310 Dr. Cutbush on the Greek Fire. 
Several mets | writers have noticed the Greek fire, 
among whom én, and our learned and much to be la- 
mented Risiay) may becited. Gibbon, in his History oft “ 
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. vii. p. 282. 
marks, that the deliverance of Constantinople may be chiefly 
ascribed to the Greek fire. It appears that Callinicus, the 
inventor, deserted from the service of the Caliph to that of 
the Emperor; and Gibbon is of opinion that this discovery or 
thusiasm and youthful vigor of the Saracens. He is also of 
opinion that little or no credit can be given to the Byzantine 
accounts, as to the composition of the fire, although from 
their obscure and fallacious oa it should seem that the 
Greek fire ae similar to that we have already stated ; viz. 
that the fire was strong and obstinate, and was quic sickened by 
water—that sand, urine and vinegar were the only substan- 
ces that could damp its fury; that it was used for the annoy- 
ance of the enemy both by sea and land, in battles or in 
seiges, and was either poured from the ramparts in large 
boilers, or launched into: red hot balls of stone or iron, of 
darted in arrows and javelins, twisted round with flax and 
tow, which had deeply imbibed the inflammable oil; that at 
other times it was deposited in fire-ships, or blown ‘through 
long tubes of copper, fixed on a prow of a galley; that its 
composition was kept secret at Constantinople, pretending 
that the knowledge of it came from an angel to the first and 
*In a note to Gibbon, p. 283, we read—*The naptha, the olewm incendia- 
rum hea the history of Je erusalem (Gest. Dei per Francosy p. 1167.) 7) the orien- 
tal e Vitry, is introduced on slight evidence, and strong 
Ge : by whi innamus calls the Greek fire, corres- 
ponds with the locality where naptha was found, between the Tigris and 
the Caspian sea. aunt ist. Natur. ii, 109.) says it was subservient to 
the revenge of Medea, and according to the etymology, naptha was — 
ot a see ae iva no doubt that naptha was the principal ingredient 
efthe 
