Chapter I: Preface

The Introduction prefixed to the following little Manual supersedes the necessity of an extended Preface, and leaves little more to be mentioned than the design and occasion of the work.

The design of it is to be a useful assistant to those who are fond of a rational and scientific amusement, and the occasion of it arises from the great scarcity and general difficulty of procuring any work on the subject; none having appeared worthy of notice since that published by Lieutenant Robert Jones, in 1760, and those by the French Artists mentioned in our Introduction.

In didactic particulars the Author has occasionally availed himself of the language of the best writers, where such has been corroborated by subsequent experience.

Perspicuity has been a particular object through the work, and when technical terms have been used they are generally followed by familiar explications, and the Author feels assured that the whole will be found perfectly intelligible to every reader. To experienced Pyrotechnists this little work cannot be expected to afford much additional information, yet to them it may contain some little particulars not known to them before, which from their practical utility it is hoped will prove acceptable.

The Author publishes this little work, with the desire that it may prove a useful assistant to those who are unacquainted with the principles of the art on which it treats. If in any way it should contribute to this purpose, an apology for obtruding it upon the Public will certainly be unnecessary.

_January 1st, 1824._

CONTENTS.

Page

Introduction 1

SECTION I.

History and description of Gunpowder 10

SECTION II.

Materials 29

Nitre ibid.

Sulphur 32

To purify Sulphur 34

Charcoal ibid.

Steel-dust 35

To prepare Iron-sand 37

Second method ibid.

Oil of Camphor 40

Benzoin ibid.

SECTION III.

Apparatus 42

Grinding Machines 43

Another method of Grinding 44

Method of Mixing the Ingredients 45

SECTION IV.

Description and Variety of Fire-works 47

Touch-paper 48

To make Touch-paper ibid.

Quick-match 49

To make Quick-matches; and composition for ditto 50

Port-Fires 51

Compositions for ditto 52

Port-fires for Illuminations 53

Leaders, or Pipes of Communication ibid.

Application of ditto 54