weight of the
 ball will be rather more than six      
pounds2 therefore a ,rocket1 the calibre
 of which is #cf lines1 is a ,rocket of 
a six pound ball4   ,,remarks ,,on ,,the
 ,,foregoing ,,tables4  ,,table ,i gives
 the dimensions of ,rocket moulds when  

the ,rockets are rammed solid2 it was   
calculated1 as its ,author informs us1  
from repeated experiments2 we insert it 
for the information of our readers1 but 
we would advise none to practise the    
method of solid ramming4  ,,table       
,,ii4--,this table may be perfectly     
understood by the explanation given of  
its use1 and from considering that a    
lead bullet of a pound weight1 is just  
#ai lines in diameter1 as may be proved 
by experiment2 the inferior numbers are 
likewise the diameters of the inferior  
weight4  ,,table ,,iii4--,this table is 
only an extension of the latter1        
although its arrangement is somewhat    
different2 for if #ai1 the diameter of a
 ball weighing one pound1 be assumed as 
unity with any number of cyphers1       
answering to the number of parts which  
the same diameter is divided into1      
7which may be done by means of the      
diagonal scale17 let this number be     
#ajj1 which answers to one in the column
 of pounds3--that is to say1 if you     

assume #ajj for the first number1 and it
 be rose to the third power1#aa your    
first cube will be #a1jjj1jjj1 the cube 
root of which 7being #ajj7 must be      
placed in your table as the first root1 
and answering to unity in the column of 
pounds3 then for the second number1     
which is two pounds1 we must extract the
 cube root of double that number1 viz4  
#b1jjj1jjj1 which will be #abf nearly1  
7or continued to more places #a1bei1iba7
 and this will be the second number in  
your ,table2 and in the same manner will
 the third number be found1 that is1 by 
trebling the first cube and extracting  
the root as before1 which will be #add1 
and so of the fifth1 sixth1 c4 to the   
end of the table4 ,these tables are     
indispensable in the making of ,rockets1
 in order to preserve an uniformity in  
,rockets of the same kind1 and to render
 more certain their effects1 as has been
 corroborated by repeated experiments4  
,preparing the ,cartridges4--,for this  
purpose large stiff paper of a          

particular kind is to be used2 namely1  
that which from being principally used  
for this purpose1 is known by the name  
of ,cartridge paper4 ,for cases from the
 smallest size1 up to five or six       
pounds1 this is the best material we can
 employ2 it must be wrapped round the   
former1 7whose proportion to the mould  
we have already given7 till it fits     
tight into the cylinder1 and the last   
fold secured by means of common paste4  
,if some thin paste is used throughout  
the rolling1 the cases will be much     
improved4  ,for ,rockets of a larger    
size1 the cases must be made of some    
stronger material1 such as pasteboard1  
of the thin and inferior kind1 the folds
 of which must be well secured with some
 strong paste or glue4 ,in making the   
cases a pattern of the outer fold1 with 
one end sloped off1 should be preserved 
for each size1 and on it marked the     
number of sheets or folds requisite to  
make that size cartridge4 ,this method  
will help to ensure a regularity in the 

make and formation of the cases4  ,the  
paper being prepared of the proper size1
 one part of the first sheet must be    
folded down so far1 that the double     
thickness will go two or three times    
round the former2 the former is then to 
be laid on this double edge1 and the    
handle projecting over the table1 the   
paper is to be wrapt round within two or
 three turns2 when a second sheet is to 
be laid on the loose part of the first1 
and then roll the whole of it tight and 
evenly on the former2 these two sheets  
should be of lengths sufficient for the 
size of the case1 but if they are not1 a
 third must be added in the same manner 
as the second4  ,for the purpose of     
rolling the cases tight and even1 they  
are passed two or three times under the 
rolling-board1 7which is a smooth piece 
of deal about eighteen inches long1 and 
in breadth equal to the length of the   
,rocket1 with a handle at the top1 when 
complete something similar to a         
plaisterer's float27 taking care to roll

 them the same way as in rolling them on
 the former4  ,the cartridge being      
formed to the proper size1 and the last 
fold being secured by paste1 c4 it is   
now to receive the contraction1 or1 as  
it is generally termed1 the choak2 which
 is effected by the simple apparatus    
represented by ,fig4 #g4 ,let the former
 and small end-piece be now joined by   
means of their connecting wire1 and let 
the short piece be thrust into the case 
as far as the line ,b1 marked round it  
for the purpose2 then pass the cord once
 round the case1 exactly over the       
juncture of the formers1 and at first   
press gently with the foot on the       
treadle1 and keep rolling the case on   
the line1 which will cause the choak to 
be free from wrinkles and other         
inequalities4  ,cases of small          
dimensions may be easily contracted     
after the above manner1 but when of     
larger size1 they will present more     
resistance to the choaking cord than it 
will be able to overcome2 but this      

difficulty may be obviated1 by          
moistening with water the end of the    
case1 and choaking it previous to the   
envelope of the last sheet2 which may   
then be put on1 and again choaked1 and  
the contraction well secured by twine1  
or strong waxed thread1 which must be   
passed several times round the          
cartridge1 and afterwards secured by two
 or three running knots made one above  
another4  ,the case 7still remaining on 
the former17 is now to be inserted into 
the cylindrical mould without its foot1 
and set upon some solid block1 and the  
former driven hard upon its end-piece1  
so as to make the contraction smooth and
 close2 after which the case is to be   
cut to its proper length1 so as to rise 
a little above the mould1 and allowing  
half a diameter from the choak to the   
edge of the mouth3 the cutting the case 
to its proper length will be best       
effected while on the former1 which when
 done1 the former is to be pulled out1  
and the case being put again into the   

mould1 having the foot and piercer      
properly fixed to it1 must be driven    
down upon the piercer with the long     
perforated rammer1 so as to make the    
contraction of the proper size4         
,filling and ramming the cases4--,in    
this part of the operation1 we must be  
as careful as in any of the past2 for if
 any inequality exist in the density of 
the composition1 produced by inattention
 to the ramming1 the ,rockets will not  
rise with an uniform motion1 nor ascend 
to their proper height2 but on the      
contrary1 will observe a very erratic   
motion1 and be deflected by every       
renitent particle they may meet with in 
their course4  ,to avoid this           
disappointment1 and to render more      
certain the ascent of the ,rockets1 the 
following directions must be attended   
to3--  #a4 ,your composition must not be
 too dry1 or it will be liable to       
disperse1 and fly about in a kind of    
subtile meal or dust1 while you are     
driving it2 but if you moisten it a     

little just to destroy its dusty nature 
with some of the liquid mentioned in the
 early part of our ,,manual1 it will    
cause it to collect1 and be more solidly
 compressed in the case of the ,rocket4 
#b4 ,no more of the composition should  
be put into the case at each ramming1   
than will cause it to rise one half of  
its interior diameter2 and the filling  
must be thus gradually continued1 till  
the charge rises exactly one diameter   
above the piercer4  #c4 ,much has been  
said by writers on ,pyrotechny          
respecting the number of blows proper to
 be given to the rammer1 to each ladle  
full of composition1 7a piece of copper 
made into the form of a scoop1 and      
holding the proper quantity answers best
 for a ladle27 some have assigned to    
,rockets of four ounces sixteen strokes 
with the mallet1 to those of one pound  
twenty-eight strokes1 and so increasing 
the number of strokes by six1 to every  
pound2 but in our opinion these rules   
are more ridiculous than useful2 for the

 same mallet1 by possessing a different 
momentum1 might produce an effect1 at   
one time double1 treble1 or perhaps     
less1 than at another4 ,it is therefore 
impossible to assign any determinate    
number of strokes1 to be given at each  
ramming2 the only certain rule is1 that 
the composition ought to be driven till 
it becomes quite firm and compact1 and  
that its density 7as near as possible7  
be the same throughout the whole of the 
charge4 ,if the rules for the number of 
strokes assist in any way to impart this
 property to the charge1 we have not the
 least wish to depreciate them4  #d4 ,in
 ramming1 it is best to keep the rammer 
constantly turning round in the case1   
and in using the perforated rammer1 be  
sure to knock out the composition from  
the hollow every ramming1 or it will be 
liable to be split by the piercer4  #e4 
,invert the cartridge at the close of   
each ramming1 in order that the loose   
particles of the composition which are  
not compressed may escape1 for if       

suffered to remain in they would prove  
injurious to the article4  #f4 ,rockets 
should always be rammed on a solid      
block1 or on a post set fast into the   
earth2 their ramming cannot be properly 
effected on any table whatever4  #g4    
,rockets must be rammed with mallets    
somewhat proportionate to their         
magnitude2 that is1 if a ,rocket of one 
pound can be properly rammed with a     
mallet weighing two pounds1 a ,rocket of
 two pounds should be rammed with a     
mallet of four pounds1 or nearly in that
 proportion4 ,rockets above eight pounds
 cannot well be rammed by hand2 but when
 wanted of such magnitude they must be  
rammed by means of a machine similar to 
that used for driving piles into the    
earth2 ,rockets of large dimensions1    
whose cases are made of a strong        
material1 properly prepared1 may be     
conveniently rammed without being placed
 in a cylinder1 which will be an        
advantage1 as so many moulds will not be
 required4 ,but for this method of      

ramming we must be prepared with some   
brass or iron nipples1 of the size      
proportionate to the ,rocket1 which     
should be made to screw into one part of
 the driving block2 and for the purpose 
of making the case more firm upon it    
while ramming1 a stake or upright piece 
must be made firm to the block1 standing
 up the height of the case1 and at a    
suitable distance from the nipple2 the  
side of this stake next the case must be
 fluted out so that the case will fit   
closely into it2 on the opposite side of
 the case must be applied a loose piece 
fluted in a similar manner2 then with a 
cord tie the case and two half moulds   
7which these two pieces will nearly     
form7 together1 and the case will be    
ready for filling4 ,the cartridges being
 filled to the proper height1 i4 e4 one 
diameter above the piercer1 if the      
,rocket is to be without furniture1     
separate with a wire of any kind1 half  
the folds of the paper which remains    
above1 and having turned them back on   

the composition1 press them down with   
the rod and mallet in order to make them
 smooth and even4 ,then pierce three or 
four holes in the folded paper by means 
of a piercer1 which must be made to     
penetrate to the composition of the     
,rocket4 ,these holes are for the       
purpose of forming a communication      
between the body of the ,rocket and the 
vacuity at the extremity of the         
carriage1 as it is called1 or that part 
which has been left empty4 ,in small    
,rockets this vacuity is filled with    
granulated powder1 7which serves to let 
them off when their charge is consumed27
 they are then covered with paper1 and  
either pinched quite close by means of  
the choaking apparatus1 or crowned with 
a little conical cap1 which will cause  
it to ascend to a greater height4 ,if   
one hole only is made in the centre of  
the folded paper1 it will answer the    
purpose of three or four1 taking care   
that it be as straight as possible1 and 
about one-fourth the diameter of the    

calibre of the case2 in this hole a     
little of the composition of the rocket 
should be put that the fire may not fail
 to be communicated3--a ,rocket finished
 after this manner is represented in    
fig4 #bc4 ,in ,rockets of larger        
dimensions1 instead of granulated       
powder1 the coffins1 or pot containing  
the stars1 serpents1 petards1 c4 are    
adapted to the top of the case3 the     
petard is a small round box of tin-plate
 united to the diameter of the case1 and
 filled with fine gunpowder2 it is      
deposited on the composition after the  
ramming1 and the remaining paper folded 
down over it to keep it secure2 the     
petard produces its effect when the     
,rocket is in the air and the           
composition is consumed4 ,the other     
furniture is attached to the ,rocket by 
adjusting to its head an empty pot or   
cartridge of larger dimensions than     
itself1 in order that it may contain the
 various appendages1 which are to render
 it so superior to the others1 in the   

beauty and splendour of its emication4  
,preparing and fixing the pots to the   
head of ,rockets4--,rockets which have  
furniture attached to them1 are rammed  
somewhat different to those which are   
without any appendages1 but the         
difference is only in this particular2  
when rammed one diameter above the      
piercer1 instead of turning down upon   
the composition the inner folds of the  
paper1 ram on to the composition        
one-third diameter of pure dry clay1 and
 through the centre of it bore a hole   
7about one fourth diameter7 and put into
 it a little of the composition1 in     
order that the charge may communicate   
with the powder1 c4 in the head4  ,the  
head of a ,rocket must be about two     
diameters high1 and one diameter        
one-sixth wide4 ,the case must be rolled
 upon a former1 having at the end       
opposite the handle a square indent1    
corresponding to the thickness and width
 of the collar1 as is represented in    
fig4 #i4 ,fig4 #aj is the collar1 turned

 out of lime-tree1 poplar1 or any light 
wood2 its exterior diameter must be     
equal to the interior diameter of the   
case1 or the same as the former1 and its
 interior diameter1 not quite so wide as
 the interior diameter of the ,rocket   
case2 in thickness it should be equal to
 one-sixth diameter1 and round its edge 
should be a groove1 so that the case for
 the head may be firmly fixed to it4 ,to
 form the case1 three or four rounds of 
paper or pasteboard must be rolled round
 the former1 with the collar on1 and    
well secured by paste2 the end over the 
collar is to be pinched by means of the 
cord and choaking apparatus into the    
groove in its edge1 and afterwards      
secured by some twine tied closely round
 it4 ,the purpose of the collar is to   
keep the head in a proper form1 to make 
a bottom for the filling of it1 and to  
make it more firm and better connected  
to the case4 ,when the head is thus     
made1 being properly fixed to its       
collar1 it is to be made fast 7by means 

of ordinary glue7 to the top end of the 
,rocket1 in which operation the reason  
and use of making the interior diameter 
of the collar less than the exterior of 
the cartridge will plainly appear2 it   
will be evident that the cartridge of   
the ,rocket will be too large for the   
former1 without some alteration1 which  
alteration must be made in the following
 manner3--mark round the diameter of the
 ,rocket the proper distance from the   
top1 or so that the collar is about its 
thickness above the ramming of the      
cartridge1 and take off about three     
rounds of paper1 which will leave a     
shoulder to the case1 on which the      
collar may rest1 and be made quite      
secure by pasting paper round their     
joinings beneath4  ,in the manner of    
charging the pot above described we must
 almost leave the ,tyro to himself1 it  
depending chiefly on his taste and      
wishes1 as he may either fill it with   
,serpents1 ,crackers1 ,saucissons1      
,marroons1 ,stars1 ,sparks1 ,showers of 

,fire1 or any thing to which its        
capacity is adapted2 it will be best    
however to unite several of the         
different articles in one head that the 
beauty of the exhibition may be         
increased4  ,in the filling of the head1
 the following directions must be       
observed3--  ,the paper over the charge 
of the ,rocket must be pierced1 and a   
little of the same composition shook    
into the holes2 then arrange in the head
 the different articles with which it is
 to be charged1 but take particular care
 that the quantity introduced is not    
heavier than the body of the ,rocket4   
,when the head is loaded1 a few balls of
 paper should be put round the different
 articles so as to keep them properly in
 their places4 ,at the top part of each 
head put a ladle full of meal powder1   
7the ladle you use in filling the cases 
is meant17 which will be enough to burst
 the head and disperse the stars or     
whatever it contains4  ,in loading the  
head with cases of any kind be sure to  

place their mouths downward without any 
touch-paper2 the head may be nearly     
filled1 with the articles they are      
loaded with1 after which paste on the   
top of them a piece of ordinary paper2  
and over this must be placed a cone of  
the same material1 made upon the conical
 former1 fig4 #h4 ,to make the caps1    
describe 7with a pair of compasses      
opened to the length of the former7 a   
circle1 which being divided into two    
equal parts1 will make two caps2 over   
which must be pasted another similar    
cap1 but of larger dimensions1 so that  
it extend below the bottom of the inner 
one2 so that being just clipped a little
 and applied to the head1 it may be     
pasted to it1 which will be a sufficient
 fastening4  ,the last business in the  
manufacturing of a ,rocket is that of   
fixing it to its rod1 which we shall now
 describe1 as much nicety being required
 in it as in any of the past operations4
  ,the rod should be made of a clean    
piece of fir1 perfectly straight1 and   

its dimensions regulated by the size of 
the ,rocket1 in such manner1 that when  
suspended on the edge of a knife or     
wire1 about an inch from the choak1 the 
rod and ,rocket shall be in equilibrium4
 ,the following ,table has been computed
 for the lengths and proportions of the 
rod1 and may be relied on3--    ,weight 
#ab,length of  ,thickness and  ,square  
of the    the ,rods4     ,width at top4 
at   ,rockets4                          
,bottom4                                
----------------------------------------
------   lb4 oz4   ,feet4 ,inches4      
,inches4     ,inches4                   
----------------------------------------
------    #f   #j      #ad     #b       
#a by #a      #j     #e   #j      #ac   
#h      #a -- #a      #j     #d   #j    
#ab     #i      #a -- #a      #j     #c 
#j      #aj     #h      #a-a_/g -- #a   
#j     #b   #j       #i     #c      #a  
-- #a       #j     #a   #j       #g     
#aj        --        #j     #j   #h     
#f     #f        --        #j     #j    

#d       #e     #b        --        #j  
#j   #b       #d     #a       #c_/aj -- 
#j #c_/af    #j   #a       #c     #e    
--        #j #c_/af    #j          #b   
#c       #c_/af --     #j     #j        
#a    #aj        -- #c_/af    #j   ,by  
the above ,table we find that a ,rocket 
of six pounds will require a rod #ad    
feet #b inches long1 which being        
properly planed to the other dimensions1
 is to be hollowed out on the side next 
the ,rocket2 and on the side opposite1  
two notches must be made1 one about an  
inch from the end1 7the rod going up to 
the under side of the head17 and the    
other opposite the choak of the ,rocket1
 in order to admit the string with which
 it is tied1 and that it may be more    
firmly attached to the rod4 ,although   
the foregoing ,table has been carefully 
computed1 and that from experiment1 yet 
it will not be well to depend entirely  
upon it1 but rather to produce an       
equilibrium between the rod and ,rocket1
 7by means of a lighter or heavier rod17

 when suspended as before4 ,it is of    
consequence that this is attended to2   
for without a proper equilibrium1 the   
,rocket will ascend in an oblique       
direction1 and fall to the ground long  
before its composition is consumed4  ,in
 firing these ,rockets1 two fixed rings 
must be screwed fast into an upright    
post1 and exactly opposite to each      
other1 the upper one near the top of the
 post1 and the other about two-thirds   
the length of the rod downwards2 the rod
 must be passed down them1 and the mouth
 resting lightly on the upper one1 the  
,rocket must be quite free from the     
post4 ,when thus fixed and a lighted    
port-fire is applied to its mouth1 it   
will 7if properly made17 immediately    
ascend with a prodigious velocity1 and  
having attained its greatest height will
 there burst and discharge its luminous 
beauties in the atmosphere4 ,a ,rocket  
with its head and rod complete is       
represented at fig4 #bb4   ,,the        
,,composition ,,for ,,rockets4  ,as we  

wish to complete the article ,rockets in
 this section1 we shall here give the   
composition proper for filling them1    
which must vary in the proportion of its
 ingredients according to the size of   
the ,rocket2 this variation in the      
strength of the composition1 is         
positively necessary2 for that which is 
proper for small ,rockets1 would be much
 too strong for large ones1 therefore   
its strength should increase nearly as  
the dimensions of the ,rockets decrease4
  #a4 ,for one and two ounce ,rockets1  
the ingredients for a proper composition
 should be--  ,one pound of gunpowder1  
two ounces of soft charcoal1 and one    
ounce and a-half of salt-petre4  #b4    
,two to three ounce ,rockets3--  ,to    
four ounces of gunpowder1 add one ounce 
of charcoal1 or to nine ounces of       
powder1 add two ounces of salt-petre4   
#c4 ,four ounce ,rockets3--  ,to one    
pound of gunpowder1 add four ounces of  
salt-petre1 and one ounce of charcoal4  
,the composition will be much stronger  

if in this proportion3--,to ten ounces  
of powder1 add three ounces and a-half  
of salt-petre1 and three ounces of      
charcoal4  #d4 ,five or six ounce       
,rockets3--  ,gunpowder two pound five  
ounces1 salt-petre half-a-pound1 sulphur
 two ounces1 charcoal six ounces1 and   
iron-filings two ounces4  #e4 ,seven or 
eight ounce ,rockets3--  ,gunpowder     
seventeen ounces1 salt-petre four       
ounces1 sulphur three ounces4  #f4      
,eight to ten ounce ,rockets3--         
,gunpowder two pounds five ounces1      
salt-petre eight ounces1 sulphur two    
ounces1 charcoal seven ounces1          
iron-filings three ounces4  #g4 ,ten or 
twelve ounce ,rockets3--  ,gunpowder one
 pound one ounce1 salt-petre four       
ounces1 sulphur three and a-half ounces1
 charcoal one ounce4  #h4 ,twelve to    
fourteen ounce ,rockets3--  ,gunpowder  
two pounds four ounces1 salt-petre nine 
ounces1 sulphur three ounces1 charcoal  
five ounces1 iron-filings three ounces4 
#i4 ,one pound ,rockets3--  ,gunpowder  

one pound1 charcoal three ounces1       
sulphur one ounce4  #aj4 ,two pound     
,rockets3--  ,gunpowder one pound four  
ounces1 salt-petre two ounces1 charcoal 
three ounces1 sulphur one ounce1        
iron-filings two ounces4  #aa4 ,three   
pound ,rockets3--  ,gunpowder four      
ounces1 salt-petre one pound1 sulphur   
eight and a-half ounces1 charcoal two   
ounces4  #ab4 ,four pound ,rockets3--   
,gunpowder half-a-pound1 salt-petre     
fifteen pounds1 sulphur two pounds1     
charcoal six pounds4  ,for ,rockets of  
the largest size3--  ,to eight pounds of
 salt-petre1 add twenty ounces of       
sulphur1 and forty-four ounces of       
charcoal4  ,the several ingredients     
should be each ground separately1 and   
sifted1 and afterwards weighed and mixed
 together1 in readiness for loading the 
cartridges  ,we now proceed to describe 
some of the various modifications which 
,rockets are susceptible of in their    
exhibitions2 in which we shall endeavour
 to blend the most prominent features3  

were we to attempt to give the whole1 it
 would annihilate the purpose of our    
work2 indeed it is impossible to set    
limits to the field of variety which    
here opens itself2 we shall therefore   
describe a few of the most particular1  
and leave the rest to the ,tyro1        
assuring him it will afford a pleasing  
source of amusement1 and furnish        
excellent matter for the exercise of his
 ingenuity4   #a4 ,,to ,,cause ,a       
,,rocket ,,to ,,ascend ,,in ,a ,,spiral 
,,form4  ,the rod of a ,rocket has been 
compared to the rudder of a ship1 or    
tail of a bird2 the purpose of which is 
to make the ship or bird turn towards   
that side to which it is inclined2 a    
straight rod1 as experience proves1     
causes a ,rocket to ascend in a straight
 line1 because the centre of gravity    
lays in1 or is parallel to the centre   
line of the rod2 but if we apply a      
crooked rod1 or one that forms part of a
 circle1 this will not be the case1 for 
the first effect will be to make the    

,rocket incline towards that side to    
which it is bent2 but the centre of     
gravity bringing it afterwards into a   
vertical position the result will be1   
that the ,rocket will ascend in a spiral
 form4  ,rockets exhibited in this way1 
evidently displace a greater volume of  
air1 therefore as a consequence they    
cannot ascend so high as those that are 
impelled in a straight direction2 but1  
nevertheless1 their peculiar flight will
 produce a very pleasing effect4   #b4  
,,towering ,,rockets4  ,so called from  
their ascending to a greater height than
 any others2 it is effected by fixing   
one ,rocket on the top of another of    
superior dimensions3--thus1 suppose the 
lower one to be a twelve-ounce1 then the
 upper one should be a three-ounce      
,rocket2 the larger one must have a     
small head formed round its own         
diameter1 then place the mouth of the   
smaller one in it2 the mouth should be  
rubbed with mealed powder wetted with   
spirits of wine2 the bore in the charge 

should not be filled1 but have inserted 
in it a bit of quick-match1 the other   
end of which should enter the           
perforations at the top of the greater  
,rocket1 which will form a communication
 between them4 ,the large ,rocket must  
be filled only half a diameter above the
 piercer2 if filled higher1 it will     
begin to descend before the upper has   
taken fire1 and produce no additional   
effect4  ,the force by which the small  
,rocket goes off1 will be sufficient to 
disengage it from the other1 without the
 use of powder to effect it2 one round  
of paper pasted round the juncture of   
the two ,rockets will be sufficient to  
connect them together4  ,in regard to   
the rods for ,towering ,rockets1 the    
same principles are to be applied as for
 the others4   #c4 ,,honorary ,,rockets4
  ,take about a pound ,rocket of our    
first description1 such as is           
represented in fig4 #bc2 then on the    
case1 close to the top of the rod1 tie  
on1 in a transverse direction1 a        

two-ounce case1 which should be filled  
with a strong charge1 and choaked quite 
close at both ends2 then towards each   
end1 and in the reverse sides1 bore a   
hole of moderate size1 and from each    
carry a leader into the top of the large
 ,rocket4 ,when the ,rocket attains its 
greatest height1 it communicates fire to
 the cross one at top2 from the holes   
being made in a transverse direction1   
will turn round very fast1 and represent
 in its return to the ground1 a spiral  
of descending fire4 ,there are several  
other methods of adjusting the small    
case2 one consists in letting the rod   
rise about an inch or somewhat more     
above the top of the ,rocket1 and tying 
the case to it1 so as to rest on the    
,rocket2 when adjusted after this       
manner1 the ,rockets should be without  
their conical cap4   #d4 ,,caduceus#ac  
,,rockets4  ,if two ,rockets be fixed   
obliquely on the opposite sides of a    
rod1 they will form in their flight two 
spiral lines2 they must exactly balance 

each other on the opposite side of the  
rod1 or they will not rise in a vertical
 direction4 ,both ends of the ,rockets  
must be choaked close1 without either   
head or bounce1 for a weight attached to
 them would obstruct their ascent4 ,the 
rod proper for these ,rockets should be 
square1 and at top equal to the breadth 
of a rod for a common single ,rocket1 of
 the same weight as those you intend to 
use1 and long enough to be in           
equilibrium1 when suspended one length  
of the ,rocket from the cross piece ,a1 
fig4 #bd1 whose length should be equal  
to about seven diameters of the ,rocket1
 and placed about six diameters from the
 top of the large rod2 so that when     
fixed1 they will form with the          
perpendiculars an angle of about #ee or 
#fj degrees4  ,the heads of the ,rockets
 should be placed on the opposite sides 
of the cross piece1 and their ends on   
the same of the large rod2 then their   
mouths must be connected by a leader1   
which1 when they are fired1 must be     

burned through the middle1 and then they
 will exert their ascending forces at   
the same time4   #e4 ,,signal ,,rockets4
  ,these are of two kinds1 namely1 those
 which have reports and those which have
 not4 ,the first kind may be made       
somewhat longer in proportion than      
ordinary1 by about one or two diameters1
 and on their charge must be driven a   
greater quantity of clay than usual2    
afterwards their bounce1 choak1 and cap1
 may be effected after the manner before
 described4  ,when of the second kind   
their cases and rods must be made very  
light2 in other respects they are       
similar to the common sky-,rocket when  
without any appendages4  ,both the first
 and latter kind are frequently fired in
 groups of six1 eight1 ten1 c2 and      
considered as signals for the exhibition
 of pieces of greater magnitude4  ,when 
several of these are properly fixed to  
one rod1 and fired together1 they form  
in their flight a most beautiful        
appearance1 for being so connected1     

their emissions will unite1 and form a  
tail of stupendous magnitude1 and the   
bursting of so many heads at once1 will 
produce a grand explosion1 not unlike   
7though less productive of injury7 the  
bursting of a balloon in the atmosphere4
 ,when ,rockets are arranged in this    
manner1 particular care must be         
observed1 in their filling and ramming1 
as well as in their exact uniformity of 
weight1 else success is precarious4 ,the
 rod also must be of proper dimensions1 
the length of the rods 7according to the
 table7 for eight-ounce ,rockets1 which 
is the best size for this purpose1 is   
six feet six inches2 then if four or six
 of these be fixed on one rod1 the      
length of it must be about ten feet2 in 
its circumference at top must be made as
 many grooves as there are to be        
,rockets1 and of length to correspond4  
,the rod must be sufficiently large at  
top1 to admit the ,rockets lying close  
in the grooves without pressing each    
other too tight4  ,the ,rockets must be 

firmly attached to the rod1 or they will
 be liable by their ascending force to  
disengage themselves from it2 but to    
prevent which1 the best method of fixing
 them is to let the rod run about two   
inches above the ,rockets1 which will be
 sufficient to form a shoulder or stop  
to each ,rocket1 the groove being       
discontinued such a distance from the   
end2 when this is done1 a little binding
 round the whole will make it all quite 
fast4 ,the upper part of the rod may be 
rounded off in the form of a cone1 or   
which will be much better1 a cap may be 
pasted over the whole1 which 7from their
 meeting with less resistance7 will     
cause them to ascend to a greater       
height4 ,the ,rocket being properly     
fixed1 a quick-match is to be carried   
from one mouth to the other1 which being
 burnt in the middle1 will communicate  
immediately to the whole4  ,when fired  
they must be suspended through the      
rings1 as taught in the early part of   
this article4   #f4 ,,table ,,rockets4  

,this is a simple application of        
,rockets to the spokes of a wheel2 to   
which when fixed they form the felloe4  
,their effect 7when fired7 in the       
ordinary manner is merely that of       
revolving round on a fixed centre1 till 
their composition is consumed2 and by   
their revolutions representing a        
vertical or an horizontal circle of     
fire4  ,the spokes must be firmly fixed 
into a block of wood1 of lengths and at 
a distance from each other suitable to  
the lengths of the cases employed4 ,the 
cases should be those of twelve or      
sixteen ounces2 and filled with the     
composition given at ,no4 #h or #i3 they
 must be carefully rammed4  ,when the   
ends of the ,rockets are fixed to the   
spokes1 which should be notched out     
proper to receive them and for the      
purpose of making them more secure1 then
 in the side of each case1 7outward from
 the wheel7 bore a hole of common       
dimensions near the clay2 these holes   
should be made in an oblique direction  

towards the charge1 and in and from each
 must be carried a piece of quick-match 
to the centre of the wheel1 where they  
must be tied together and lighted4 ,at  
the centre of the wheel may be fixed a  
similar or larger case2 which1 being    
lighted at the same time1 will add much 
to the exhibition4  ,the centre of the  
wheel is frequently fitted to a block of
 wood1 and fired upon a table1 when it  
forms an horizontal wheel2 otherwise it 
revolves on an axis fixed to a post1 and
 in this case a vertical wheel is       
represented2 the centre case may be     
applied to either4   #g4 ,,scrolls ,,for
 ,,rockets4  ,these form a pleasing     
appendage to the heads of ,rockets1 that
 are of considerable magnitude4  ,they  
are made in cases1 about four inches in 
length1 and their interior diameter     
about three-eighths of an inch2 both    
ends must be pinched quite close1 one   
before1 and the other after they are    
filled2 then in the reverse sides make a
 small vent-hole to the composition1 and

 prime them with meal powder1 wetted    
with spirits of wine4  ,the heads of    
,rockets may be partly or wholly filled 
with these cases2 when fired they burst 
quick from their confinement and form a 
beautiful spiral descent4  ,the         
composition may be that of ,serpents1 or
 the brilliant fire2 when either are    
used it should be prepared strong4   #h4
 ,,courantins1#ad ,,or ,,line ,,rockets4
  ,among the various modes of exhibiting
 ,rockets1 none are more pleasing than  
the present4  ,rockets proper for this  
purpose are those of about half1 and    
three-quarter pounds2 they are made     
after the manner of sky-rockets of the  
common kind4 ,any number1 from one to   
eight or ten1 may be used2 but five or  
six will be found to answer the best4   
,according to the number of cases used1 
the ,courantins are said to be of so    
many changes4 ,when one1 two1 or three  
are only used1 they may conveniently be 
fixed to a small empty cartridge1 7of   
the same length as the cases17 made on a

 wire former1 a little larger than the  
line on which it is to run1 and of      
considerable substance2 but when more   
than this number are to be used1 or a   
greater change is to be produced1 a     
small perforated cylinder must be       
procured1 of dimensions suitable to the 
purpose2 this cylinder should be of some
 light wood1 such as fine deal1 or      
willow2 the perforations must be made   
exactly through the centre lengthways4  
,in the same direction1 on its          
circumference1 are to be made as many   
grooves as there are ,rockets to be     
employed2 in which they must be well    
secured by tying the whole with string4 
,the diameter of this cylinder should be
 such1 that when laid into the groove1  
the cases may nearly touch each other4  
,the ,rockets being all prepared1 7and  
their apertures1 or mouths1 besprinkled 
a little with meal powder and spirits of
 wine17 they are to be laid into the    
groove1 and in such a manner1 that the  
head or mouth of the second lays at the 

same end of the cylinder as the tail of 
the first2 the head of the third the    
same as the tail of the second2 and so  
on with all the others2 they must all be
 bound tight round with string4  ,being 
thus fixed to the cylinder1 you must    
from the tail of the first ,rocket carry
 a leader to the mouth of the second2   
from the tail of the second1 to the     
mouth of the third2 and so with the     
whole number1 taking care to fix every  
leader quite secure2 and at the same    
time1 that the quick-match does not     
enter but a very little way into the    
bore of the ,rockets1 or it will be     
liable to fire the charge or composition
 of the ,rockets1 and thereby destroy   
all your arrangements4  ,your runner    
being now ready for action1 a line is to
 be fixed in an horizontal direction    
between two posts1 or other convenient  
objects1 whose distance from each other 
7for half-pound ,rockets7 should be     
about #ajj yards long2 this line should 
be of some strong twine1 or 7which will 

answer much better7 small brass or iron 
wire1 stretched quite tight between its 
supports2 remembering to put on the     
runner before you fasten both ends4     
,then 7the mouth being next the end of  
the line7 fire the first ,rocket1 which 
by its force will carry the whole to the
 end of the line1 or nearly1 for it will
 be best to have the line too long      
rather than too short1 for if the latter
 is the case1 it will of course make a  
stand at its extremity1 till the        
remainder of the charge is consumed1    
which does not look well4 ,but if on the
 contrary the line is a little too long 
there will be no such stoppage1 not even
 during the communication of the fire to
 the next ,rocket1 for the force        
acquired in its first flight will be    
sufficient to continue it till such     
communication is effected2 after which  
it will return in the same manner to the
 other extremity1 and back again in the 
same order1 and so on to the end of the 
charges arranged on the cylinder4  ,it  

is a pleasing exhibition of this kind of
 fire-works1 to arrange them in such    
manner that when arrived at the         
extremity of the line1 they may         
communicate fire to some other piece1   
properly arranged at the end of the     
line1 which in this case should not be  
so long as before1 that the runner may  
rest a moment before it returns1 the    
better to ensure the communication4  ,to
 render the runners more agreeable1 they
 are made 7of light wood or tin7 in the 
form of different animals1 such as      
,serpents1 ,dragons1 ,mercuries1 ,ships1
 c4 ,when thus arranged they are very   
entertaining1 especially when filled    
with various compositions1 such as      
golden rain1 fires of different colours1
 serpents1 port-fires1 c4  ,the dragons 
may be made to discharge serpents from  
their mouths1 and two of them arranged  
on one line1 so as to meet each other in
 the middle1 and there appear to        
contend1 till the second case takes     
fire1 when they will run back to the    

extremity of the line1 and then return  
again with great violence1 and produce  
much amusement both to the operator and 
spectator4  ,in the same manner two     
ships may be represented to contend1 and
 7by filling them well with serpents7 be
 made to pour their broad-sides at each 
other3 or1 if they are placed on two    
separate lines1 at a small distance from
 each other1 they may be caused to pass 
each other in opposite directions2 in   
both cases they will produce a very     
pleasing appearance4  ,when the         
represented animals are made to meet in 
the middle1 the line should be of much  
greater length1 or they will rush       
together with too great a force4   #i4  
,,revolving ,,courantines4  ,these1     
while they fly along the line in a      
straight direction1 are1 by a simple    
application of another ,rocket1 caused  
to revolve1 or turn round at the same   
time4 ,this rotatory motion is easily   
effected1 by fixing to the cases another
 ,rocket1 which must be placed in a     

transversal direction2 the aperture of  
which1 instead of being at the bottom1  
like those on the cylinder1 must be made
 in the side1 near one of the ends4     
,this transversal ,rocket must be filled
 with a very slow charge1 or it will be 
consumed long before those are upon the 
cylinder2 when several changes in the   
runners are intended1 two should be     
fixed in the transversal direction2     
their diameters should be small1 in     
proportion to their lengths4  ,the      
,courantines may be made to revolve by  
other means equally simple and          
effective4 ,prepare and fill a case the 
same as those for ,catherine ,wheels1   
and wind and tie it nicely round the    
,courantine2 this1 when lighted with the
 first case1 will cause it to revolve in
 a very pleasing manner4  ,when the     
,courantines do not revolve1 they may be
 made to carry on the upper side a ,jet 
of ,fire1 or any other ornament which   
the operator may devize2 taking care to 
suspend1 by means of wire1 a small      

weight to the under side1 which will    
keep it always in an erect position4    
#aj4 ,,to ,,represent ,,by ,,rockets    
,,various ,,forms ,,in ,,the ,,air4  ,to
 the large cartridge1 or head1 of about 
a two pound ,rocket1 place round several
 small ones of about two or three       
ounces1 the rods of which must be made  
quite fast to the head1 and parallel to 
the rod of the larger2 then1 if these be
 set on fire while the large one is     
ascending1 they will represent in a very
 pleasing manner1 a tree1 the trunk of  
which will be the large ,rocket1 and the
 smaller ones the branches4  ,if1 by    
means of leaders1 the small ,rockets are
 caused to take fire when the large one 
is about half burned in the air1 they   
will represent the form of a comet2 and 
when the large one begins to descend in 
an inverted position1 the small ones    
will represent a kind of fiery          
fountains4  ,if the barrels of some     
small tubes1 or quills1 filled with the 
composition of ,flying ,rockets1 be     

placed on a large one1 they will1 when  
fire is communicated to them1 represent 
a beautiful shower of fire4  ,if a      
number of small serpents be attached to 
the ,rocket with a piece of pack-thread1
 by the ends that do not catch fire2 and
 if the pack-thread be suffered to hang 
down two or three inches between every  
two1 this arrangement1 when properly    
managed1 will produce a variety of      
agreeable and amusing figures4   #aa4   
,,to ,,cause ,a ,,rocket ,,to ,,form    
,,an ,,arc ,,in ,,rising4  ,cut some    
circles1 about three or four inches     
diameter1 out of some tin1 or other thin
 plate2 then to the rod of each ,rocket1
 and about twice the length of the case 
from its mouth1 fix one of these pieces 
of tin1 nearly at right angles from the 
rod1 and make it quite fast by a bracket
 underneath4 ,the fire acting upon this1
 as it proceeds from the mouth of the   
,rocket1 will divide the tail in such a 
manner1 that it will cause it to proceed
 in a circular course1 and form a very  

pleasing appearance4   #ab4 ,,to ,,fire 
,,rockets ,,without ,,rods4  ,rockets   
may be made to rise in the air without  
rods1 but in the place of which1 they   
must have attached to them four         
triangular pasteboard wings1 fixed      
lengthwise on the external of the       
cartridge1 similar to those attached to 
arrows or darts4 ,the length of these   
wings should be about three-fourths the 
length of the ,rocket2 their breadth at 
bottom should be half their length1 and 
diminished off to nothing at top4 ,the  
,rocket may be set over a hole in a     
board1 and fired from the under side2 or
 the four wings may rest on four iron   
pins1 six or eight inches in length1    
drove into a board at suitable distances
 from each other1 and the ,rocket fired 
from between them4  ,though the greatest
 care be employed in the exhibition of  
,rockets after this manner1 still their 
ascent is by far less certain than when 
a rod is used2 therefore the ,tyro must 
not be disappointed if he chance to fail

 of success4   ,,theory ,,of ,,the      
,,flight ,,of ,,rockets4  ,a ,rocket1   
being properly constructed1 with its rod
 and other appendages attached1 fixed in
 a vertical position1 and fire being    
applied to its mouth1 it will 7as       
experience proves7 ascend in the air    
with a prodigious velocity3 but upon    
inquiry into the cause of this ascent1  
we meet with difficulties little        
contemplated when we were viewing the   
beautiful path it described in the      
medium of its flight4  ,that this ascent
 is dependent on the medium 7or air7 in 
which it is generated1 admits not of a  
doubt2 but to describe how1 or in what  
manner it is effected1 has engaged the  
attention of some of the most eminent   
philosophers4 ,in consequence several   
theories have been advanced for the     
explication of the phenomena1 and among 
them those of ,mariotte and ,desaguliers
 have claimed the most particular       
attention4  ,mariotte attributes the    
rise of ,rockets to the resistance1 or  

reaction of the air against the gas1    
which is generated by the combustion of 
the composition4  ,this hypothesis seems
 to explain the phenomena2 but great    
objections have been brought against it1
 on account of the difficulty which     
attends the reduction of it to          
mathematical investigations3--this      
difficulty arises from the law which the
 propelling force must necessarily      
observe2 that is1 it will decrease as   
the velocity increases1 in consequence  
of the partial vacuum left behind the   
,rocket in its flight2 so that the      
velocity becomes as it were both a datum
 and qusitum2 and the correct solution  
of the problem necessarily involves the 
integration of partial differences of   
the highest order4  ,the hypothesis of  
,desaguliers is somewhat different to   
the foregoing2 it is much more familiar 
with mathematical investigations2 as it 
reduces the whole theory to the most    
simple form2 and we think it is not far 
from being consonant with the known     

principles of the phenomena2            
notwithstanding the argument brought    
against it by ,dr4 ,rees1 and his       
,editors2 and which we shall endeavour  
to prove by citing higher authority than
 our own4  ,dr4 ,desaguliers illustrates
 his hypothesis in the following        
manner3--,conceive the ,rocket to have  
no vent at the choak1 and to be set on  
fire in the conical bore2 the           
consequence would be1 either that the   
,rocket would burst in the weakest      
place1 or that1 if all parts were       
equally strong1 and able to sustain the 
impulse of the flame1 the ,rocket would 
burn out immoveable4 ,now1 as the force 
of the flame is equable1 suppose its    
action downwards1 or that upwards1      
sufficient to lift forty pounds2 as     
these forces are equal1 but their       
directions contrary1 they will destroy  
each other's action4  ,imagine then the 
,rocket opened at the choak2 by this    
mean the action of the flame downwards  
is taken away1 and there remains a force

 equal to forty pounds acting upwards1  
to carry up the ,rocket1 and the stick  
or rod it is tied to4  ,accordingly we  
find that if the composition of the     
,rocket be very weak1 so as not to give 
an impulse greater than the weight of   
the ,rocket and stick1 it does not rise 
at all2 or if the composition be slow1  
so that a small part of it only kindles 
at first1 the ,rocket will not rise4    
,to this we shall add the late ,doctor  
,hutton's philosophy1 on the ascent of  
,rockets2 who says1 that at the moment  
when the powder begins to inflame1 its  
expansion produces a torrent of elastic 
fluid1 which acts in every direction2   
that is1 against the air which escapes  
from the cartridge1 and against the     
upper part of the ,rocket2 but the      
resistance of the air is more           
considerable than the weight of the     
,rocket1 on account of the extreme      
rapidity with which the elastic fluid   
issues through the neck of the ,rocket  
to throw itself downwards1 and therefore

 the ,rocket ascends by the excess of   
one of these forces over the other4     
,this1 however1 would not be the case1  
unless the ,rocket was pierced to a     
certain depth4 ,a sufficient quantity of
 elastic fluid would not be produced2   
for the composition would inflame only  
in circular coats1 of a diameter equal  
to that of the ,rocket2 and experience  
shows that this is not sufficient4      
,recourse then is had to the very       
ingenious idea of piercing the ,rocket  
in a conical hole1 which makes the      
composition burn in conical strata1     
which have much greater surface1 and    
produce a much greater quantity of      
inflamed matter and fluid4 ,this        
expedient was certainly not the work of 
a moment4  ,the stick serves to keep it 
perpendicular2 for if the ,rocket should
 begin to tumble1 moving round a point  
in the choak1 as being the common centre
 of gravity of ,rocket and stick1 there 
would be so much friction against the   
air by the stick1 between the centre and

 the point1 and the point would beat    
against the air with so much velocity1  
that the reaction of the medium would   
restore it to its perpendicularity4     
,when the composition is burnt out1 and 
the impulse upwards has ceased1 the     
common centre of gravity is brought     
lower towards the middle of the stick1  
by which means the velocity of the point
 of the stick is decreased1 and that at 
the point of the ,rocket is increased2  
so that the whole will fall down1 with  
the ,rocket end foremost4  ,during the  
time the ,rocket burns1 the common      
centre of gravity is shifting and       
getting downwards1 and still faster and 
lower as the stick is lighter2 so that  
it sometimes begins to tumble before it 
is quite burnt out3 but when the stick  
is too heavy1 the common centre of      
gravity will not get so low1 but that of
 the ,rocket will rise straight1 though 
not so fast4  ,from the experiments of  
,mr4 ,robins1 and other ,gentlemen1 it  
was found that the ,rockets of two1     

three1 or four inches diameter1 rise the
 highest2 and they are found to rise to 
all heights in the air1 from #djj to    
#a1bed yards1 which is about            
three-quarters of a mile4 ,for further  
particulars respecting the theory of the
 flight of ,rockets our readers are     
referred to ,robins's ,tracts1 vol4     
#b4--,philosophical ,transactions1 vol4 
#df1 page #egh3 and more particularly to
 ,mr4 ,w4 ,moor's 8,treatise on the     
motion of ,rockets10 in which they will 
find the subject elegantly treated4     
,,section ,,vii4  ,,tables ,,of         
,,various ,,compositions4   #a4         
,,serpents4--,mealed-powder one pound1  
salt-petre one ounce and three-quarters1
 charcoal one ounce4  #b4 ,,pin         
,,wheels4--,mealed-powder twelve ounces1
 salt-petre three ounces1 sulphur one   
ounce and a-half1 steel-filings two     
ounces4  #c4 ,,common                   
,,stars4--,salt-petre one pound1 sulphur
 four and a-half ounces1 antimony four  
ounces1 isinglass half an ounce1 camphor

 half an ounce1 spirits of wine         
three-quarters of an ounce4  #d4 ,,white
 ,,stars4--,mealed-powder four ounces1  
salt-petre twelve ounces1 sulphur six   
ounces and a-half1 oil of spike two     
ounces1 camphor five ounces4  #e4 ,,blue
 ,,stars4--,mealed-powder eight ounces1 
salt-petre four ounces1 sulphur two and 
a-half ounces1 isinglass two ounces1    
spirits of wine two ounces4  #f4        
,,tailed ,,stars4--,mealed-powder three 
ounces1 salt-petre one ounce1 sulphur   
three ounces1 charcoal one ounce4  #g4  
,,drove ,,stars4--,salt-petre one pound1
 sulphur eight ounces1 antimony four    
ounces4  #h4 ,,pointed                  
,,stars4--,salt-petre eight and a-half  
ounces1 sulphur two ounces1 antimony one
 ounce and three-quarters4  #i4 ,,stars 
,,of ,a ,,fine ,,colour4--,mealed-powder
 one ounce1 salt-petre one ounce1       
sulphur one ounce1 oil of turpentine    
four drams1 camphor four drams4  #aj4   
,,variegated ,,stars4--,mealed-powder   
eight drams1 roch-petre four ounces1    

vivum two ounces1 camphor two ounces4   
#aa4 ,,brilliant                        
,,stars4--,mealed-powder three-quarters 
of an ounce1 salt-petre three ounces and
 a-half1 sulphur one and a-half ounce1  
spirits of wine one ounce and a quarter4
  #ab4 ,,tailed ,,stars4--,salt-petre   
four ounces1 sulphur six ounces1        
antimony two ounces1 rosin four ounces4 
#ac4 ,,ditto ,,with                     
,,sparks4--,mealed-powder one ounce1    
salt-petre one ounce1 camphor two       
ounces4   #ad4 ,,gerbes4  #a4           
,mealed-powder one pound and a-half1    
coarse iron-sand five ounces4  #b4      
,mealed-powder two pounds1 coarse       
iron-sand eight ounces1 salt-petre one  
pound4  #ae4 ,,roman                    
,,candles4--,mealed-powder half-a pound1
 salt-petre two pounds and a-half1      
sulphur half-a pound1 glass-dust half-a 
pound4   #af4 ,,tourbillons4  ,for four 
ounce cases4--,mealed-powder one pound  
two ounces1 charcoal two ounces and     
a-quarter4  ,for eight ounce            

cases4--,mealed-powder two pounds1      
charcoal four ounces three-quarters4    
#ag4 ,,showers ,,of ,,fire4             
,chinese4--,mealed-powder one pound1    
sulphur two ounces1 iron-sand first     
order five ounces4                      
,ancient4--,mealed-powder one pound1    
charcoal two ounces4                    
,brilliant4--,mealed-powder one pound1  
iron-sand first order four ounces4      
#ah4 ,,golden ,,rain4  #a4              
,mealed-powder four ounces1 salt-petre  
one pound1 sulphur four ounces1         
brass-dust one ounce1 saw-dust two      
ounces and a-quarter1 glass-dust six    
drams4  #b4 ,mealed-powder twelve       
ounces1 salt-petre two ounces1 charcoal 
four ounces4  #c4 ,salt-petre eight     
ounces1 sulphur two ounces1 brass-dust a
 quarter of an ounce1 antimony          
three-quarters of an ounce1 saw-dust    
twelve drams1 glass-dust one ounce4     
#ai4 ,,silver ,,rain4  #a4              
,mealed-powder two ounces1 salt-petre   
four ounces1 sulphur two ounces1        

antimony two ounces1 sal-prunella half  
an ounce4  #b4 ,salt-petre half an      
ounce1 sulphur two ounces1 charcoal four
 ounces4  #c4 ,mealed-powder two ounces1
 salt-petre four ounces1 sulphur one    
ounce1 steel-dust three-quarters of an  
ounce4   #bj4 ,,water ,,rockets4  #a4   
,mealed-powder three pounds1 salt-petre 
two pounds1 sulphur one pound and       
a-half1 charcoal two pounds and a-half4 
#b4 ,salt-petre one pound1 sulphur four 
pounds and a-half1 charcoal six pounds4 
#c4 ,salt-petre one pound1 sulphur four 
ounces1 charcoal twelve ounces4  #d4    
,mealed-powder four ounces1 salt-petre  
one pound1 sulphur eight ounces and     
a-half1 charcoal two ounces4   #ba4     
,,sinking ,,charge ,,for ,,ditto4       
,mealed-powder ten ounces1 charcoal one 
ounce4   #bb4 ,,water ,,serpents4  #a4  
,mealed-powder one pound1 charcoal one  
pound4  #b4 ,mealed-powder one pound1   
charcoal nine ounces4   #bc4 ,,water    
,,balloons4  #a4 ,mealed-powder two     
pounds1 salt-petre four pounds1 sulphur 

two pounds1 antimony four ounces1       
saw-dust four ounces1 glass-dust one    
ounce and a-quarter4  #b4 ,mealed-powder
 three pounds1 salt-petre four pounds   
and a-half1 sulphur one pound and       
a-half1 antimony four ounces4   #bd4    
,,wheel ,,cases4  #a4 ,mealed-powder two
 pounds1 salt-petre four ounces1        
steel-filings six ounces4  #b4          
,mealed-powder two pounds1 salt-petre   
twelve ounces1 steel-filings three      
ounces4  #c4 ,mealed-powder four pounds1
 salt-petre one pound1 sulphur eight    
ounces1 charcoal four ounces and a-half4
  #d4 ,mealed-powder eight ounces1      
salt-petre four ounces1 saw-dust one    
ounce and a-half1 charcoal one ounce4   
#e4 ,mealed-powder twelve ounces1       
saw-dust half an ounce1 charcoal one    
ounce4  #f4 ,salt-petre one pound nine  
ounces1 sulphur four ounces1 charcoal   
four ounces and a-half4   #be4 ,,slow   
,,fire ,,for ,,wheels4  #a4             
,mealed-powder one ounce and a-half1    
sulphur two ounces1 salt-petre four     

ounces4  #b4 ,antimony one ounce six    
drams1 sulphur one ounce1 salt-petre    
four ounces4   #bf4 ,a ,,dead ,,fire    
,,for ,,wheels4  ,salt-petre one ounce  
and a-half1 sulphur a quarter of an     
ounce1 antimony two drams1 lapis        
calaminaris a quarter of an ounce4      
#bg4 ,,for ,,standing ,,or ,,fixed      
,,cases4  #a4 ,mealed-powder two pounds1
 salt-petre one pound1 sulphur          
half-a-pound1 charcoal half-a-pound4    
#b4 ,mealed-powder one pound1 salt-petre
 half-a-pound1 steel-dust four ounces4  
#c4 ,mealed-powder ten ounces1 charcoal 
two ounces4  #d4 ,mealed-powder         
half-a-pound1 sulphur two ounces4  #e4  
,mealed-powder one pound and-a-half1    
saw-dust three-quarters of an ounce1    
charcoal two ounces and a-half4   #bh4  
,,for ,,sun ,,cases4  #a4 ,mealed-powder
 two pounds two ounces1 salt-petre five 
ounces1 sulphur one ounce1 steel-dust   
twelve ounces4  #b4 ,mealed-powder one  
pound and a-half1 salt-petre three      
ounces1 steel-dust three ounces and     

three-quarters4   #bi4 ,,for ,,spiral   
,,wheels4  ,mealed-powder fourteen      
ounces1 salt-petre one pound and a-half1
 sulphur six ounces1 glass-dust fourteen
 ounces4   #cj4 ,,globes4  ,salt-petre  
six ounces1 sulphur two pounds1 camphor 
two ounces1 antimony four ounces4   #ca4
 ,,serpents ,,for ,,pots ,,des ,,brins4 
,mealed-powder ten ounces1 salt-petre   
six ounces1 charcoal one ounce and      
a-half4   #cb4 ,,fires ,,of ,,different 
,,colours4  ,white ,fire4--,gunpowder   
two parts1 steel filings one part2 for a
 pale white add a little camphor4       
,raspings of ivory give a flame of a    
silver colour1 somewhat dazzling to the 
eyes4  ,red ,fire4--,gunpowder two      
parts1 iron-sand of the first order one 
part4 ,greek pitch produces a flame     
somewhat red1 but more inclined to a    
bronze colour4  ,common black pitch     
produces a dusky flame1 like a thick    
smoke1 very essential in producing a    
medium of intolerable obscurity4        
,sulphur1 mixed in a moderate quantity1 

makes the flame appear of a blue cast4  
,sal ammoniac and verdigris produce a   
flame inclined to green4  ,raspings of  
yellow amber give to the flame a lemon  
colour4  ,crude antimony a kind of      
russet colour4   #cc4 ,,for ,,jets ,,of 
,,fire4  ,when the inner diameter of the
 cases is not more than six lines the   
following must be the proportions4      
,chinese ,fire4--,mealed-powder one     
pound1 salt-petre one pound1 sulphur    
eight ounces1 charcoal two ounces4      
,white ,fire4--,iron-sand of the first  
order eight ounces1 mealed-powder eight 
ounces1 salt-petre one pound1 sulphur   
three ounces1 charcoal three ounces4    
,but when their calibre is from eight to
 twelve lines1 the following are the    
proportions4  ,white                    
,fire4--,mealed-powder one pound1       
salt-petre one pound1 sulphur eight     
ounces1 charcoal two ounces4  ,chinese  
,fire4--,salt-petre one pound four      
ounces1 sulphur five ounces1 charcoal   
five ounces1 iron-sand of the third     

order twelve ounces4  ,brilliant        
,fire4--,mealed-powder one pound1       
iron-sand five ounces4   ,,for ,,jets   
,,of ,,larger ,,dimensions4  ,chinese   
,fire4--,salt-petre one pound four      
ounces1 sulphur seven ounces1 charcoal  
five ounces1 and twelve ounces of a     
compound of the six different kinds of  
sand4   #cd4 ,,sparkling ,,compositions 
,,for ,,choaked ,,cases4  ,for          
,black4--,mealed-powder and charcoal4   
,for ,white4--,salt-petre1 sulphur1 and 
charcoal4  ,for ,grey4--,mealed-powder1 
salt-petre1 sulphur1 and charcoal4  ,for
 ,red4--,mealed-powder1 charcoal1 and   
saw-dust4  ,these may be used in any    
proportion the practitioner may think   
proper1 for a little experience will    
prove to him that various colours of    
fire may be produced by only varying the
 proportions or order of the            
ingredients1 or by rendering them       
alternately predominant4 ,the same      
observation will apply to many other    
cases of a similar nature4     ,,section

 ,,viii4  ,,compound ,,fire-,,works4    
,compound ,fire-,works are those        
resulting from the combination of the   
single or more simple kind2 principally 
those which we have already described4  
,the number and variety of figures1 and 
the modification of which they are      
susceptible1 is almost endless1 and to  
describe all1 or the greater part of    
them1 would far exceed the limits of our
 ,,manual4 ,we shall therefore consider 
it sufficient to select such specimens  
of simple arrangement as will form a    
proper introduction to those which are  
more complex2 in which latter case the  
young ,pyrotechnist must be left to his 
own ingenuity1 which will readily       
dictate to him a greater variety than it
 would be possible for us to describe4  
#a4 ,,girandole#ae ,,chests ,,of        
,,serpents4  ,the first combination     
which would naturally suggest itself to 
the uninformed is that of a number of   
,serpents so arranged as to take fire   
all at the same time1 and in the end to 

burst and make a loud report4  ,this    
combination is a nest of ,serpents2 the 
case or box containing them must be made
 of strong paste-board1 in dimensions   
equal to the number to be inserted4 ,the
 piece which forms the top must be      
perforated in as many places1 answering 
to the number of ,serpents intended to  
be fired2 they need not be far from each
 other4 ,at the bottom of the box must  
be put a little mealed-powder for the   
mouths of the ,serpents to rest upon1   
which latter must be rubbed with a      
little wet mealed-powder1 in order that 
they may take fire immediately4 ,to     
communicate fire to the powder at the   
bottom of the box1 one of the ,serpent  
cases must be filled with a slow        
composition1 left open at the top1 and  
inserted about the middle of the box3   
this case being lighted1 it will burn   
for a short time1 or till it reaches the
 bottom1 when a sudden noise will be    
heard1 and all the ,serpents thrown in  
various directions into the air4  ,this 

mode of firing ,serpents1 though puerile
 in its contrivance1 and simple in its  
production1 generally affords much      
amusement to the spectators1 which      
proceeds principally from the variety of
 directions given to the ,serpents2     
which latter is a consequence of their  
being placed somewhat carelessly in the 
box1 and being trajected at different   
angles from the same plane4   #b4       
,,girandole ,,chests ,,of ,,rockets4    
,these chests should be made of some    
thin boards1 in dimensions proportionate
 to the number of ,rockets4 ,the        
,rockets best adapted are those of from 
two1 to six ounces4 ,the depth of the   
box should be somewhat more than the    
length of the ,rockets with their       
sticks4 ,the top 7being perforated      
properly to receive the sticks17 must be
 fixed at right angles in the chest1 and
 as far from the top of it as the length
 of the ,rocket cases1 including the    
cap1 if such are used4 ,the distance    
between each ,rocket must be such that  

they may stand without touching each    
other4 ,from one hole to another must be
 cut a groove1 in depth sufficient to   
receive a piece of quick-match1 which   
must be laid from hole to hole in like  
manner4 ,below the top1 at about two    
thirds the length of the rods1 must be  
fixed the bottom1 perforated in the same
 manner1 save in the size of the holes1 
which will be somewhat less owing to the
 dimensions of the rods4 ,the match     
being laid as above1 take some          
sky-rockets1 and having put a piece of  
the same match up the cavity of each1   
left extending a little below the mouth 
of the ,rocket1 which latter should be  
rubbed a little with mealed-powder1     
wetted with some liquid1 before given4  
,the ,rockets and chest being thus      
ready1 put the rod through the holes in 
the top and bottom of the chest1 in such
 manner that their mouths may just rest 
on the quick-match in the grooves1 by   
which all the ,rockets will be fired at 
the same time2 for by lighting any part 

of the match1 it will communicate to the
 whole of them in an instant4 ,for      
convenience in placing the rod through  
the lower holes1 a small door should be 
made in one side of the chest1 without  
this it will be difficult to get the    
rods in their right places4  ,previous  
to the exhibition of these flights of   
,rockets1 they should be covered over1  
or set in some safe place1 or they will 
be in danger of being set on fire by    
sparks from other works4   #c4 ,,pots   
,,des ,,brins4  ,these are large paper  
cylinders1 filled with powder1 ,stars1  
,sparks1 c4 ,they are generally made of 
paste-board1 and about four diameters   
long2 they should be choaked at one end 
like common cases4 ,they are generally  
exhibited in numbers1 fixed on a plank  
of some kind1 in the following manner3  
on the under side of your plank1 make as
 many grooves as you intend to have rows
 of pots1 then at a little distance from
 each other1 and exactly over the       
grooves1 fix as many pegs1 about three  

fourths or one diameter high2 then      
through the centre of each peg bore a   
hole down to the groove at bottom1 and  
on every peg fix and glue a pot1 the    
mouth of which must fit tight on the    
peg2 then through all the holes run a   
quick-match1 one end of which must go   
into the pot1 and the other into the    
groove1 which must have a match laid in 
it from end to end1 and covered with    
paper1 so that when lighted at one end  
it may discharge the whole almost       
instantaneously4 ,in each pot put about 
one ounce of mealed and corn powder2    
then in some put ,stars1 and in others  
,rain1 ,snakes1 ,serpents1 ,crackers1   
,sparks1 c4 ,when they are loaded1      
secure their mouths by putting paper    
over each4  ,when fired in considerable 
numbers1 these ,pots des ,brins1 from   
their affording so great a variety of   
fires1 produce a most pleasing          
exhibition4   #d4 ,,jets ,,of ,,fire4   
,these are a kind of fixed ,rocket1 the 
effect of which is to throw up into the 

air ,jets of ,fire1 similar in some     
respects to those produced by water4 ,if
 a number of such ,rockets be placed    
horizontally on the same line1 it may be
 easily seen that the fire they emit1   
will nearly resemble a sheet of water1  
arranging itself in the form of a       
cascade4 ,when the ,rockets are arranged
 in a circular form1 like the radii and 
periphery of a circle1 they form what is
 termed a fixed ,sun4  ,to procure these
 ,jets of ,fire1 the cartridge for      
brilliant fires must in thickness be    
equal to a fourth part of the diameter1 
and for ,chinese ,fires only a sixth    
part of the same4  ,the cartridge must  
be loaded on a nipple1 having a point   
equal in length to the same diameter1   
and in thickness equal to a fourth part 
of it2 but1 from the effect of the fire1
 the mouth generally becomes larger than
 is requisite2 but this may be          
prevented1 by charging the cartridge    
after the manner of the ,chinese1 who   
fill it to a height equal to a fourth   

part of the diameter with clay2 this    
must be rammed down as if it were       
gunpowder4  ,when the charge is         
completed with the composition you have 
made choice of1 the cartridge must be   
closed with a tompion of wood1 above    
which it must be choaked4  ,the train or
 match must be of the same composition  
as that employed for loading2 otherwise 
the dilatation of the air1 contained in 
the hole made by the piercer1 would     
cause the ,jet to burst4  ,clayed       
,rockets may be pierced with two holes  
near the neck1 in order to have three   
,jets on the same plan4  ,if a kind of  
top1 pierced with a number of holes1 be 
added to them1 they will nearly imitate 
a bubbling fountain4  ,jets intended to 
represent sheets of fire1 ought not to  
be choaked4 ,they must be placed in a   
horizontal position1 or inclined a      
little upwards or downwards4  ,if to the
 top of the cartridge be attached a tin 
cylindrical cap1 terminating in a flat1 
long1 narrow mouth1 7similar to those   

attached to garden watering pots17 the  
stream of fire will be very much        
extended1 and the beauty of the         
exhibition increased4 ,the composition  
for this article is given in the table1 
section #g4   #e4 ,,chinese ,,fountain4 
,provide a piece of dry wood1 about six 
or seven feet long1 and about two and   
a-half inches square2 at the distance of
 sixteen inches from the top of this    
piece1 7supposing it be seven feet long1
 and fixed perpendicular17 must be fixed
 a shelf1 sixteen inches long1 and in   
width about two and a-half inches1 and  
in thickness about three-quarters4      
,below this shelf must be fixed three or
 four other shelves of the same width   
and thickness1 but in length increasing 
eight inches successively as they go    
towards the bottom4 ,they must be fixed 
the same distance from each other as the
 first one from the top4  ,now on the   
top of the post1 insert 7into a hole of 
proper dimensions7 a gerbe1 or          
fire-pump2 on the first shelf insert    

after the same manner two gerbes1 on the
 second three1 on the third four1 on the
 fourth five1 and on the bottom shelf   
six3--,they must be so placed1 that the 
next above stand exactly over the middle
 of the intervals of those below4 ,the  
gerbes should be placed so that their   
mouths incline a little forwards2 if    
this be not done1 the stars thrown out  
of the cases will strike against the    
shelf above1 and produce but little of  
that effect1 which1 when properly       
arranged1 renders them so beautiful4  ,a
 proper connection must be formed with  
your leaders1 between the different     
cases2 beginning at the top1 and        
carrying it downward to every one of    
them4 ,the top one is to be lighted     
first4  ,the ,pyramid1 or ,fountain     
complete1 is represented by fig4 #be4   
#f4 ,,pyramid ,,of ,,flower ,,pots4  ,in
 general construction1 this article is  
exactly similar to the one just         
described2 but in place of gerbes1 or   
fire-pumps1 it is loaded with mortars1  

filled with ,serpents1 ,crackers1 c4 and
 having in the centre of each a case    
filled with spur-fire4 ,the mortars     
should be made of paste-board1 wound two
 or three times round a cylinder1 about 
four inches diameter1 and well secured  
by glue1 by which means their bottoms   
and tops are fixed to them4  ,the       
spur-fire1 which is the chief ornament  
of these pieces1 is prepared as         
follows3--,it has been said that        
excellence can never be obtained1       
without overcoming commensurate         
difficulties2 this is certainly verified
 in the preparation of this composition2
 for nothing can exceed the difficulty  
and trouble in preparing it1 and nothing
 can exceed the beauty of its appearance
 when properly prepared4 ,it is said to 
be the invention of the ,chinese1 and is
 certainly the most beautiful and       
curious of any yet known4  ,the         
principal care in the preparation1 is1  
to have the ingredients of the very best
 quality2 next to that is the well      

grinding and mixing them together4  ,the
 proportion of the ingredients is       
salt-petre four pounds and a-half1      
sulphur two pounds1 and lamp-black one  
pound eight ounces4 ,one great          
difficulty is in the mixing these       
ingredients together2 it is best to sift
 the salt-petre and sulphur together    
first1 and then put them into a marble  
mortar1 and the lamp-black with them1   
which must be worked down by degrees    
with a wooden pestle1 till all the      
ingredients appear of one colour1 which 
will be somewhat grayish1 but more      
inclined to black2 when this is done    
drive a little into a case for trial1   
and fire it in a dark place2 if sparks  
come out in the form of stars or pinks1 
and in clusters1 spreading well without 
any other sparks1 it may be considered  
good3 if it appear drossy1 and the stars
 not full1 it is not mixed enough2 but  
if the pinks are very small1 and soon   
break1 it is indicative of an excess of 
rubbing2 if the excess is great1 it will

 be too fierce1 and hardly show any     
stars3 on the other hand1 if the rubbing
 or mixture is in defect1 it will be too
 weak1 and produce nothing but an       
obscure or black smoke4  ,this          
composition is generally rammed in one  
or two ounce cases1 about five or six   
inches long2 care must be taken not to  
ram it too hard4 ,the aperture at the   
choak should not be so wide as is       
usually given to other choaked cases4   
,it is somewhat remarkable1 that the    
composition should be improved by being 
kept in the cases2 but it is found that 
they always play better1 if suffered to 
stand a time after they are filled4  ,in
 preparing the ,pyramid of ,flower      
,pots1 the cases of spur-fire are to be 
placed in the middle of the mortars1 and
 be connected by leaders1 so that they  
may all be fired together4 ,the cases   
will first play off in a very pretty    
manner2 and when exhausted1 the fire    
from them communicates to the powder at 
the bottom of the mortars1 and this     

suddenly taking fire1 all blow up       
simultaneously1 and scatter their       
luminous fragments in the air2 the      
serpents hiss1 the crackers bounce1 and 
the illuminated stars fly in all        
directions1 producing considerable      
amusement and surprise1 and forming an  
excellent conclusion to a small         
exhibition4  ,this beautiful composition
 is also susceptible of other           
representations1 many of which may      
without the least danger be exhibited   
within a room1 as well as in the open   
air2 it is really of so innocent a      
nature1 that it may be 7though          
improperly7 called a cold fire2 for it  
is found that when well made1 the sparks
 will not burn a handkerchief when held 
in the midst of them2 they may be held  
in the hand with perfect safety2 if the 
sparks fall a short distance upon the   
hand1 you feel them like drops of rain4 
,a pretty exhibition may be produced by 
placing a number of spur-fires round a  
transparent pyramid of paper1 and fired 

in a room1 or in the open air4 ,in all  
cases1 and every variety of exhibition1 
this fire is very beautiful1 and will   
always repay the labour of preparation4 
#g4 ,,wheels4  ,a great variety of forms
 may be given to this kind of           
fire-works4 ,they are so called because 
they are generally made in the shape of 
wheels1 with a nave and spokes radiating
 from the centre2 on the extremities of 
the latter are adjusted charged cases1  
of the rocket kind1 without heads2 in   
such manner that the tail of one is     
connected with the head of another1 by  
which method they will take fire        
successively1 and keep up a continued   
revolution of the apparatus to which    
they are fixed4  ,these wheels are      
either vertical or horizontal1 single or
 double4 ,a single vertical or          
horizontal1 may be made after the manner
 described in ,art4 #f1 ,rockets4   #h4 
,a ,,single ,,horizontal  ,may be       
rendered more pleasing by the following 
arrangement of the rocket4 ,provide a   

wheel1 with nave1 spindle1 and spokes as
 before2 and for the fells a broad      
cooper's hoop of proper dimensions1     
nailed on to the end of the spokes1 will
 answer very well4 ,the wheel being thus
 prepared1 the cases must be attached   
firmly to it1 by means of strong        
pack-thread1 loops passing through the  
circumference2 and in such manner that  
their heads and tails1 as they succeed  
each other1 may alternately incline     
upwards and downwards1 and likewise when
 fixed1 come very near together4  ,this 
being done you must1 from the tail of   
one case to the mouth of the next       
following1 carry a leader1 and well     
secure it by pasting paper round both   
the joinings3--within this pasted paper 
should be put a little mealed-powder1   
which will serve to blow off the paper1 
and leave no obstruction to the fire    
from the cases4 ,to the spindle on which
 the wheel revolves1 fix a case of the  
same kind as those on the wheel2 which  
must be fired by a leader from the mouth

 of the last case on the wheel1 which   
case should play downwards4 ,the wheel  
will be much improved1 if instead of a  
common case in the middle1 you fix a    
case of ,chinese-fire1 in length        
sufficient to burn as long as three     
cases on the wheel4 ,in all the cases1  
7except the first one17 on each wheel   
should be driven a ladle-full or two of 
slow-fire1 in any part of the case3 in  
the end of one or two alternate cases   
you may also ram a ladle-full of        
dead-fire composition1 which must be    
very lightly rammed2 many other changes 
in the appearance may be produced by    
alternately ramming in composition of   
different orders4  ,horizontal ,wheels  
are frequently fired two or three at a  
time2 and being prepared after the same 
manner1 will keep time with each other3 
when thus arranged1 the slow or         
dead-fire is omitted4 ,these wheels may 
be made from ten to twenty inches       
diameter4  ,a ,horizontal ,wheel1 with  
the cases fixed1 is represented in fig4 

#bf4   #i4 ,,plural ,,wheels4  ,so      
called from there being several of them 
fixed on the same axis2 they are        
generally horizontal1 and in number     
three4 ,the diameter of the middle wheel
 may be a little less than the other    
two4  ,the cases must be fixed to the   
ends of the spokes in notches cut on    
purpose1 or there may be half cylinders 
of tin nailed to the ends of the spokes1
 and the cases tied in them4 ,the bottom
 cases should play obliquely upwards2   
the middle set horizontally2 and the    
upper cases obliquely downwards4 ,the   
leaders must be arranged so that the    
cases may burn first up1 then down1 then
 horizontal1 through the whole sets4 ,by
 driving in the end of the last case two
 or three ladles full of slow-fire1 it  
will cause it to burn till the wheel has
 stopped its course2 and if the other   
cases are fixed in the contrary way1 the
 wheel will then revolve in a contrary  
direction1 and have a pleasing          
appearance4 ,for the case at top of the 

axis1 a gerbe may be well employed2 the 
case on the spokes should be filled with
 a strong brilliant charge4   #aj4      
,,spiral ,,wheels4  ,these in their     
principal construction differ but little
 from the foregoing3 the following are  
the principal differences4 ,the nave    
should be about seven inches long2      
instead of a spindle at top1 make a hole
 for the case to be fixed in2 in the    
nave must be fixed two sets of spokes   
near the top and bottom2 the spokes     
should not be more than about three     
inches long2 the cases must be placed in
 such a manner1 that those at top play  
downwards1 and those at bottom play     
upwards1 but the third or fourth case   
must play horizontally4 ,the case in the
 middle may begin with any of the       
others2 six spokes will be sufficient   
for each set1 by which the wheel may    
contain twelve cases1 besides the top   
one3 the cases should be about seven    
inches in length4   #aa4 ,,illuminated  
,,spiral ,,wheels4  ,provide a          

horizontal wheel with circular fells    
complete1 which should be about two feet
 six inches diameter2 on its            
circumference1 and at equal distances   
from each other1 fix three pieces of    
light deal about four feet long1 and at 
top connect them to a cylindrical block 
about three inches diameter2 this block 
must be perpendicular to that of the    
wheel below4 ,the wheel being thus far  
advanced1 have a thin flexible lath or  
hoop1 and having nailed one end to the  
bottom of one of the upright pieces1    
proceed to wind it round the three      
uprights in a spiral line from the wheel
 to the top block1 to which the other   
end must be made fast2 on the top of the
 block fix a case of ,chinese-fire2 on  
the wheel you may place any number of   
cases1 which should incline downwards1  
and burn two at a time4 ,if the wheel   
has ten cases1 the illuminations and    
,chinese-fire may begin with the second 
case4  ,the axis for this wheel must    
pass through the bottom nave1 and into  

the block at top4  ,this wheel may be   
easily wrought into a double spiral     
wheel1 by winding round it another lath 
in an opposite direction1 and clothing  
it in a similar manner4 ,at the top of  
either may be placed a case of          
spur-fire1 or amber-light1 or any other 
article the pyrotechnist may think      
proper4   #ab4 ,,balloon ,,wheels4      
,these are horizontal wheels1 generally 
made of solid one-inch elm board1 about 
two feet six inches diameter4 ,on the   
top arrange and fix in pots1 three      
inches diameter1 and about six inches   
high1 in number equal to the cases on   
the wheel3 near the bottom of each pot  
make a small vent1 into each of which   
carry a leader from the tail of each    
case2 the pots may be loaded with       
,stars1 ,crackers1 ,serpents1 c4 ,as the
 wheels turn1 the pots will be          
successively fired1 and caused to throw 
into the air a great variety of fires1  
which taking numerous and various       
directions1 will present a pleasing     

exhibition4   #ac4 ,,ground ,,wheels4   
,these are of very simple contrivance4  
,provide two light wheels1 in diameter  
from two to three or four feet3 they    
must be fixed firmly to a square        
axle-tree1 or in such manner that they  
cannot revolve on it2 the axle may be   
about three feet in length4 ,then on the
 middle of this axle is to be firmly    
fixed a fire-wheel1 which must be so    
much less in diameter1 that when the    
cases are attached to it1 it may be     
quite clear of the ground2 care must be 
taken that this middle wheel be fixed at
 right-angles from the axle1 or it will 
not keep in a straight direction when   
set in motion4 ,now the first case being
 fired1 it is evident that motion will  
be given to the fire-wheel1 which being 
fixed firmly to the axle of the others1 
the consequence which follows is1 that  
absolute#af motion will be given to the 
whole apparatus2 which1 if placed on    
level ground1 will proceed to a distance
 proportionate to the number and        

strength of the cases employed4  ,by    
attaching a second set of cases1 so     
arranged as to take fire when the first 
set are consumed1 the wheel 7running    
upon level ground7 will return to the   
same place from which it received its   
primary impulse4  ,this kind of wheels1 
when constructed with care1 affords a   
very pleasing recreation4 ,it may be    
readily seen1 that many other ornamental
 pieces of less magnitude may be        
attached to the same axle3--a good level
 school ground is favourable for the    
exhibition of this article4   #ad4      
,,horizontal ,,changed ,,to ,a          
,,vertical ,,wheel4  ,the ,wheel for    
this should be about three feet six     
inches diameter4 ,on its circumference  
fix sixteen half-pound cases filled with
 brilliant charge1 two of which should  
burn at a time4 ,on each end of the     
nave1 must be a tube or barrel of tin or
 brass1 in diameter something less than 
that of the nave1 and in height about   
six inches2 this is the construction of 

the wheel4 ,the stand to which it is to 
be fixed is as follows3 set a post of   
any kind of wood1 about four inches     
square1 firmly into the ground1 standing
 up about five feet2 then from the top  
saw off about two feet1 which piece must
 be joined again at the place where it  
was cut1 with a strong hinge on one     
side1 in such a manner that it may lift 
up and down in front of the stand2 on   
the top of the bottom part1 the side on 
which the moveable part falls1 fix a    
very strong bracket projecting about a  
foot from the post2 and at the extremity
 of which form a tenon1 corresponding to
 a mortice made in the moveable part1 so
 that when it falls it may be firmly    
fixed to it2 this particular must be    
attended to1 or the force with which the
 wheel revolves when vertical1 will be  
liable to pull off the hinge4 ,on the   
side of the short post opposite the     
hinge1 nail a piece of wood1 extending  
about eighteen inches down the bottom   
part of the post1 to which it must be   

tied with a piece of string only1 which 
will be sufficient to keep the short    
part perpendicular2 in the top of the   
latter1 fix a spindle1 ten or twelve    
inches long2 on this spindle put the    
wheel2 then fix on a brilliant sun with 
a single glory1 the diameter of which   
must be about six inches less than that 
of the wheel4 ,the wheel being ready to 
fire1 light the wheel part first1 and   
let it run horizontally till four cases 
are consumed1 then from the end of the  
fourth case carry a leader into the tin 
barrel that turns over the end of the   
stand2 this leader must be met by       
another brought through the top of the  
post1 from a case filled with a strong  
port-fire charge1 and tied to the bottom
 post1 with its mouth directed towards  
the string which holds up the upper part
 of the post1 so that when this case is 
lighted1 it will burn the string and let
 the wheel fall downward1 by which means
 it will become vertical2 then from the 
last case of the wheel carry a leader   

into the barrel next the sun1 which will
 exhibit its beauties immediately the   
wheel has ceased4  ,the sudden change of
 this piece renders it very surprising  
and pleasing to the observers of it1 and
 entitles it to great attention4   #ae4 
,,vertical ,,scroll ,,wheel4  ,a wheel  
of this kind may be made of any         
diameter4 ,the nave may be of moderate  
size1 and to it fix four spokes at right
 angles to each other1 and united to the
 fell or circumference2 round the latter
 you are to fix any number of           
port-fires3 on the front of the spokes  
form1 with some strong iron wire1 a     
scroll or volute1 in dimensions         
proportionate to the wheel1 beginning at
 the centre2 on this scroll tie cases of
 brilliant fire1 which should not be too
 large1 and placed head to tail1 as in  
other similar arrangements4 ,the case   
nearest the circumference must be fired 
first1 which being farthest from the    
centre has most power to set the wheel  
in motion4 ,the port-fires may be       

before1 at the same time1 or after the  
scroll4  ,this wheel may be wrought into
 one far more ornamented and complex4 ,a
 double scroll might be formed on the   
spokes1 as well as a double set of      
port-fires on the circumference2 a pot  
of some kind at the centre would readily
 suggest itself4   ,,remarks ,,on       
,,wheels4  ,in all articles of the wheel
 kind1 the ,tyro must observe to        
increase the strength of his composition
 for cases1 as his wheels increase in   
diameter2 for a rocket proper for a     
twenty-four inch wheel will not do well 
for one that is much larger4  ,the      
following rule as to this particular may
 serve in many cases3 divide the        
diameter of your wheels1 taken in       
inches1 into three parts1 and it will   
give the length of your cases1 and      
generally within one1 the number it will
 require to go round it4 ,thus suppose  
your wheel is twenty-four inches        
diameter1 divide by #c2 #bd_/c equals   
#h1 which is about the length of your   

cases3 and #g 3 #bb 33 #bd 3 #ebh which 
divided #ebh_/g  #ge1c and #ge_/h  #aj  
equal #aj1 the number of eight-inch     
cases it will take to go round the      
circumference4  ,this is not given as a 
particular1 but as a general rule2 or   
one that will assist a little in the    
arrangement of these articles4   #af4   
,,to ,,represent ,,the ,,fir ,,tree4    
,provide a post six or seven feet long1 
and three inches square2 then on the far
 side at nine inches from the top1 fix  
in four short pegs to fit the inside of 
the cases2 nine inches from these fix   
similar pegs2 nine inches lower fix     
others similar to the last2 and from    
these1 the same distance1 fix other     
pegs2 all these four sets must incline  
upwards2 below them1 at the same        
distance1 must be fixed another set     
inclining downwards1 the angles of      
inclination in all may be about         
forty-five degrees from the upright     
post4 ,at the top of the post place a   
four-inch mortar loaded with stars1     

rains1 crackers1 c4 ,in the middle of   
this mortar place a case with any sort  
of charge fired with the others1 which  
should be filled with a brilliant       
charge4 ,the tree may be made of any    
size1 and other ornaments made use of1  
as suits the operator4   #ag4 ,,yew     
,,tree ,,of ,,brilliant ,,fire4         
,provide a piece of wood about four feet
 long1 two inches wide1 and one thick2  
at top on the flat side1 fix a hoop     
about fourteen inches diameter2 and     
round its edge and front place          
illuminations1 and in the centre a      
five-pointed star2 then on each side at 
about eighteen inches from the edge of  
the hoop place two twelve-inch cases of 
brilliant fire2 below which place two   
more cases of the same size1 and at such
 a distance that their mouths may almost
 meet them at top2 then close to the    
ends of these fix two more of the same  
cases1 which must stand parallel to the 
others4 ,the cases being thus fixed1 the
 leaders must be applied in such a      

manner that the illuminations and stars 
at top may all take fire at the same    
time4 ,fig4 #bg represents the          
arrangement of the article4   #ah4      
,,fixed ,,fire ,,globes4  ,these        
articles are divided into two kinds1 one
 with projected cases1 the other when   
the cases are concealed4  ,for a globe  
with concealed cases1 provide a         
spherical globe of any diameter2 divide 
the surface in fourteen equal parts1 and
 at each division bore a hole           
perpendicular to the centre2 in every   
hole except one 7which must be reserved 
for the spindle1 on which it must be    
fixed7 insert a case filled with        
brilliant or any other charge2 the      
mouths of the cases must be even with   
the surface of the globe2 from the      
mouths of the several cases must be cut 
a groove1 and in it laid a leader1 for  
the purpose of firing them altogether4  
,the globe must be covered over with    
paper1 and painted in what manner the   
,tyro thinks proper4 ,when dry it is to 

be fixed upon the spindle1 and it is    
ready for exhibition4  ,for projected   
,cases4--,the preparation is nearly the 
same2 the difference being only to let  
each case project from the globe about  
half or two thirds of its length2 their 
mouths are to be connected by leaders1  
for the same purpose as before1 and     
exhibited in the same manner4   #ai4    
,,globes ,,which ,,leap ,,or ,,roll ,,on
 ,,the ,,ground4  ,construct a hollow   
wooden globe of any dimensions at       
pleasure2 it must be very round1 both   
internal and external2 its thickness    
must be equal to about the ninth part of
 its diameter4 ,in this globe insert a  
small wooden cylinder1 7,a fig4 #bh47 in
 breadth equal about one-fifth diameter 
of the globe1 its thickness about half  
that of ditto3 of the same size and     
opposite to this cylinder must be       
another aperture4 ,it is through this   
latter aperture that fire is            
communicated to the globe1 when it has  
been filled with the proper composition 

through the lower end of it2 and by     
which you have the convenience of       
filling1 and of putting1 as is generally
 done1 a petard or report of metal1     
filled with good grained powder over the
 inside of the aperture2 besides this   
petard four or five others of a similar 
nature1 only they need not be in        
metallic cases1 are to be inserted2 they
 must be loaded with good grained powder
 filled to their orifices4 ,the         
composition for filling the remaining   
cavity of the globe is--one pound of    
bruised gunpowder1 six pounds of        
salt-petre1 three pounds of sulphur1 two
 pounds of iron-filings1 and half a     
pound of ,greek pitch4 ,this composition
 will not require much grinding or      
sifting2 it will be sufficient if the   
different ingredients be well           
incorporated4 ,it should not be made up 
quite dry1 but with a little of one of  
the liquids we have before mentioned4   
,a globe prepared as above1 on being    
fired by means of a match attached to   

the orifice ,a1 will leap and bound     
about as it burns1 or according to the  
accidental explosion of the petards1    
which are set on fire by the            
composition4  ,instead of placing these 
petards in the inside1 they may be      
affixed to the exterior surface of the  
globe1 which they will make to roll and 
leap about as they successively take    
fire4 ,they may be arranged in any      
manner on the surface of the globe1     
providing a connection is formed between
 them by means of leaders4  ,many       
differences in the arrangement and form 
of these globes may be made1 and which  
will readily suggest themselves to the  
ingenious practitioner2 such as an      
arrangement of rockets on the inside1   
laid head and tail together2 but in case
 the globe should be of paper or        
pasteboard1 made in two equal           
hemispheres1 and joined together by     
paper1 the match must be applied through
 a hole in the globe made opposite the  
mouth of the first rocket2 these rockets

 should have no petards at their tops4  
,it must here be observed that the      
globes must be perforated in various    
parts1 otherwise they will burst by the 
combustion of the composition4  ,when   
used as water globes1 care must be taken
 to seal and plug up the lower aperture 
,i1 ,k1 first with a tompion1 or plug of
 wood1 and afterwards with some melted  
pitch2 which latter may be put all over 
the globe in order to preserve it from  
the water4 ,over the plug at bottom1 and
 previous to the application of the     
pitch1 must be melted such a quantity of
 lead1 as will cause the globe to sink  
in water1 till nothing but the part ,a1 
will remain above its surface2 this will
 be the case when the weight of the     
globe and its contents1 with the lead   
attached1 becomes equal to the weight of
 an equal volume of water4 ,if the globe
 be then placed in the water1 the lead  
by its superior gravity1 will make the  
aperture ,i1 ,k1 tend directly          
downwards1 and keep in a perpendicular  

position the cylinder ,a1 to which fire 
must have been previously applied4      
,trial should be made respecting the    
quantity of lead previous to its being  
exhibited1 which may be easily done4    
,the figures referred to represent a    
globe under various modes of            
arrangement4   #bj4 ,,moon ,,and ,,seven
 ,,stars4  ,provide a circular board    
about five feet diameter2 and out of the
 middle cut a piece about fourteen      
inches diameter2 then over the opening  
put a piece of white ,persian silk1 on  
which paint a moon's face2 over the     
whole of the large board draw a         
seven-pointed star1 terminating in the  
circumference2 then on the lines forming
 the star bore a number of holes at     
small distances from each other1 wherein
 fix pointed stars4 ,in each of the     
spaces between the points of this large 
star1 cut out a five-pointed star1 and  
cover each with oiled silk4  ,when this 
is to be exhibited1 fix it on a spindle 
in front of a post1 with a wheel of     

brilliant fire behind the face of it2 so
 that while the wheel burns1 the moon   
and stars will appear transparent2 and  
when the wheel has ceased burning1 they 
will disappear1 and the large star in   
front1 formed of the pointed stars1 will
 begin1 being lighted by a pipe of      
communication from the last case of the 
vertical wheel behind the moon1 which   
must be effected as taught in a         
foregoing article4   #ba4 ,,suns ,,fixed
 ,,and ,,moveable4  ,among the various  
amusing articles of pyrotechnic produce1
 none are more beautiful or afford      
greater remuneration of pleasure1 than  
those under the denomination of ,suns4  
,they are of several kinds1 as fixed1   
moveable1 and transparent2 they are all 
of simple construction4  ,fixed suns    
after the following manner3--,provide a 
nave of wood1 and in it fix fourteen or 
sixteen pieces in the form of radii2 and
 to these radii attach jets of fire1 the
 mouths of the jets being towards the   
circumference4 ,a match must be applied 

in such a manner1 that the fire         
communicated at the centre1 may be      
conveyed at the same time1 to the mouths
 of each of the jets2 by which means    
each throwing its fire1 the appearance  
will be that of a radiating sun2 the    
wheel must be fixed in a vertical       
position4  ,the jets may be so arranged 
as to cross each other in an angular    
manner2 in which case1 instead of a sun 
you will have a star1 or a sort of cross
 resembling that of ,malta4 ,some of    
these suns are made also with several   
rows of jets2 when they are so arranged 
they are called glories4  ,the wheel1 or
 sun1 may be caused to revolve by       
attaching jets to it in the direction of
 the circumference1 with their heads and
 tails together4 ,when the wheel is     
heavy four of the rockets must be fired 
together1 and this in the following     
manner3 supposing there are twenty cases
 employed1 fire must be communicated at 
the same time to the first1 the sixth1  
the eleventh1 and the sixteenth2 from   

which it will proceed to the second1 the
 seventh1 the twelfth1 the seventeenth1 
and so on4 ,these four rockets will make
 the wheel turn round with rapidity4    
,if two similar suns1 with horizontal   
axes1 are placed one behind the other1  
and made to turn in opposite directions1
 they will produce a very pleasing      
effect of cross-fire4  ,three or four   
suns arranged on a similar axis1 might  
be implanted in a vertical one1 moveable
 in the middle of a table2 which        
revolving around it would seem to pursue
 each other4 ,they must be fixed firm on
 their axis and this axis must turn in  
the upright one in the middle of the    
table2 and at the place where they rest 
on the table1 should be furnished with a
 very moveable roller4  ,for a          
transparent sun1 a prepared face of     
oiled paper1 or ,persian silk1 painted  
in a proper manner1 must be provided1   
and strained tight upon a hoop1 which   
must be supported by pieces of strong   
wire1 six or seven inches from the      

wheel1 so that the light of it may      
illuminate the face4 ,after the same    
manner may be represented in the front  
of a sun1 the words ,farewell1 ,vivat   
,rex1 or ,apollo1 or any other figure   
may be painted on the silk4  ,sometimes 
a small hexagonal wheel is fixed to the 
nave of the large wheel1 whose cases    
must be filled with the same charge as  
the other2 two of which must burn at a  
time1 and begin with the others4  ,for a
 sun five feet in diameter1 the cases   
should be those of eight ounces1 filled 
with composition about ten inches4 ,if  
the wheels are larger the cases must be 
proportionate to them4   #bb4           
,,composition ,,for ,,representing      
,,animals ,,and ,,other ,,devices ,,in  
,,fire4  ,reduce some sulphur to an     
impalpable powder1 and having with      
starch formed it into a paste1 cover    
with it the figure you intend to        
represent on fire2 the figure must be   
first coated over with clay1 to prevent 
it from being burnt4  ,when the figure  

has been covered with this paste1       
sprinkle it a little1 while still moist1
 with pulverised gunpowder2 and when the
 whole is perfectly dry1 arrange some   
small matches on the principal parts of 
it1 that the fire may be speedily       
communicated to it on all sides4  ,by   
the same method may be formed festoons1 
garlands1 and other ornaments1 the      
flowers of which might be imitated by   
fire of different colours1 and arranged 
on any plastered architecture4          
,,aquatic ,,fire-,,works4  ,though fire 
and water are of very opposite natures1 
yet there are many fire-works1 which    
will burn and produce their effect even 
when immersed in their opposite element2
 of these rockets are the most pleasing4
 ,they may be made from four ounces to  
two pounds4 ,the cases are made as those
 for sky-rockets1 differing only as it  
regards the thickness of them1 which    
should be somewhat greater1 and in the  
manner of filling1 which latter is the  
most particular1 requiring a variety of 

compositions rammed in alternate layers1
 for the purpose of making them         
alternately dive and swim4 ,the         
compositions are chiefly of three kinds1
 namely1 that of sulphur two ounces1    
salt-petre four ounces1 and             
mealed-powder one ounce and a-half1 and 
about one fourth of an ounce of         
antimony4 ,the second kind called a     
sinking charge1 is composed of eight    
ounces of mealed-powder1 and            
three-fourths of an ounce of charcoal4  
,the third1 called an ordinary charge1  
composed of mealed-powder1 salt-petre1  
sulphur1 and charcoal1 varied as in the 
following proportions3 sometimes a small
 portion of sea-coal or saw-dust is     
blended with them4  #a4 ,mealed-powder  
six pounds1 salt-petre three pounds1    
charcoal five pounds4  #b4              
,mealed-powder four pounds1 salt-petre  
four pounds1 sulphur two pounds4  #c4   
,mealed-powder four ounces1 salt-petre  
one pound1 sulphur eight ounces and     
a-half1 charcoal two ounces4  #d4       

,mealed-powder one pound1 salt-petre    
three pounds1 sulphur one pound1        
charcoal nine ounces4  #e4 ,salt-petre  
one pound1 sulphur four ounces and      
a-half1 charcoal six ounces4  ,in       
filling1 one ladle-full of slow-fire is 
first rammed in the case2 then one or   
two of sinking charge2 the common and   
the sinking charge are placed           
alternately to within about two         
diameters of the top4 ,over the last    
layer is placed one ladle-full of dry   
clay2 and a perforation made through    
into the charge4 ,the remainder of the  
case upwards1 to within about half a    
diameter1 is filled with corn-powder1   
and two or three folds of the paper     
turned over it2 when the ramming paper  
at the end is secured with strong       
thread1 and afterwards dipped in melted 
pitch or wax4 ,when several rockets are 
thrown into the water at the same time1 
care should be taken to select those    
which have been filled and rammed in an 
uniform manner4 ,to secure the cases    

from the action of the water1 it is     
obvious that they should be prepared as 
such2 this is done by varnishing them   
over with linseed oil1 or common        
varnish4  ,leaders1 and pipes of        
communication1 must be prepared after   
the same manner as rockets1 as far as   
regards their cases2 that is1 they must 
be made somewhat stronger1 and when     
fixed to be varnished over as before2   
taking care not to varnish before all   
your pasting is completed4   ,,to ,,make
 ,a ,,fire-,,fountain ,,for ,,the       
,,water4  ,provide a circular float     
three feet diameter2 in the middle fix a
 round post four feet high1 about two   
inches diameter2 round this post fix    
three circular wheels made of thin wood4
 ,place the largest within two or three 
inches of the bottom1 which should be   
not much less than the float4 ,the      
second wheel must be about two feet two1
 and fixed two feet from the first4 ,the
 third wheel must be sixteen inches     
diameter1 and fixed within six inches of

 the top of the post4 ,then take        
eighteen four or eight-ounce cases of   
brilliant fire1 and place them round the
 first wheel with their mouths upwards1 
and inclining downwards2 on the second  
wheel place thirteen cases in the same  
manner as those on the first2 on the    
third place eight more in the same      
manner as before1 and on the top of the 
post fix a gerbe2 then clothe the cases 
with leaders1 so that both they and the 
gerbes may take fire at the same time4  
,before firing this work it is best to  
try it in the water to see whether the  
float is properly made1 so as to keep   
the fountain upright4  ,aquatic         
exhibitions are almost as numerous as   
those of the other kind1 but we consider
 it entirely useless to describe more   
than we have already done2 as so many of
 them depend on the taste and ingenuity 
of the practitioner4  ,before closing   
our ,,manual we will just notice some of
 our public displays of ,fire-works in  
,london1 for a week scarcely passes but 

we are arrested in our progress through 
the busy town by placards of some three 
or four feet long1 with huge letters of 
alternate black and red1 advising us of 
a grand display of ,fire-works at       
,vauxhall or some other place of        
amusement4  ,these frequent repetitions 
certainly stagger the pretty generally  
received opinion1 that the ,pyrotechnic 
art is upon the decline in ,england4    
,our ,theatres ,royal do not disdain to 
call ,pyrotechny to their aid1 for we   
have lately seen a very good display at 
,drury ,lane1 by way of climax to the   
,extravaganza of ,giovanni in ,london4  
,the ,fire-works at ,sadler's ,wells    
during the last season upon the whole   
were very good1 although a confined     
,theatre is certainly not the most      
advantageous place for ,pyrotechnic     
exhibitions4 ,this ,theatre having the  
advantage of real water1 they have good 
opportunities of forming a junction of  
the two opposite elements2 and which on 
the last evening of their performance   

they certainly did1 with the aid of     
,fountains and ,water ,rockets2--this   
display concluded with the appropriate  
motto of 8,,farewell10 in brilliant     
fire4  ,the merits of the ,fire-works at
 ,vauxhall last season were very great1 
and as such were duly appreciated by the
 ,public4 ,they were on a larger scale  
than formerly1 and have only been       
excelled by royal magnificence at the   
display in the ,park in #ahad4   ,w4    
,,tyler1 ,,printer1 #e1 ,,bridgewater   
,,square4   ,,footnotes3  #a ,nitric    
acid is a compound of azot1 or impure   
air1 and oxygen1 or vital air1 and is   
sometimes made by repeatedly passing    
electric shocks through a mixture of    
oxygenous and azotic gas4  #b ,potash1  
or the vegetable alkali1 is generally   
obtained from wood-ashes2 but sometimes 
from the tartar1 or from the lees of    
wine3 what is used in ,england is       
generally imported from the north1 where
 there is an abundance of wood1 to allow
 of its being burnt for this purpose4   

,this ,nitrate of ,potash exists in a   
natural state1 but is generally in very 
small quantities4 ,it is found at the   
surface of the ground in some parts of  
,persia and the ,east ,indies1 and is   
mostly united with a kind of yellowish  
marl1 which they dig from the cliffs on 
the sides of hills1 exposed to the      
northern and eastern winds4  #c         
,alumine1 or clay2 it is found of       
various degrees of purity1 and mixed    
with a variety of other earths4  #d     
,this is ,lime combined with sulphuric  
acid2 it is called ,gypsum1 plaster of  
,paris1 plaster-stone1 or selenite4 ,it 
is very abundant in some parts of       
,england1 and the hills near ,paris are 
chiefly composed of it4  #e ,from pyr1  
fire1 and lignum1 wood2 the acid        
obtained from the partial combustion of 
wood2 this acid is used in calico       
printing as mordants for dark-coloured  
patterns4  #f ,the name given by        
chemists to the pure part of charcoal4  
,it is said to be present in almost all 

combustible bodies1 and is of itself    
entirely of that nature4 ,when charcoal 
is burnt1 its carbon unites with the    
oxygen of the air1 and so much heat as  
to give it a gaseous form1 and          
constitutes carbonic acid gas1 or fixed 
air4 ,the same gas is also obtained by  
the combustion of the diamond1 proving  
that this precious and costly article is
 carbon or charcoal1 in a very indurated
 state1 and assuming a determinate form4
 ,it was not till lately that the       
diamond was proved to be combustible2   
but by means of the blow-pipe1 and a    
stream of oxygen gas1 it may be1 to     
speak in common language1 wholly        
consumed4 ,the air that is extricated   
during the combustion1 is carbonic acid 
gas1 proving the diamond to have been   
chiefly1 if not wholly1 composed of     
carbon4  ,long before this fact         
respecting the diamond was ascertained1 
,sir ,isaac ,newton1 reasoning from its 
great refracting power1 declared it to  
be his opinion1 that it was one of the  

most combustible of bodies4 ,modern     
discoveries have now proved the fact2   
and it affords us an admirable instance 
of the acumen of that great             
,philosopher4          ,popular         
,chemical ,essays4   #g ,the force by   
which this wheel revolves is very       
remarkable1 as it unites in itself those
 two adverse forces which have been the 
subject of so much mathematical         
controversy1 namely1 the centrifugal and
 centripetal3 it may appear like        
trifling with science to observe these  
forces in this simple production1 but   
that they do exist in it is not less    
evident3 for from the revolutions of the
 ignited particles of the composition   
the former is produced1 and from the    
nature and well known properties of the 
evolute curve1 cteris paribus1 the      
latter is produced4  ,the ,evolute and  
,involute ,curves are possessed with    
many remarkable properties1 which it    
would be no difficult task to unfold1   
but as it could be of no practical use  

to the ,pyrotechnist1 we shall leave it 
to such of our ,mathematical readers as 
are able to appreciate the pleasure     
which such investigations afford4 ,and  
for their assistance we refer them to   
the excellent writings of ,hutton1      
,simson1 ,maclaurin1 c4 ,and to ,sect4  
#d1 ,book #b1 ,newton's ,principia1     
where they will find the subject        
beautifully illustrated4  #h ,he is     
fabled by the ancients to have formed a 
man of clay or earth1 and to have stolen
 fire from heaven1 with which he        
animated the man he had made4           
,heathen ,deities4   #i ,fig4 #aa       
represents an apparatus for boring      
,rockets when driven solid--should this 
method be attempted1 it is one of the   
simplest kind that can be used3 ,a ,b   
are two movable blocks hollowed out at  
their edges to receive the ,rocket4 ,c  
,d are two screws in each1 going through
 two sides of the frame to make them    
fast4 ,e is a brace carrying a shell-bit
 in dimensions proper for the ,rocket4  

,fig4 #af is a similar bit fixed in a   
handle2 which is useful in cleaning out 
the bore when the ,rocket is taken from 
the blocks4  #aj ,a line is the twelfth 
part of an inch1 or #addth part of a    
foot4 ,geometricians conceive the line  
notwithstanding its smallness to be     
subdivided in six points4 ,the numbers  
in the table might have been given in   
lines and points1 but it was thought the
 fractional numbers would be as well    
understood4  #aa ,euclid #ab4 #ah4      
,spheres are to each other as the cubes 
of their diameter1 this is the principle
 employed in the construction of the    
table2 but the method is converse1 being
 that of extracting the roots4  #ab     
,when the ,rods are of large dimensions1
 they should be bored at the top1 and   
filled with powder1 which blows them to 
pieces previous to their return to the  
earth1 and prevents any mischief which  
might happen by their falling otherwise4
  #ac ,so called1 from their resemblance
 7when in action7 to the rod borne by   

,mercury2 which1 according to fabulous  
history1 was entwisted by two serpents1 
as the sign and quality of his office1  
which was given him for his seven       
stringed harp4--,the term 7or ,caduce7  
was also used among the ,romans1 and    
applied to a staff or wand of a similar 
form1 carried by those officers who went
 to proclaim peace with any people with 
whom they had been at variance4  #ad    
,from the ,french term1 ,courant1       
signifying running4  #ae ,a ,french term
 signifying a cluster4  #af ,absolute   
motion is the change of absolute space  
or place of bodies1 as the motion of a  
projectile1 the flight of a bird1 or the
 motion of our own apparatus4           
,,transcriber',s ,,note    ,obvious     
typographical errors and punctuation    
errors have been   corrected after      
careful comparison with other           
occurrences within   the text and       
consultation of external sources4       
,the term #8flower paste' refers to     
flower of sulphur1 not wheat flour4     

,in the original text in the tables on  
pages #eb1 #gi1 #hh1 #hi and #aje1   the
 units of measure were italicized4 ,this
 has been normalized in   this etext for
 readability2 for example1 ozs4 and lbs4
 are displayed   instead of ozs4 and    
lbs44    ,except for those changes noted
 below1 all misspellings in the text1   
and inconsistent or archaic usage1 have 
been retained3 for example1             
length-wise1 lengthwise2 ,courantins1   
,courantines2 emication2 choaked2       
sciolistic2 indurated2 inclosed2        
dephlogisticated4    ,pg vii3 #8,scrolls
 for ,rockets 444 #aaf' inserted into   
,table of ,contents4   ,pg #c3 #8small  
expence' replaced by #8small expense'4  
,pg #d3 #8by a pully' replaced by #8by a
 pulley'4   ,pg #d3 #8and developement  
of' replaced by #8and development of'4  
,pg #f3 #8d',incarvill1 and' replaced by
 #8d',incarville1 and'4   ,pg #h3 #8are 
trejected with' replaced by #8are       
trajected with'4   ,pg #ac3 #8and       
corruscations' replaced by #8and        

coruscations'4   ,pg #dj3 #8seeming     
parodox of' replaced by #8seeming       
paradox of'4   ,pg #dc3 #8slide in a    
grove' replaced by #8slide in a groove'4
   ,pg #de3 #8#c4 ,method 444 ' replaced
 by #8#b4 ,method 444 '4   ,pg #dg3     
#8gerbs1 serpents' replaced by #8gerbes1
 serpents'4   ,pg #eb3 #8,sulpher'      
replaced by #8,sulphur'4   ,pg #ei3     
#8first temprarily' replaced by #8first 
temporarily'4   ,pg #ei3 #8dimentions of
 which' replaced by #8dimensions of     
which'4   ,pg #gj3 #8paper over the the 
top' replaced by #8paper over the top'4 
,pg #gj3 #8,,saucissons4' replaced by   
#8#g4 ,,saucissons4'4   ,pg #gb3 #8a    
strong cylindical' replaced by #8a      
strong cylindrical'4   ,pg #gg3         
#8somewhat less then' replaced by       
#8somewhat less than'4   ,pg #gh3       
#8increase proportionably' replaced by  
#8increase proportionally'4   ,pg #ha3  
#8,ragetten' replaced by #8,raketen'4   
,pg #ha3 #8,fuzee' replaced by #8,fuse'4
   ,pg #hf3 #8them from spliting'       

replaced by #8them from splitting'4     
,pg #hf3 #8by the mallett' replaced by  
#8by the mallet'4   ,pg #ib3 #8,table   
#b' replaced by #8,table ,,ii'4   ,pg   
#ib3 #8,table #c' replaced by #8,table  
,,iii'4   ,pg #aag3 #8best4 ,accordding'
 replaced by #8best4 ,according'4   ,pg 
#ada3 #8being trejected' replaced by    
#8being trajected'4