Artificial Fire-Works,

Improved to the Modern Practice,

From the Minutest to the Highest Branches;

CONTAINING

Aigrettes	Globes	Silver-Rain
Amber-lights	Gold-Rain	Spur-Fire
Balloons	Grand Volutes	Squibs
Batteries	Leaders	Stars
Chinese Fire-Ships	Lights	Sky-Rockets
Cohorns	Mines	Swans
Cones	Matches	Swarms
Crackers	Mortars	Thunder in Rooms
Cascades	Marrons	Towering-Rockets,
Dodecadrons	Moons	double and single
Ducks	Neptune’s Chariot	Tourbillons
Earthquakes	Potts	Trees
Flights	Pumps	Water Fire-Works
Flyers	Rain-Fall	Wheels
Fountains	Rockets	Yew-Trees
Gerbes	Sea-Fights

With all their Ingredients, Compositions, Preparations, Machines, Moulds, and Manner to make them, refining Salt-Petre, and to extract it from damaged Gunpowder, &c.

With about 100 of the principal Figures beautifully
engraved on Copper Plates.

The SECOND EDITION.

With the Addition of many new and beautiful Fire-Works, and 3 large Copper-Plates.

By ROBERT JONES,

Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

LONDON:

Printed for J. Millan, near Whitehall. (Price 7s, 6d.)

Mdcclxvi.

TO
SIR CHARLES FREDERICK,
KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE
ORDER OF THE BATH,
SURVEYOR GENERAL OF HIS
MAJESTY’S ORDNANCE,
AND FELLOW OF THE ROYAL
SOCIETY, AT LONDON.
THIS TREATISE
ON ARTIFICIAL FIREWORKS
IS HUMBLY INSCRIBED
BY
HIS MOST OBEDIENT

AND MUCH OBLIGED

HUMBLE SERVANT,

ROBERT JONES.

PREFACE.

I shall not pretend to say any thing here concerning the origin of Fireworks; those who are willing to be better informed of that point, may have recourse to the treatise of M. F***, on that subject, who has handled this point in a most elaborate manner; and perhaps it may be no displeasing surprize to the reader, to find that, while he imagines himself only concerned about an invention which, he could not have thought to have subsisted above 422 years, he is carried gradually back to the age of Augustus, and from thence to the time of the Trojan war.

It is sufficient for me that Fireworks have subsisted a long time, and still continue to do so among the politest nations of both Europe and Asia. I am very well aware that it may here be objected, there are already treatises published on this subject, and some of those voluminous ones; but then those are either translations from the French and Italian authors, &c. which in themselves are both imperfect and erroneous; or else they are very small abridgments, and those little, not of the art itself, only on some particular branches of it.

I have endeavoured, in the following treatise, to avoid prolixity as much as possible without being obscure; the rules I have laid down, are as plain as was in my power to make them, and I have endeavoured to carry the reader in by the most gradual manner, from the minutest circumstances to the highest, and have been careful to keep to the subject I first proposed, only as an Essay on Artificial Fire-works. I own I cannot help reflecting with some kind of chagrin, that, whenever we have had occasion for any of these sort of diversions to be exhibited in England, we have almost always had recourse to foreigners to execute them; if this has been owing to the ignorance of our own people on this subject, I shall be very happy if it is in my power to correct it; if it is only owing to that prevailing fondness we entertain for every thing that is foreign, I know no remedy for that evil but time and experience.

June 20, 1765.

SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.

Colonel Amherst
Lumney Arnold, Esq;
Captain Anderson
Mr. Thomas Ardesoif
Thomas Appreece, Esq;
Lieutenant Abbot
Mr. Nenon Armstrong
John Archbold, Esq;

Sir Richard Betenson, Baronet
Lieutenant-General Belford
Lieutenant-Colonel Brome
Captain Buchannan
Captain Richard Bowles
Charles Booth, Esq;
Captain Burt
Captain Bothwick
Captain Basset
Captain Henry Balfour
Captain Henry Brasier
Christopher Bath, Esq;
Captain Bettesworth
Lieutenant Blomfield
Lieutenant Bellew
Lieutenant Barbutt
Lieutenant Bruere
Lieutenant Burton
Lieutenant Brady
Lieutenant Burgh
Lieutenant Burrows
Lieutenant Brietzcke
Lieutenant Barber
Lieutenant Browne
Ensign Bertie
Mr. Bertie
—— Burk, Esq;
Mr. Burford.

Lieutenant-Colonel Chenevix
Lieutenant-Colonel Cleaveland
Lieutenant-Colonel Carlton
Major A. Campbell
The Honourable Lucius Ferdinand Cary
Captain Campbell
Captain Clark
Captain Charlton
Thomas Cunningham, Esq;
John Cockburn, Esq;
Cecil Calvert, Esq;
John Cathcart, Esq;
Partrick George Craufurd, Esq;
Lieutenant Chapman
Lieutenant Richard Chapman
Thomas Chowne, Esq;
—— Cooke, Esq;

Lieutenant-General Durand
Sir Charles Davers
Colonel Desaguliers
Lieutenant-Colonel Dalling
Major Dade
Captain Debbeig
Captain Dixon
Captain Desbrisay
Captain Davis
George Durant, Esq;
Henry Pelham Davis, Esq;
Lieutenant Durnford
Lieutenant Dixon
Lieutenant Douglass
Lieutenant Downing
Mr. Decosta

Lieutenant-General Elliot
Sir John Eyles Styles, Baronet
—— Edmonds, Esq.

Sir Charles Frederick, Knight of the Bath
William Farrell, Esq;
William Charles Farrell, Esq;
Captain Christopher French
Captain Fuller
Captain French

The Right Honourable the Marquiss of Granby
Lieutenant-Colonel Godwin
Captain Gordon
Captain Garth
Captain Gray
Captain George
Lieutenant Garstin
Lieutenant Grose
Lieutenant Gossip
John Henry Grose, Esq;
Jacob Grose, Esq;
Mr. Gresse

Lieutenant-Colonel Howe
Sir Samuel Hillier, LL. D.
The Honourable Charles Hamilton, Esq;
Captain Hayes
Captain Hedges
Captain Harcourt
—— Hillersdon, Esq;
John Hughson, Esq;
John Harrison, Esq;
Lieutenant Hill
Lieutenant Handcock
Mr. Alexander Hope
Ensign Harcup.

Major James
Captain Innis
Captain Jefferys
Thomas Jones, Esq;
Captain Jones.

Major General Keppel
Captain Kennedy
Lieutenant King
Ensign Keith
Doctor Kennedy

The Right Honourable Lord Viscount Ligonier
Captain Leslie
Captain Lewis
Lieutenant Leith
Lieutenant Lawson
Lieutenant Lemoine
Lieutenant Henry Hastings Lloyd
Ensign Lechmore
Ensign Leigh
Mr. Lepremaudaye
Mr. George Lambert
Mr. John Lampard.

General Monckton
Colonel Montresor
Sir William Mansel, Baronet
Captain Marsh
Lieutenant-Colonel Monypenny
Ensign Maccarthymore
Robert Morley, Esq;
James Moss, Esq;
John Muller, Esq;

Colonel Nugent
Mr. Nichols.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ord.

Sir Mark Parsons, Baronet
Colonel Pearson
Lieutenant-Colonel Pattison
Lieutenant-Colonel Philips
Lieutenant-Colonel Pepper
Captain Parkhill
Captain Pringle
Captain Peach
Lieutenant Paterson
James Philips, Esq;
Charles Philips, Esq;
James Powel, Esq;
Lieutenant Pearse
Lieutenant Pocock
George Parker, Esq;

His Grace the Duke of Rutland
The Right Honourable Lord Romney
Captain Reynolds
Lieutenant Ratcliff
Lieutenant Rosat
Lieutenant Robertson
Lieutenant Robison.

Sir Harry Seaton
Colonel Skinner
Major Straton
Major Skey
Captain Stewart
Captain Skyner
Lieutenant Strachan
Cornet Sievright
—— Stevenson, Esq;

Lieutenant Timms
Lieutenant Thomas
Mr. David Thomas
Zachariah Taylor, Esq;

Mr. George Villeneuve.

Major General Williamson
Lieutenant-Colonel Walsh
Major Wrightson
Captain Wilkie
Captain Williamson
Captain Walker
Lieutenant Williams
—— Lieutenant Williams
John Willis, Esq;
—— Ward Esq;
John Westrope, Esq;
Richard Stranton Wilmot, Esq;
Mr. Wise.

CONTENTS
SECTION I.
Of Salt-petre.	Pag. [1]
How to refine Salt-petre.	[2]
How to pulverise Salt-petre.	[3]
How to extract Salt-petre from damaged Gun-powder.	[ibid.]
Of Sulphur or Brimstone.	[5]
How to prepare Charcoal for Fireworks.	[6]
To make Artificial Camphor.	[7]
To make the Oil of Camphor.	[9]
Of Benjamin.	[10]
Of Gun-powder and its Original.	[11]
Of the Composition for Gun-powder of different Sorts.	[13]
To restore damaged Gun-powder to its proper Strength.	[16]
Of Silent-powder, commonly called White-powder.	[19]
To make Silent-powder.	[20]
To make Gun-powder of different Colours.	[21]
To make Gun-powder white.	[22]
To make Powder red.	[ibid.]
To make yellow Powder.	[23]
To make green Powder.	[ibid.]
To make blue Powder.	[23]
To make Pulvis Fulmanans or Thunder in a Room.	[24]
Sect. II.
Of the Spur-fire.	[26]
The Composition for the Spur-fire.	[28]
Characters, or Significant Signs, for distinguishing the different Ingredients used in Fireworks.	[29]
How to meal Gun-powder, Brimstone, and Charcoal.	[31]
To prepare Cast Iron for Gerbes, white Fountains, and Chinese Fire.	[32]
Charges for Sky-rockets, &c.	[34]
For Rockets of four Ounces.	[ibid.]
For Rockets of eight Ounces.	[ibid.]
For Rockets of one Pound.	[ibid.]
For Sky-rockets in General.	[35]
For large Sky-rockets.	[ibid.]
For Rockets of a middling Size.	[ibid.]
Compositions for Rocket Stars.	[36]
For white Stars.	[ibid.]
For blue Stars.	[ibid.]
Coloured or variegated Stars.	[ibid.]
For brilliant Stars.	[ibid.]
For common Stars.	[37]
For tailed Stars.	[ibid.]
For drove Stars.	[ibid.]
For fixed pointed Stars.	[37]
Stars of a fine Colour.	[38]
Gold Rain for Sky-rockets.	[ibid.]
Silver Rain.	[ibid.]
For Water-rockets.	[39]
A sinking Charge for Water-rockets.	[40]
For Wheel Cases, from two Ounces to four Pound.	[ibid.]
A slow Fire for Wheels.	[42]
A dead Fire for Wheels.	[ibid.]
For standing or fixed Cases.	[ibid.]
For Sun Cases.	[43]
For a brilliant Fire.	[ibid.]
For Gerbes.	[44]
Chinese Fire.	[ibid.]
Charges for Tourbillons.	[ibid.]
For four Ounce Tourbillons.	[ibid.]
For eight Ounce Tourbillons.	[ibid.]
For large Tourbillons.	[45]
For Water Ballóóns.	[ibid.]
For Water Squibs.	[ibid.]
For Mine Ports or Serpents.	[46]
Port Fires for firing Rockets, &c.	[ibid.]
Port Fires for Illuminations.	[47]
For Cones or Spiral Wheels.	[ibid.]
For Crowns or Globes.	[ibid.]
For Air Ballóón Fuzes.	[ibid.]
Serpents for Pots des Brins.	[48]
For Fire Pumps.	[ibid.]
For a slow white Flame.	[ibid.]
For Amber Lights.	[49]
For Lights of another Sort.	[ibid.]
For a red Fire.	[ibid.]
For a common Fire.	[ibid.]
To make an artificial Earthquake.	[50]
A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from Siemienawicz.	[52]
A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from M. F***.	[53]
A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from Hanzelet.	[54]
A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from Henrion.	[55]
A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from Saint Remy, with improvements by M. F***.	[56]
Remarks on the foregoing Tables.	[57]
Compositions for Stars of different Colours.	[60]
For Stars that carry Tails of Sparks.	[61]
Another sort of Stars, which yield some Sparks.	[62]
For Stars of a yellowish Colour.	[ibid.]
Stars of another Sort.	[63]
Of the Colours produced by the different Compositions.	[ibid.]
For a white Flame.	[64]
For a blue Flame.	[ibid.]
For a Flame inclining to red.	[65]
Of such Ingredients as shew themselves in Sparks when rammed in choaked Cases.	[ibid.]
How to make Cotton Quick-match.	[66]
Ingredients for the Match.	[68]
Sect. III.
Of Sky-rocket Moulds.	[69]
A Table of Dimensions for Rocket Moulds, in which the Rockets are rammed solid.	[72]
Of Moulds for Wheel-cases, or Serpents.	[73]
How to roll Rockets and other Cases.	[74]
To make Tourbillon Cases.	[78]
To make Ballóón Cases, or Paper Shells.	[79]
Of the Method of mixing Compositions.	[82]
How to preserve Steel or Iron Filings.	[83]
The Method of driving or ramming of Sky-rockets, &c.	[85]
Of the Proportion of Mallets.	[90]
Of the Proportion of Sky-rockets, with the manner of heading them.	[91]
Of the Decorations for Sky-rockets.	[93]
A Table of Dimensions and Poise of Rocket-sticks.	[94]
The Method of boring Rockets which have been drove solid.	[96]
Of a Hand Machine used for boring of Rockets instead of a Lathe.	[99]
The Manner of making large Gerbes.	[101]
Of small Gerbes or white Fountains.	[103]
To make Paste-board and Paper Mortars.	[104]
Sect. IV.
The Manner of loading Air Ballóóns.	[106]
Of Coehorn Ballóóns.	[108]
Of Coehorn Ballóóns.	[109]
Of Royal Ballóóns.	[110]
Of Royal Ballóóns.	[111]
Of eight Inch Ballóóns.	[112]
Remarks on Ballóóns.	[113]
Of eight Inch Ballóóns.	[115]
Of an eight Inch Ballóón.	[116]
Of a Compound ten Inch Ballóón.	[117]
Of a ten Inch Ballóón of three changes.	[118]
To make Ballóón.	[ibid.]
Of Tourbillons.	[120]
The Manner of making Mortars, for throwing Aigrettes and loading and firing the same.	[122]
The Manner of making, loading, and firing of Pots des Brins.	[125]
Of Pots des Saucissons.	[127]
To fix one Sky-rocket on the top of another.	[128]
Of Caduceus-rockets.	[130]
Of Honorary-rockets.	[131]
To divide the Tail of a Sky-rocket, so as to form an Arch when Ascending.	[133]
To make several Sky-rockets rise together, in the same direction, and equally distant from each other.	[134]
Of Signal Sky-rockets.	[135]
To fix two or more Sky-rockets on one Stick.	[136]
Of Sky-rockets without Sticks.	[140]
Of Rain-falls for Sky-rockets, double and single.	[141]
Of strung Stars.	[144]
Of tailed Stars.	[ibid.]
Of drove Stars.	[146]
Of rolled Stars.	[147]
Of Scrolls for Sky-rockets.	[148]
Of Swarmers or small Rockets.	[149]
Of the Cause of Sky-rockets rising.	[150]
Of Stands for Sky-rockets.	[151]
Of Girandole Chests for Flights of Rockets.	[152]
Of Serpents or Snakes for Pots des Aigrettes, small Mortars, Sky-rockets, &c.	[155]
Of Leaders or Pipes of Communication.	[ibid.]
Sect. V.
Of Aquatick Fireworks.	[157]
Of Water Rockets.	[ibid.]
To make Pipes of Communication, which may be used under Water.	[159]
Of Horizontal Wheels for the Water.	[ibid.]
Of Mines for the Water.	[161]
Of Fire Globes for the Water.	[162]
Of odoriferous Water Ballóóns.	[164]
Of Water Ballóóns.	[166]
Of Water Squibs.	[167]
To represent a Sea-fight with small Ships, and to prepare a Fire-ship for the same.	[168]
To fire Sky-rockets under Water.	[172]
To represent Neptune in his Chariot.	[173]
To represent Swans and Ducks in the Water.	[175]
Of Fire-fountains for the Water.	[177]
Sect. VI.
To make Crackers.	[179]
Of single Reports.	[180]
Of Marrons.	[181]
Of Marron Batteries.	[183]
Of Line Rockets.	[ibid.]
Of the different Decorations for Line Rockets.	[185]
Of Chinese Flyers.	[186]
Of Table Rockets.	[188]
To make Wheels and other Works incombustible.	[189]
Of single Vertical Wheels.	[190]
Of Horizontal Wheels.	[192]
Of Spirali Wheels.	[193]
Of Plural Wheels.	[194]
Of the illuminated Spiral Wheel.	[195]
Of the double Spiral Wheel.	[196]
Of Ballóón Wheels.	[197]
Of Fruiloni Wheels.	[198]
Of Port-fires for Illuminations.	[200]
Of common Port-fires.	[ibid.]
Of Cascades of Fire.	[201]
Of the Fire Tree.	[202]
Of Chinese Fountains.	[203]
Of illuminated Globes with Horizontal Wheels.	[205]
Of the Dodecaedron.	[207]
Of the Yew Tree of Brilliant Fire.	[209]
Of Stars with Points for regulated Pieces, &c.	[210]
Of the fixed Sun with a Transparent Face.	[211]
Of three Vertical Wheels illuminated, which turn on their Naves upon a Horizontal Table.	[214]
Of the illuminated Chandelier.	[216]
Of the illuminated Yew Tree.	[217]
Of flaming Stars with Brilliant Wheels.	[218]
Of Touch-paper for Capping of Serpents, Crackers, &c.	[220]
Of a projected regulated Piece of Nine Mutations.	[221]
To make a Horizontal Wheel change to a Vertical Wheel with a Sun in Front.	[234]
Of the Grand Volute illuminated, with a projected Wheel in Front.	[236]
Of the Moon and Seven Stars.	[239]
Of the double Cone Wheel illuminated.	[240]
Of Fire Pumps.	[242]
Of the Vertical Scroll Wheel.	[243]
Of Pin Wheels.	[244]
Of Fire Globes.	[246]
To thread and join Leaders, with the Method of placing them on different Works.	[247]
The Manner of placing Fireworks to be exhibited, with the Order of Firing.	[250]

CONTENTS to the Additions.
	PAGE
To make a Fountain of Sky Rockets	[253]
The Palm Tree	[255]
The Rose Piece and Sun	[256]
Transparent Stars with Illuminated Rays	[256]
Transparent Table Star Illuminated	[257]
Regulated, Illuminated Spiriti Piece, with a projected Star Wheel Illuminated	[258]
New Figure Piece illuminated with five pointed Stars	[259]
Star Wheel Illuminated	[259]
Pyramid of Flower-pots	[259]
Illuminated Regulating Pieces	[260]
To fix a Sky-Rocket with its Stick on the top of another	[261]
New method of placing Leaders	[262]

ERRATA.

Pag. [16.]	lin. 6.	for salt, read salt-petre
[30.]	12.	for ising glass, read isinglass
[35.]	11.	for midling, read middling
[47.]	15.	for ballóóns, read ballóón
[86.]	26.	insert: to a rocket of eight ounces twenty-one strokes.
[115.]	5.	for one eighth, read one inch one eighth
[152.]	24.	for griandole, read girandole,
[ibid.]	25.	for griandole, read girandole,
[172.]	19.	for hoops, read hooks,
[203.]	8.	add at I, nine inches from H, fix three pegs.
[243.]	18.	for scrole, read scroll,

TREATISE

Artificial Fireworks.

SECT. I.

Of Saltpetre.

Saltpetre being the principal ingredient in fireworks, and a volatile body, by reason of its aqueous and aërial parts, is easily rarified by fire; but not so soon when foul and gross, as when purified from its crude and earthy parts, which greatly retard its velocity: therefore, when any quantity of Fireworks are intended to be made, it would be necessary first to examine the saltpetre; for if it be not well cleansed from all impurities, and of a good sort, your works will not have their proper effect, neither will it agree with the standing proportions of compositions: but to prevent accidents I shall proceed with the method of refining it.

How to refine Saltpetre.

Put into a copper, or any other vessel, one hundred weight of rough nitre with about fourteen gallons of clean water, and let it boil gently for half an hour, and as it boils take off the scum; then stir it about in the copper, and before it settles put it into your filtring bags, which must be hung on a rack, with glazed earthen pans under them in which must be sticks laid across for the crystals to adhere to; it must stand in the pans for two or three days to shoot, then take out the crystals and let them dry: the water that remains in the pans boil again for an hour, and strain it into the pans as before, and the saltpetre will be quite clear and transparent; if not, it wants more refining, to do which proceed as usual, till it is well cleansed of all it’s earthy parts.

N. B. Those who do not chuse to procure their saltpetre by the above method, may buy it ready done, which for fireworks in general will do equally as well.

How to pulverise Saltpetre.

Take a copper kettle whose bottom must be spherical, and put into it fourteen pound of refined saltpetre, with two quarts or five pints of clean water; then put the kettle on a slow fire, and when the saltpetre is dissolved, if any impurities arise, skim them off, and keep constantly stirring it with two large spatulas, till all the water exhales; and when done enough, it will appear like white sand, and as fine as flour; but if it should boil too fast, take the kettle off the fire, and set it on some wet sand, which will prevent the nitre from sticking to the kettle. When you have pulverised a quantity of saltpetre, be careful to keep it in a dry place.

How to extract Saltpetre from damaged Gun-Powder.

First you must have some filtring bags, hung on a rack, with glazed earthen pans under them, in the same manner as those for refining saltpetre: then take any quantity of damaged powder, and put it into a copper, with as much clean water as will just cover it; and when it begins to boil take off the scum, and after it has boiled a few minutes, stir it up; then take it out of the copper with a small hand kettle for that purpose, and put some into each bag, beginning at one end of the rack, so that by the time you have got to the last bag, the first will be ready for more; continue thus, till all the bags are full; then take the liquor out of the pans, which boil and filter, as before, two or three times, till the water runs quite clear, which you must let stand in the pans for some time, and the saltpetre will appear at top. Now to get all the saltpetre entirely out of the powder, take the water from the saltpetre already extracted, to which add some fresh water and the dregs of the powder that remain in the bags, and put them together in a vessel, to stand as long as you please, and when you want to extract the nitre, you must proceed with this mixture as with the powder at first, by which means you will draw out all the saltpetre; but this process must be boiled longer than the first.

Of Sulphur, or Brimstone.

Sulphur is by nature the food of fire, and one of the principal ingredients in gunpowder, and almost in all compositions of fireworks; therefore great care ought to be taken, of its being good and brought to the highest perfection. Now to know when the sulphur is good, you are to observe that it be of a high yellow, and if, when held in one’s hand, it crackles and bounces, it is a sign that it is fresh and good: but as the method of reducing brimstone to a powder, is very troublesome to do, it is better to buy the flower ready made, which is done in large quantities, and in great perfection: but when a grand collection of fireworks are to be made, the strongest and best sulphur to use, is the lump brimstone ground in the same manner as gun powder, which we shall treat of in the following part of the treatise.

How to prepare Charcoal for Fireworks.

Charcoal being a preservative by which the saltpetre and the brimstone is made into gun-powder, by preventing the sulphur from suffocating the strong and windy exhalation of the nitre. There are several sorts of wood made use of for this purpose; some prefer hazle, others willow and alder; but there being so little difference, you may make use of either which is most convenient to be got. And the method of burning the wood is this: Cut it in pieces about one or two feet long, then split each piece in four parts; scale off the bark and hard knots, and dry them in the sun or in an oven, then make in the earth a square hole, and line it with bricks, in which lay the wood, crossing one another, and set it on fire; when thoroughly lighted and in a flame, cover the hole with boards, and fling earth over them close, to prevent the air from getting in, yet so as not to fall among the charcoal, and when it has lain thus for twenty-four hours, take out the coals and lay them in a dry place for use. It is to be observed that charcoal for fireworks must always be soft and well burnt, which may be bought ready done.

To make Artificial Camphor.

Camphor, in the Materia medica, “is a body of a particular nature, being neither a resin, nor a volatile salt, nor an oil, nor a juice, nor a bitumen, nor a gum, but a mixed substance, dry, white, transparent and brittle, of a strong and penetrating smell. The Indians distinguish two kinds of it, a finer and a coarser; the finer is the produce of Borneo and Sumatra, is very rare, and is hardly ever sent into Europe; the coarser is the Japonese kind, which is the common sort, both in the Indies and in Europe.

“The camphor, which we meet with in the shops, is also of two kinds, differing in regard to the degree of their purity, and distinguished by the name of rough and refined camphor. The tree, which produces camphor, is a species of bay tree, every part of which abounds with camphor; but is not collected from it in the manner of resins, but by a sort of chemical process.--The natives of the place where the trees grow, cut the wood and roots into small pieces. And put them into large copper vessels, which they cover with earthen heads, filled with straw; they give a moderate fire under them, and the camphor is raised in form of a white downy matter, and retained among the straw; when the process is over, they shake it out of the straw, and knead it into cakes. These cakes is are not very compact, but easily crumbled to pieces; they are moderately heavy, of a greyish or dusky reddish white in colour, of a pungent smell and acrid taste, and are what we call rough camphor.

“Refined camphor must be chosen of a perfectly clean white colour, very bright and pellucid, of the same smell and taste with the rough, but more acrid and pungent.--It is so volatile that merchants usually inclose it in lin-seed, that the viscosity of that grain may keep its particles together.”

Now there is also an artificial camphor for fireworks, which I shall here give you the method of making; take of gum sandarach pulverised two pound, and of distilled vinegar enough to cover it; put them together in a glass phial, and set it for twenty days in warm horse dung. Then take it out again, and pour it into another phial, with a large mouth to it; and expose it to the sun for a month, and you will have a concreted camphor in form of the crust of bread, and something like the natural camphor: which when you use must be ground to a powder with a little spirits of wine in a mortar. Though we have here taught the method of making artificial camphor, I would not recommend it to those who chuse to make their works to perfection, the natural camphor, being by far the best.

To make the Oil of Camphor.

The oil of camphor, which is sometime used to moisten compositions, is produced by adding to some camphor a little oil of sweet almonds, and working them together in a brass mortar, till it turns to a green oil.

N. B. Those works that have any camphor in their compositions, should be kept as much from air as possible, or the camphor will evaporate.

Of Benjamin.

Benjamin is a resin (much used by perfumers, and sometimes in medicine); it is brought from the Indies, where it is found of different sorts; and distinguished by the following colours, viz. yellow, grey, and brown, but the best is that which is easy to break and full of white spots.

Benjamin is also one of the ingredients in odoriferous fireworks, when reduced to a fine flour; which may be done by observing the following directions. Put into a deep, and narrow earthen pot, three or four ounces of benjamin grossly pounded, cover the pot with paper, which tie very close round the edge; then set the pot on a slow fire, and once in an hour take off the paper, and you will find some flower sticking to it, which return again in the pot; this you must continue till the flower appears white and fine. There is also an oil of benjamin, which is sometimes drawn from the dregs of the flour; it affords a very good scent, and may be used in wet compositions.

Of Gun-powder and its original.

Gun-powder being a principal ingredient in fireworks, it will not be improper to give a short definition of its strange explosive force, and cause of action, which, according to Dr. Shaw’s opinion, of the chemical cause of the explosive force of gun-powder, is as follows. “Each grain of powder consisting of a certain proportion of sulphur, nitre, and coal, the coal presently takes fire, upon contact of the smallest spark: at which time both the sulphur and the nitre immediately melt, and by means of the coal interposed between them, burst into flame; which spreading from grain to grain, propagates the same effect almost instantaneously: whence the whole mass of powder comes to be fired; and as nitre contains both a large proportion of air and water, which are now violently rarified by the heat, a kind of fiery explosive blast is thus produced, wherein the nitre seems, by its aqueous and aërial parts, to act as bellows to the other inflammable bodies, sulphur and coal, to blow them into a flame, and carry off their whole substance in smoke and vapour.”

After having spoke of the nature of powder, I shall in the next place proceed to its original, though somewhat uncertain; but it is imagined to have been invented in the time of Alexander the great, as Philostratus speaks of a city near the river Hypasis in the Indies, that was said to be impregnable and its inhabitants relations of the gods, because they thew thunder and lightning on their enemies; but this perhaps might be the effect of gun-powder, which, not being known by any other people, might very well be said to be thunder and lightning.

This conjecture has been confirmed by some travellers, who assert that it was used in the East Indies, particularly in the Philippine Islands about the year 85, which is 1265 years before it was known in Europe, where they say it was not known till 1350, though, it is said, there is mention made of gunpowder in the registers of the chambers of accounts in France, as early as the year 1338, and Friar Bacon mentions the composition of powder in express terms, in his treatise De nullitate magiae, published at Oxford in the year 1216; but we find from most accounts, that the Germans have the honour of the invention, as is commonly reported.

I should give a description of a machine for the trying of gun powder, but they being so common, it would be needless; yet, would have all those who practice this art, know, that, when they make sky rockets with powder, that it must be of the best sort; but as to wheels, and other common works, any powder will do, only be careful that it is quite dry.

Of the Compositions for Gun-powder of different sorts.

Having treated of the nature of powder, and its original, I shall here give the proportion of each ingredient, necessary for composing the different sorts of gun-powder, it being proper that every one who makes use of powder, should know of what it is composed. Therefore in the first place; I shall set down the several compositions mentioned In Casimir Siemienowicz’s grand art of artillery, in which there are six sorts, viz.

I. Saltpetre one hundred pound, sulphur twenty five pound, and coal twenty five pound.

II. Saltpetre one hundred pound, sulphur eighteen pound, and coal twenty pound.

III. Saltpetre one hundred pound, sulphur twelve pound, and coal fifteen pound.

IV. Saltpetre one hundred pound, sulphur twenty pound, and coal twenty four pound.

V. Saltpetre one hundred pound, sulphur fifteen pound, and coal eighteen pound.

VI. Saltpetre one hundred pound, sulphur ten pound, and coal eight pound.

Mr. Belidor, in his Hydraulics, speaks of a composition for gun powder which is as follows, to thirty pound of saltpetre, add five pound of sulphur, with as much coal: but the proportion of the several ingredients for powder, are to be found best by experience. For tho’ there has been so much practice in making powder, there has not yet been ascertained a standing proportion of the nitre, sulphur, and coal; but it is hoped that in time this great and noble invention will be much improved, and that the different, and best quantity of every ingredient, will be determined. At the powder mills they generally allow for wasting, in making up, one pound and a half in a hundred. And their mixture for a hundred weight of good powder is thus: To seventy-six pound and a half of saltpetre, well refined and dry’d, twelve pound and a half of coal, and as much sulphur, all which added together makes one hundred one pound and a half, which when worked up will nearly weigh one hundred. As it is most certain that gun-powder is capable of being improved, I shall not omit any particular that may be of service to such ingenious gentlemen as are willing to make experiments; for which reason we shall here insert another composition for powder, mentioned by an author on this subject, whose name I have forgot, but the composition is thus: Refined salt-petre five pounds, sulphur one pound four ounces, and charcoal seven ounces and a half.

But notwithstanding you may have a good proportion of ingredients, the powder will not always be the same, for there is a great deal depends on their being well incorporated, corned and dry’d, the method of which will be taught in the next article.

To restore damaged Gun-powder to its proper strength.

It is most certain, that, if powder be kept long in a damp place, it will become weak and moist, and great part of it will be formed into hard lumps, which is a certain sign of its being damaged. When powder is thus found, you will also see at the bottom of the barrel some saltpetre, which, by being wet, will separate from the sulphur and coal, and always fall to the bottom of the vessel wherein the powder is contained, and settle there in the form of a white downey matter; but the only method to prevent this, is to move the barrels as often as convenient, and place them on their opposite sides or ends, to which they before stood: but although ever so great care be taken of powder, and it be kept as dry as possible, length of time will greatly lessen its primitive strength.

Therefore when any of the above mentioned accidents happen to your powder, you may recover it by applying to the directions here given; for example, if you imagine that the powder has not received much damage, proceed thus. Spread it on canvas, or dry boards, and expose it to the sun, then add to it an equal quantity of good powder, and mix them well together, and, when thoroughly dry, barrel it up, and put it in a dry and proper place. But if gun-powder be quite bad, the method to restore it is as follows; first, you must know what it weighed when good; then, by weighing it again, you will find how much it has lost by the separation and evaporation of the saltpetre; then add to it as much refined saltpetre, as it has lost in weight, but as a large quantity of this would be difficult to mix, it will be best to put a proportion of nitre, to every twenty pound of powder; when done, put one of these proportions into your mealing table, and grind it therein, till you have brought it to an impalpable powder, and then searce it with a fine sieve; but if any remain in the sieve that will not pass through, return it to the table, and grind it again, till you have made it all fine enough to go through the sieve; being thus well ground and sifted, it must be made into grains in the following manner, first you must have some (copper wire sieves) made according to what size you intend the grains should be; these are called corning sieves or grainers, which being provided, fill them with the powder composition, then shake them about, and the powder will pass through the sieve formed into grains. Having thus corned your powder, set it to dry in the sun; and when quite dry, searce it with a fine hair sieve in order to separate the dust from the grains. This dust may be worked up again with another mixture; so that none of the powder will be wasted: but sometimes it may so happen, that the weight of the powder when good cannot be known; in which case add to each pound an ounce or an ounce and a half of saltpetre, according as the powder is decayed, and then grind, sift, and granulate it as before directed.

N. B. If you have a large quantity of powder, that is very bad, and quite spoiled; the only way is to extract the saltpetre from it, according to the usual manner: for powder thus circumstanced, would be very difficult to recover.

Of Silent Powder, commonly called White Powder.

It would be rather absurd for any one to imagine, that it is possible for gunpowder to have any effect without some report, when it is plain and well known, that the sound does not proceed from the powder only, but from the air being rarified by the expansion of the powder.

From whence it is evident, that any composition acting with the same explosive force as gun-powder, would certainly produce the same effect, in every respect. However as for such sort of powder I never had any proof, nor ever knew any experiment made of it, but have so little opinion of it, that I should not have given it a place in this work, had it not been treated of by some authors of note; and at the same time giving every one, who is fond of this art, an opportunity of making experiments, and of knowing every thing belong thereto.

To make Silent Powder.

For the first sort, mix two pound of borax, with four pound of gun-powder.

2d. Add half a pound of lapis-calaminaris, and half a pound of borax, to two pound of powder.

3d. To six pound of gun-powder, half a pound of calcined moles, with as much borax of Venice.

4th. To six pound and a half of saltpetre, eight pound and a half of sulphur, and half a pound of the second bark of an elder tree, burnt and ground to a powder, with two pound of common salt.

There are also many other methods of making powder silent, according to report, by using camphor or touchwood instead of charcoal, or by adding to the common powder burnt paper, hay seed, &c. When any of these ingredients are to be mixed with common powder, grind them together, and make them into grains.

To make Gun-powder of different Colours.

Notwithstanding the repeated trials and experiments made by the greatest artists, to add to the strength of gun-powder, all have proved without success, and most of them have agreed that the present powder will not admit of a fourth ingredient; therefore it is evident, that any thing being mixed with the present composition of gun-powder, would rather reduce it’s strength than add to it; consequently coloured powder must be weaker than black; so that the making of powder of different colours, is only a fancy that serves to please the curious, without any other effect.

To make Gun-powder white.

To six pound of salt-petre, add one pound of the pith of an elder tree, well dryed and pulverised, with a sufficient quantity of brimstone to make it into powder, which you will find in the composition of gun-powder, or an ounce of the salt of tartar, calcined till it comes white, and then boiled in clear water, till the water is all evaporated.

To make Powder red.

Boil in water some brasil wood or Vermillion and a pound of chopped paper; and, when boiled for some time to draw out the colour, dry and meal it with a pound of sulphur, and eight pound of saltpetre.

Or, to six pound of saltpetre, put one pound of sulphur, and half a pound of amber, and blood stone one pound.

To make Yellow Powder.

Take eight pound of saltpetre, and one pound of sulphur, to which add one pound of wild saffron, that has been boiled in aqua vitæ, and afterwards made dry and mealed.

To make Green Powder.

Boil two pound of rotten wood, with some verdegrease in aqua vitæ, then dry and pound it, and mix it with a pound of sulphur, and ten pound of salt-petre.

To make Blue Powder.

Boil some indigo in aqua vitæ, with a pound of the bark of a young linden tree, then dry and reduce it to a powder, and mix it with a pound of brimstone, and eight pound of saltpetre.

To make Pulvis Fulmanans, or Thunder in a Room.

This composition is very simple, yet has a very curious effect; it is made of three parts of saltpetre, two of salt of tartar, and one of sulphur, all ground to a fine powder, and well incorporated together. As the effect of this powder is quite different to that of gun-powder, so is there a different method of firing it, which is thus: Put about two tea spoonfulls of it into a fire-shovel, or iron ladle, and set it over a slow fire, and when it is quite hot, it will go off with a violent report. There is something surprising in the nature of this composition; for as the common powder acts every way equal, and makes the greatest noise when confined, this, on the contrary, acts only downwards, and makes the strongest report when not confined.

There is another sort of fulminating powder, called fulmanans aurum, on account of there being gold mixed in its composition, which is done by a chemical preparation; but as the preparing of the ingredients require a tedious and expensive process, I shall omit the method of doing it, and let those who chuse to make chemical experiments refer to authors on that subject, by whom they will find the manner of making this powder fully explained. It is said one grain of fulmanans aurum, when made to perfection, and held on the point of a knife, over a candle, will make a report louder than a musket.

SECT. II.

Of the Spur-Fire.

This fire is the most beautiful and curious of any yet known, and was invented by the Chinese, but now is in greater perfection in England, than in China; and as it requires a great deal of trouble to make it to perfection, it will be necessary that young beginners should have full instructions in every particular; therefore care ought to be taken that all the ingredients be of the best sort, that the lamp-black is not damp and clodded, and that the saltpetre and brimstone are thoroughly refined. This composition is generally rammed in one or two ounce cases, about five or six inches long, but not drove very hard; and these cases must have their concave stroke struck very smooth, and the choak or vent not quite so large as the usual proportion; this charge, when driven and kept a few months, will be much better than when just rammed, but will not spoil, if kept dry, in many years.

Now as the beauty of this composition cannot be seen at so great a distance as brilliant fire, it has a better effect in a room than in the open air, and may be fired in a chamber without any danger; for it is of so innocent a nature, that, though with an improper phrase, It may be called a cold fire; and so extraordinary is the fire produced from this composition, that, if well made, the sparks will not burn a handkerchief, when held in the midst of them; you may hold them in your hand while burning, with as much safety as a candle; and if you put your hand within a foot of the mouth of the case, you will feel the sparks like drops of rain. When any of these spur-fires are fired singly, they are called artificial flower pots; but some of them placed round a transparent pyramid of paper, and fired in a large room, make a very pretty appearance.

The Composition for the Spur-fire.

Saltpetre four pound eight ounces, sulphur two pound, and lamp-black one pound eight ounces.

Or, saltpetre one pound, sulphur half a pound, and lamp-black four quarts.

As the spur-fire composition is very difficult to mix, and the manner of doing it quite different from any other, I shall here treat of it separately; for example, the saltpetre and the brimstone must be first sifted together, and then put into a marble mortar, and the lamp-black with them, which you work down by degrees, with a wooden pestle, till all the ingredients appear of one colour, which will be something greyish, but very near black; then drive a little into a case for tryal, and fire it in a dark place; and if the sparks, which are called stars, or pinks, come out in clusters, and afterwards spread well without any other sparks, it is a sign of its being good, otherwise not; for if any drossy sparks appear, and the stars not full, it is then not mixed enough; but if the pinks are very small, and soon break, it is a sign that you have rubbed it too much.

N. B. This mixture, when rubbed too much, will be too fierce, and hardly shew any stars at all; and, on the contrary, when not mixed enough, will be too weak, and throw forth an obscure smoke, and lumps of dross, without any stars. The reason of this charge being called the spur-fire, is because the sparks it yields have a great resemblance to the rowel of a spur, from whence it takes it’s name.

Characters, or significant Signs, for distinguishing the different Ingredients used in Fireworks.

Meal Powder	M
Corned Powder
Saltpetre
Brimstone	Z
Crude Sulphur	C Z
Charcoal	C +
Sea Coal	C S
Saw-dust or Beech-raspings	B R
Steel or Iron-filings	S x
Brass-dust	B x
Glass-dust	G x
Tanners-dust of Bark	T x
Cast Iron	C I
Antimony Crude	C A
Camphor	x
Yellow Amber	A Y
Lapis Calaminaris	L S
Gum
Lamp Black	B L
Isinglass	G I
Spirit of Wine	W
Spirits of Turpentine	S T
Oil of Spike	P O

The use of the above characters is, that by the help of them, the different receipts may be contracted to so small a compass, that they may all be contained in one leaf of a pocket book, which is much less than any table that has yet been invented. These signs are also very convenient for those who travel.

How to meal Gun-powder, Brimstone, and Charcoal.

There have been many methods used to grind these ingredients to a powder for fireworks, such as large mortars and pestles, made of ebony, and other hard wood; likewise horizontal mills with brass barrels; but none of these methods has proved so effectual and speedy as the last invention, that of the mealing table, which is represented in [Plate 1.] Fig. 1. This table it made of elm, with a rim round it’s edge, four or five inches high; and at the narrow end, A, is a slider, which runs in a groove and forms part of the rim; so that when you have taken out of the table, as much powder as you conveniently can, with the copper shovel [Fig. 2.] you may sweep all clean out at the slider A. When you are going to meal a quantity of powder, observe not to put too much in the table at once; but when you have put in a good proportion, take the muller [Fig. 3.] and rub it therewith till all the grains are broke, then fearce it, in a lawn sieve that has a receiver and top to it; and that which does not pass through the sieve, return again to the table and grind it more, till you have brought it all fine enough to go through the sieve. Brimstone and charcoal are ground in the same manner as gun-powder, only the muller must be made of ebony, for these ingredients being harder than powder, would stick in the grain of elm, and be very difficult to grind; and as the brimstone is apt to stick and clod to the table, it would be best to keep one for that purpose only, by which means you will always have your brimstone clean and well ground.

To prepare Cast-Iron for Gerbes, White Fountains, and Chinese Fire.

Cast-iron being of so hard a nature, as not to be cut by a file, we are obliged to make use of the following method to reduce it into grains, though somewhat difficult to perform; but if we consider what beautiful sparks this sort of iron yields, no pains should be spared to granulate such an essential material, to do which you must proceed thus: get at an iron foundry some thin pieces of iron, such as generally runs over the moulds, at the time of casting: then have a square block made of cast iron, and a square hammer of the same metal, about four pound weight; then, having covered the floor with cloth, or something to catch the beatings, lay the thin pieces of iron on the block, and beat them thereon with the hammer, till you have reduced them into small grains, which afterwards searce with a very fine sieve, in order to separate from them the fine dust, which is sometimes used in small cases of brilliant fire, instead of steel dust; and when you have got out all the dust, sift what remains with a sieve a little larger, and so on with sieves of different sizes, till the iron will pass through about the bigness of small bird shot: your iron being thus beat and sifted, put each sort into wooden boxes or oiled paper, to keep it from getting rust. When you use any of this iron, observe that you make a difference in its size, in proportion to the cases for which the charge is intended; for the coarse sort of it is only designed for very large gerbes, of six or eight pound weight.

Charges for Sky-Rockets, &c.

For Rockets of Four Ounces.

Mealed powder one pound four ounces, saltpetre four ounces, and charcoal two ounces.

For Rockets of Eight Ounces.

I. Meal powder one pound, saltpetre four ounces, brimstone three ounces, and charcoal one ounce and a half.

II. Meal powder one pound and a half, and charcoal four ounces and a quarter.

For Rockets of One Pound.

Meal powder two pound, saltpetre eight ounces, brimstone four ounces, charcoal two ounces, and steel filings one ounce and a half.

For Sky Rockets in general.

I. Saltpetre four pound, brimstone one pound, and charcoal one pound and a half.

II. Saltpetre four pound, brimstone one pound and a half, charcoal one pound twelve ounces, and meal powder two ounces.

For large Sky Rockets.

Saltpetre four pound, meal powder one pound, and brimstone one pound.

The following Compositions may be used for Rockets of a middling size.

I. Saltpetre eight pound, sulphur three pound, meal powder three pound.

II. Saltpetre three pound, sulphur two pound, meal powder one pound, charcoal one pound.

Compositions for Rocket Stars.

For White Stars.

Meal powder four ounces, saltpetre twelve ounces, sulphur vivum six ounces, oil of spike two ounces, and camphor five ounces.

For Blue Stars.

Meal powder eight ounces, saltpetre four, sulphur two, spirits of wine two, and oil of spike two.

Coloured, or variegated Stars.

Meal powder eight drams, rochpetre four ounces, sulphur vivum two ounces, and camphor two ounces.

For Brilliant Stars.

Saltpetre three ounces and a half, sulphur an ounce and a half, and meal powder three quarters of an ounce. This composition must be worked up with spirits of wine only.

For Common Stars.

Saltpetre one pound, brimstone four ounces, antimony four ounces and three quarters, isinglass half an ounce, camphor half an ounce, and spirits of wine three quarters of an ounce.

For Tailed Stars.

Meal powder three ounces, brimstone two ounces, saltpetre one ounce, and charcoal (coarsely ground) three quarters of an ounce.

For Drove Stars.

I. Saltpetre three pound, sulphur one pound, brass dust twelve ounces, and antimony three ounces.

II. Saltpetre one pound, antimony four ounces, and sulphur eight.

For fix’d Pointed Stars.

Saltpetre eight ounces and an half, sulphur two ounces, and antimony one ounce and ten drams.

Stars of a fine Colour.

Sulphur one ounce, meal powder one ounce, saltpetre one ounce, camphor four drams, oil of turpentine four drams.

Gold Rain for Sky Rockets.

I. Saltpetre one pound, meal powder four ounces, sulphur four ounces, brass dust one ounce, saw dust two and a quarter, and glass dust six drams.

II. Meal powder twelve ounces, saltpetre two ounces, and charcoal four.

III. Saltpetre eight ounces, brimstone two ounces, glass dust one ounce, antimony three quarters of an ounce, brass dust a quarter of an ounce, and saw dust twelve drams.

Silver Rain.

I. Saltpetre four ounces, sulphur, meal powder, and antimony, of each two ounces, and half an ounce of sal prunellae.

II. Saltpetre half a pound, brimstone two ounces, and charcoal four.

III. Saltpetre one pound, brimstone a quarter of a pound, and antimony six ounces.

IV. Saltpetre four ounces, brimstone one ounce, powder two ounces, and steel dust three quarters of an ounce.

For Water Rockets.

I. Meal powder six pound, saltpetre four pound, brimstone three pound, and charcoal five pound.

II. Saltpetre one pound, brimstone four ounces and a half, and charcoal six ounces.

III. Saltpetre one pound, brimstone four ounces, and charcoal twelve ounces.

IV. Saltpetre four pound, brimstone one pound eight ounces, and charcoal one pound twelve ounces.

V. Brimstone two pound, saltpetre four pound, and meal powder four pound.

VI. Saltpetre one pound, meal powder four ounces, brimstone eight ounces and a half, and charcoal two ounces.

VII. Meal powder one pound, saltpetre three pound, brimstone one pound, seacoal one ounce, charcoal eight ounces and a half, saw dust three quarters of an ounce, steel dust half an ounce, and coarse charcoal a quarter of an ounce.

VIII. Meal powder one pound twelve ounces, saltpetre three pound, sulphur one pound eight ounces, charcoal twelve ounces, saw dust two ounces.

A sinking Charge for Water Rockets.

Meal powder eight ounces, charcoal three quarters of an ounce.

For Wheel Cases, from two Ounces to four Pound.

I. Meal powder two pound, saltpetre four ounces, and iron filings seven ounces.

II. Meal powder two pound, saltpetre twelve ounces, sulphur four, and steel dust three ounces.

III. Meal powder four pound, saltpetre one pound, brimstone eight ounces, and charcoal four ounces and a half.

IV. Meal powder eight ounces, saltpetre four, saw dust one ounce and a half, and sea coal three quarters of an ounce.

V. Meal powder one pound four ounces, brimstone four ounces ten drams, saltpetre eight ounces, glass dust two ounces and a half.

VI. Meal powder twelve ounces, charcoal one ounce, saw dust half an ounce.

VII. Saltpetre one pound nine ounces, brimstone four ounces, and charcoal four ounces and a half.

VIII. Meal powder two pound, saltpetre one pound, brimstone half a pound, and sea coal two ounces.

IX. Saltpetre two pound, brimstone one pound, meal powder four pound, and glass dust four ounces.

X. Meal powder one pound, saltpetre two ounces, and steel dust three ounces and a half.

XI. Meal powder two pound, and steel dust two ounces and a half, with two ounces and a half of the fine dust of beat iron.

XII. Saltpetre eleven pound thirteen ounces, brimstone eight ounces, and charcoal six ounces.

A slow Fire for Wheels.

I. Saltpetre four ounces, brimstone two ounces, and meal powder one ounce and a half.

II. Saltpetre four ounces, brimstone one ounce, and antimony one ounce six drams.

III. Saltpetre four ounces and a half, brimstone one ounce, and mealed powder one ounce and a half.

A dead Fire for Wheels.

Saltpetre one ounce and a quarter, brimstone a quarter of an ounce, lapis-calaminaris a quarter of an ounce, and antimony two drams.

For standing or fixed Cases.

I. Meal powder four pound, saltpetre two pound, brimstone and charcoal one pound.

II. Meal powder two pound, saltpetre one pound, and steel dust eight ounces.

III. Meal powder one pound four ounces, and charcoal four ounces.

IV. Meal powder one pound, and steel dust four ounces.

V. Meal powder two pound and a half, brimstone four ounces, and seacoal six ounces.

VI. Meal powder three pound, charcoal five ounces, and saw dust one ounce and a half.

For Sun Cases.

I. Meal powder eight pound and a half, saltpetre one pound two ounces, steel dust two pound ten ounces and a half, and brimstone four ounces.

II. Meal powder three pound, saltpetre six ounces, and steel dust seven ounces and a half.

For a Brilliant Fire.

Meal powder twelve pound, saltpetre one pound, brimstone four ounces, and steel dust one pound and a half.

For Gerbes.

Meal powder six pound, and beat iron two pound one ounce and a half.

Chinese Fire.

Saltpetre twelve ouces, meal powder two pound, brimstone one pound two ounces, and beat iron twelve ounces.

Charges for Tourbillons.

For four ounce Tourbillons.

Meal powder two pound four ounces, and charcoal four ounces and a half.

For eight ounce Tourbillons.

Meal powder two pound, and charcoal four ounces and three quarters.

For large Tourbillons.

Meal powder two pound, saltpetre one pound, brimstone eight ounces, and beat iron eight ounces.

N. B. Tourbillons may be made very large, and of different colour’d fires, only you are to observe, that the larger they be, the weaker must be the charge; and, on the contrary, the smaller they be, the stronger must be their charge.

For Water Ballóóns.

I. Saltpetre four pound, brimstone two pound, meal powder two pound, antimony four ounces, saw dust four ounces, and glass dust one ounce and a quarter.

II. Saltpetre nine pound, brimstone three pound, meal powder six pound, rosin twelve ounces, and antimony eight ounces.

For Water Squibs.

I. Meal powder one pound, and charcoal one pound.

II. Meal powder one pound, and charcoal nine ounces.

For Mine-ports or Serpents.

I. Meal powder one pound, and charcoal one ounce.

II. Meal powder nine ounces, and charcoal one ounce.

Port-fires for firing Rockets, &c.

I. Saltpetre twelve ounces, brimstone four ounces, and meal powder two ounces.

II. Saltpetre eight ounces, brimstone four ounces, and meal powder two ounces.

III. Saltpetre one pound two ounces, meal powder one pound and a half, and brimstone ten ounces. This composion must be moistened with one gill of linseed oil.

IV. Meal powder six ounces, saltpetre two pound two ounces, and brimstone ten ounces.

V. Saltpetre one pound four ounces, meal powder four ounces, brimstone five ounces, and saw dust eight ounces.

VI. Saltpetre eight ounces, brimstone two ounces, and meal powder two ounces.

Port-fires for Illuminations.

Saltpetre one pound, brimstone eight ounces, and meal powder six ounces.

For Cones or Spiral Wheels.

Saltpetre one pound and a half, brimstone six ounces, meal powder fourteen ounces, and glass dust fourteen ounces.

For Crowns or Globes.

Saltpetre six ounces, brimstone two pound, antimony four ounces, and camphor two ounces.

For Air Ballóón Fuzes.

I. Saltpetre one pound ten ounces, brimstone eight ounces, and meal powder one pound six ounces.

II. Saltpetre one pound and a half, brimstone eight ounces, and meal powder one pound eight ounces.

Serpents for Pots des Brins.

Meal powder one pound eight ounces, saltpetre twelve ounces, and charcoal two ounces.

For Fire Pumps.

I. Saltpetre five pound, brimstone one pound, meal powder one pound and a half, and glass dust one pound.

II. Saltpetre five pound eight ounces, brimstone one pound, meal powder one pound eight ounces, and glass dust one pound eight ounces.

For a Slow White Flame.

I. Saltpetre two pound, sulphur three pound, antimony one pound.

II. Saltpetre three pound and a half, sulphur two pound and a half, meal powder one pound, antimony half a pound, glass dust four ounces, brass dust one ounce.

N. B. These compositions, driven one inch and a quarter in a one ounce case, will burn one minute, which is much longer time than an equal quantity of any composition will last, that has yet been made public.

For Amber Lights.

Meal powder nine ounces, and amber three ounces. This charge may be drove in small cases, for illuminations.

Artificial fire-works

Artificial Fire-Works,

By ROBERT JONES,

PREFACE.