a85 



lefs time, confumed lefs fire, difpofed the faltpetre to dry, more rea- 

 dily, required lefs room, and occafioned lefs wafte of falt-petre. 



The procefs of making powder, was alfo abridged, and the ftrength 

 of the powder was carried to a degree before unknown. New me- 

 thods were praftifed, for mixing and triturating the ingredients, ren- 

 dering the compofition more compact, and granulating it. The machines, 

 and mechanical means were alfo entirely new. What was on the fpur of 

 the occafion, with refpeft to a particular manufafture, requifite for the de- 

 fence of the country, might be accompliflied, in other branches of ma- 

 nufafture, by a like combination of philofophical fcience, with the ex- 

 ertions of aftive induftry. 



There are certain problems, which aftive induftry may propound to 

 philofophy ; and, on the due folution of them, much of the fuccefs of 

 manufaftures may depend. 



By what means may the machines and inftruments of the hufband- 

 man and farmer, the machinery and tools, employed in manufaftures, 

 be improved ; either to fave labour, or to perform the taflc, in a more 

 perfeft manner ? To what operations of farming, and manufafture, which 

 are now performed, by the mere labour of the hand, might the me- 

 chanic powers be fuccefsfully adapted ? — What ufeful inventions, or prac- 

 tices can the obfervation of travellers fupply, for the improvement of huf- 

 bandry, and the arts ; — to raife water — to" irrigate lands, for inftance ? 

 — Steam is an all-powerful agent ; may not the ufe of it be extend- 

 ed, in manufaftures ? — In a brewery, the fame engine may raife facks 

 into the ware-houfe — grind the malt, pump-water, for the ufe of the 

 brewer, tun the liquor, and turn out the cafks, from the ware-houfe. 

 It may be employed to work bellows, in great founderies. — Induftry 

 has to enquire of chcmiftry, — if certain impediments may not be re- 

 moved, by her aid ; for example — whether an effeftual fubftitute for 

 charcoal, may be found in charred peat — whether coak may be made, 

 of turf, for the purpofe of fmelting iron, when coak of pit-coal can- 

 not be had, — the relative heats of charcoal, coak of pit-coal, and charred 

 turf, — expedients for producing an intenfe heat, in glafs houfes, and 



furnaces. 



