120° ‘Dri Cutbush on the Chinese Fire, &c. 
' able to. determine; but it is certain, that it contains more 
nthan steel, and less than cast iron, and hence in all 
probability might be used with advantage for the same pur- 
In consequence of the brilliant light produced when iron 
filings are thrown into the fire, an improvement in’ the fire 
of rockets was suggested. The honorary rockets, which 
we purpose to notice hereafter, owe their brilliancy to iron ; 
which renders their fire much more beautiful than) when 
powder, or the substances of which it is composed, 
E eamoyed alone. Both i iron filings and erenuined: cast 
iron have been used in the rocket-composition, not only for 
the so called honorary rockets, but also, occasionally, for 
signal rockets. There is one defect, however, in the com- 
position, when iron is added ; it isapt to rust,in consequence 
of moisture. To prevent which» some have suggested in- 
mersing the grains. or filings in melted sulphur, which we 
apprehend would be almost as injurious, owing to the grad- 
ual formation of the sulphate of iron; and others, with more 
epg Re have recommended the use jof a few drops of 
Pnenating the filings or grains so as to receive a por- 
vot have already mentioned the intention, or design of 
the composition of Chinese fire. We may 
bate oe et the scintillations produced by hammering ig- 
nited i iron on the anvil, the combustion of steel in a 8 
gas, &c. are similar instances. To combine all the 
of cast-iron, according to the use to which ne Se reuie 
is applied, and adapting it to different sized cases, or cali- 
bers ; the Chinese, after granulating the iron, and assorting 
it as we before observed, separate it in numbers, as No. 1, 
2,3. Thesame practice is followed in Italy and F eens 
where the most perfect fire-works are made. Indee 
experiments of the French, have confirmed very ibis 
sorily the account given by the French missionar 
_ Of the ts, into the composition of which i ‘ines sand 
amor there are two; one producing a red, and the other a 
white fire. The proportions of the different ingredients for 
such rockets, from 12 to 33 Ibs. are as follows: 
“Bie nis 
2 eee ak: it 
