306 Dr. Cutbush on the Greek Fire. 
The fire stone of the French, an incendiary preparation, is 
with powder, or mad 
s were in possession of the secret for preparing the 
Greek fire in 1432, according to the testimony of Brocquire. 
Bertrandon de la Brocquire was in Palestine in 1432 as 
councellor to the duke of Burgundy. He was present at 
Barrat during one of the Moorish celebrations: “It began,” 
he remarks, ‘‘in the evening at sunset. Numerous compa- 
nies scattered here and there were singing, and uttering loud 
cries. While this was passing, the cannon of the castle 
were fired, and the people of the town launched into the air, 
‘bein haut et bein loin, une maniere de feu plus gros fallot 
que je veisse oncques allume.’ They told me they made use 
of such at sea, to set fire to the sails of an enemy’s vessel. It 
seems to me that it isa thing easy to be made, and at a little 
expense, it may be equally well employed to burn a camp 
or a thatched village, or in an engagement with cavalry to 
frighten their horses. Curious to know its composition, I 
sent the servant of my host to the person who made this 
fire, and requested him to teach me his method. He re- 
turned fo er, that he dared not, for that be should run 
in some respects analagous; it is used either in bombs along 
or wae 3 } oy 
fears, and he taught me all he knew, and even gave me the 
moulds in wood, with the other ingredients, which I have 
brought to France.” 
Although La Brocquire may have brought the secret to 
Europe, yet it does not appear to have been used, nor has it 
been promulgated. We may infer here, that as moulds were 
used, it is very probable that the solid ingredients were first 
melted together, and cast in moulds previously to their solu- 
tion in some inflammable oil, which io all probability was 
naptha; or that the composition was used in a solid state, as 
in some of the modern incendiary fire works. But the for- 
mer inference is more probable. 
Whatever idea we mayentertain of the effect of the Greek 
fir e, or of compositions having a similar character, we may 
justly conclude, that the present gun powder possesses ma- 
ny superior advantages ; and in fact some authors are of 
opinion, among who: e may mention the celebrated 
French Pyrotechenist, Ruggeri, that the accounts we have 
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