[ ■" ] 



large corned powder now ufed merits a preference, appears to 

 me problematical ; the grain of the Chinefe powder 1 before- 

 mentioned was as large as fmall pepper-corns ; and in 1782 I 

 difcovered at Purfleet fome barrels of very fmall-grained powder, 

 manufadlured by Sir Polycarpus Wharton, furveyor of the ord- 

 nance in Charles the Second's reign ; a part of this powder was 

 above proof, and none of it much under ; the v/hole retained its 

 grain, and was in compleat prcfervation. It may not be impro- 

 per to remark, that during the aforefaid reign, and for fome time 

 after, moft of the nitre ufed in England was colledled in the 

 country ; and, if I am not miftaken, there ftill exift adls of par- 

 liament, granting the crown the foil of fliamblcs and flaughtcr- 

 houfes, and the earth under the flooring of flabies, bullock- 

 hovels, &c. and alfo direding the magiftrates to have tubs 

 placed in the ftreets of populous towns, for the colledion of 

 urine : From thofe materials there was a fufEciency of nitre 

 extraded to fupply the ordinary confumption of government. 

 I cannot in this place omit noting the paradoxical peculiarities 

 of this extraordinary folTil, which, generated by a combination 

 of animal and vegetable putrefadion, exhibits the moft energetic 

 antiputrefcent principles ; and, though claffed amongft the coldeft 

 of the faline genus, is replete with vehement and irrefiftible 

 fire ! 



Formerly government manufadured three forts of powder, 

 viz. mortar, cannon and raufquet. I am of opinion the pradice 

 fhould be revived in part, for the following reafon : Sulphur, by 

 its pronencfs to fermentation, is probably the ingredient which 



contributes 



