350 



Mr. Mallet on the Physical Conditions 



England, 



France, 



Austria, 



Sweden, 



Prussia, 



America, 



Italy, , 



Russia, 



China, , 



In 1819, according to LaMartillieie, the French cannon powder consisted of — Nitre, 76 ; 

 charcoal, 15 ; sulphur, 9 ; and similar slight variations of proportion appear to have occurred 

 from time to time in other states. On the whole, however, the constitution of powder has 

 remained very uniform for above a century ; nor does either the general history of the 

 combats of modern warfare, or the more precise experiments with the eprouvetie, intended as 

 tests of the strength of powder, indicate any very material difference or gradual increase in 

 the ranges produced from equal charges. It appears to be an opinion, somewhat generally 

 affirmed by well-informed British artillery officers, that the great and rapid destruction of 

 artillery in service recently, can in no wise be attributed to anything particular in the 

 powder ; for that the records of the governmental proofs show incontestibly, that the powder 

 of the last century, gave ranges as great as that of to-day. 



This may be — is, no doubt, the general fact ; but it is submitted that it is not the ques- 

 tion. Tlie length of range may be the same, and yet the distress upon the gun very diffe- 

 rent ; nay, the range may be much less, and yet the distress much greater. 



The rapidity of ignition is the great element upon which the latter depends, other 

 things being the same ; and eprouvetie trials give no information whatever on this point, 

 which seems still to demand a special train of researches, in order fully to ascertain what 

 quality and composition of poioder shall give the greatest range ivith the least distress upon the 

 gun which shall have been found best fitted to develop its full motive poicer. 



The rapidity of ignition is, in fact, for the same composition, almost wholly a question 

 of molecular condition, one of greater or less subdivision and intimacy of mixture of the 

 ingredients, of the degree of condensation of the "cake," perhaps of the crystalline con- 

 dition both of the nitre and the sulphur; and, lastly, of the form, size, and character of 

 surface of the individual grains of powder, their hygrometricity, &c. 



Now, the general tendency and effect of every mechanical improvement which has been 

 made in modern times in the machinery of powder-mills, at the suggestions of economy, safety, 

 and expedition in the manufacture, have been inevitably to magnify such of the above con- 

 ditions as produce rapidity of ignition, though, perhaps, adding nothing perceptibly to the 

 motive effects. This was very strikingly evidenced in France, when, in the year 1828, 

 the introduction of certain'new,and, it was thought, improved, machinery into some of the 



