On a neiu fuJmhiatlng Mercury. 125 



Hence it fccms that the fulminating mercury, from the 

 limitation of its fpbere of aftion, can feldom if ever be ap- 

 plied to mining; and, from the immenfity of its initial force, 

 cannot he iifcd in fire-arms, unlcfs in cafes where it becomes 

 an objcd to deftroy them ; perhaps, where it is the pradice 

 to fpike cannon, it may be of fervice, becaufe, I apprehend, 

 it may be ufed in fuch a manner as to burll cannon without 

 difpening any fpliniers. 



The infiammation of fulminating mercury by concudion, 

 offers nothing more novel or remarkable, than the inflam- 

 riiation, by concui^ion, of many other fubftances. The theory 

 of fuch inflammations has been long fmce expofed by the 

 celebrated Mr. Berthollet, and confirmed by MeflTieurs Four- 

 croy and Vauquelin : yet, 1 mull confefs, I am at a lofs to 

 underftand, why a fmall quantity of mercurial powder, made 

 to detonate by the hammer, or the eleftric (liock, (bould 

 produce a report fo much louder than when it is inflamed 

 by a match, or bv flint and ftcel. It might at firfl be ima- 

 gined, that the loudnefs of the report could be accounted for, 

 by fuppofing the Inllant of the 'inflammation, and that of the 

 powder's co'iifinement between the hammer and anvil, to be 

 preclfelythe fame; but, when the ekarical fliock is fent 

 through or over a few grains of the powder, merely laid on 

 ivory ,° and a loud report is the confequence, I can form no 

 itlea of what caufes fuch a report. 



The oi>eration by which the powder is prepared, is perhaps 

 one of the mod beautiful and furprlfing in chemillry ; and it 

 is not a liiile intereftiug to confider the affinities which arc 

 brouo-ht into plav. The fuperabundant nitrous acid of the 

 niercairial folution, mufl firft aft on the alcohol, and gene- 

 rate ether, nitrous elherifed gas, and oxalic acid. The mer- 

 cury unites to the two laft in their nafcent ftate, and reh.n- 

 quilhes frefli nitrous acid, to ad upon any unaltered alcohol. 

 The oxalic acid, although a predifpofing afiinity fecms exerted 



The hard blick lubftancc mentioned by the Count as remaining after 

 the combuftion of gunpowder, nmft, I believe, i.avo been 6n alkaline 

 fulphurct, mixed chie'.ly with M\A\m and carlxinat of potafli. The 

 . onjcaure that it is white wlicn 'i^^^ formed, is cvrtainl/ juft, as my cxpe- 

 r..!ient with ilv ^'l■|^■s g!< be tviiiccd. 



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