Dr. Cutbush on the Greek Fire. 303 
It appears that in the reign of Louis-XV, a chemist of 
Grenoble; Dupré Mayen, discovered a com omposition 
similar in effect to the Greek fire of Callinicus, which was 
exhibited at Brest, and proved successful, but the prepara- 
tioned. Writers have defined it to be a sort of artificial fire, 
which insinuates itself beneath the surface of the sea, and - 
which burns with increased violence when it mixes with 
water. They also say, that its directions are contrary to the 
course of natural fire, for the flames spread downward, to 
the right or left, agreeably to the movement which is given. 
That it was a liquid composition, we may infer from oi 
modes of using it, which were several. It was employe 
chiefly on board of ships, and thrown on the vessels of the 
enemy by large engines. It was sometimes kindled in par- 
ticular vessels, which might be quiet fire ships, and which 
were introduced among a hostile fleet; sometimes it was 
put into jars, and other vessels, and thrown at the enemy 
by means of projectile machines, and sometimes it was 
squirted by soldiers from hand engines, or, as it appears, 
ene through pipes. This fire was also discharged from 
he fore part of ships by a machine constructed of copper 
oe iron, the extremity of which is said to have resembled 
the open mouth and jaws of a lion, or other animal. 
were painted, and even gilded, and were capable of project- 
ing the liquid fire to a great distance. 
In the History of Inventions and Discoveries by J. Beck- 
man, public professor of Economics in the University of 
Gottingen, I find the professor has examined the subject of 
Greek fire. He observes expressly, (Vol. IV. p. 85.) that 
the machines which the ancients employed to throw this fire, 
were spouting engines, and remarks, that “‘ John Cameniata, 
speaking of his native city, Thessalonica, which was taken 
by the Saracens in the year 904, says, that the enemy threw 
fire into the wooden works of the besieged, which was 
blown into them by means of tubes, and thrown from other 
Pornh ma ’ on eke he. CaF eee ee EL 
led eeditaien 7 y pes 
Cet ii i nt qu’ seperncen aussi Phuile incendiaire, le ode marin, le few 
dévoroit, dit-on, le fer and les pierres, suivoit toutes les directions 
qu’on voulait ui donner, and ne pouvoit étre éteint qu’avec du vinaigre, du 
sable ou de lurine,’ &c. Callinique vivait vers l’an 670 de J hrist.” 
T "eau qui éieint 
