which we have here introduced, in conformity to the 

 practices, there arc many of which the expence 

 very grrat, in consequence of the quantity of fire 

 which they consume at once, without at the same time 

 being BO enti staining as many others which would not 

 n).> t half the money. Picturesque arrangement, which 

 costs nothing, is also as highly conducive to beauty as 

 it is to economy; and this object is attained alxo by a 

 proper contrast of fires, and by a less free use of those 

 violent kinds, which are not only expensive, but ren- 

 dered more so by their transitory nature ; since they 

 occupy hut a small portion of the time which the art- 

 ist is bound to fill up in some way or other. 



I'iivworks are still further capable of complication, 

 by admixtures of illuminations with wheels and with 

 fixed cases, in all the different modes in which these 

 may be disposed : and the forms that may hence be 

 produced are almost endless, by attending to the gene- 

 ral directions already given respecting picturesque 

 forms, contrast of fires, and independence of display 

 for the respective kinds. The moveable and immove- 

 able here also admit of being united in many ways, 

 and the effect of these intermixtures is generally very 

 good. We might extend this part of our subject also 

 to an unlimited length, but shall content ourselves 

 with placing before our readers a few of those which 

 combine, at the same time, as far as that can be done, 

 beauty with economy and effect. In doing this we 

 shall present them chiefly with new forms ; rejecting 

 without hesitation the barbarous and complicated con- 

 trivances described in the books on this subject ; the 

 greater number of them being as expensive as trouble, 

 some to moke, and as difficult to manage as they are 

 confined and bad in their effects. 



In all these works, besides the kind of fires which 

 we have just mentioned, there may be introduced dis- 

 charges of stars, of serpents, and of sky rockets, toge- 

 ther with crackers or maroons, as well as occasional 

 discharges of single stars. But the method of manag- 

 ing fires and effects of this nature, and the periods at 

 which they may be introduced with advantage, have 

 been mentioned already on other occasions so often, 

 that we shall take no farther notice of them than by 

 making this general suggestion, as it would lead us 

 into long and useless details to mention them wherev- 

 er they are applicable. Transparencies may also be 

 combined with many of these. But, in general, the 

 effect of these is sufficiently dull, unless where it is 

 necessary to fill up intervals in a large building, or 

 where allegorical devices are wanted for some particu- 

 lar object. We shall therefore leave all these matters 

 to the discretion of the painter ; noticing only one out 

 of many, as a specimen of one of the most agreeable 

 modes in which contrivances of this nature may be 

 introduced. 



As it would be impossible to give names to all the 

 pieces which we are about to describe, and as they 

 could not be rendered at all intelligible without the 

 figures, we shall here refer to the numbers on the 

 plates. Very little description will in fact be necessa- 

 ry, as these are matters which speak chiefly to the eye. 

 We shall only add, that instead of giving solid draw- 

 ings of the fireworks themselves, we have preferred 

 what may rather be considered as plans or diagrams, 

 both of them and of their effects. By these means 

 they will be more intelligible than if the plates had 

 been overloaded with work. In selecting the respec- 

 tive sizes, the artist must also be regulated by the mag- 

 nitude and nature of his operations ; as he may further 

 G 



P Y R O T E C II N Y. 267 



be in multiplying the cases of fire; since we hare 

 avoided every thing that might crowd the drawings 



of the 



ftur**. 



PLATE 



c etc i xxir. 



Pig. 16. 



Fig. 17. 



o a to render them unintelligible. The leader* are 

 also omitted for the same reason. The method* of 

 disposing these must already be very clear; and to 

 have introduced them into the drawings would have 

 caused inextricable confusion. 



Fig. 1 (i. The construction of this it very appear- De* 

 ent from the drawing. The illumination lights may ~*" t 

 be varied, by being made alternately blue and white. 



Fig. 17- The object of this is also plain. The 

 wheels may be simple, or else they may inclose a 

 pointed star, as shown on one of them. A star may 

 also be placed at the intersection of the central cases. 

 In this and similar fireworks it is best to introduce the 

 central fires after the wheels have burnt one or two 

 cases. 



Figs. 18, ip. This is intended as a specimen of what pig,, ig 

 may be effected by means of transparencies. We 19. 

 have, however, chosen a very simple and common- 

 place disposition of the star, which may be varied in 

 numerous ways; as, for example, by using circular 

 intersections, or by imitating any stars of orders of 

 knighthood, or in many other ways. Whichever mode 

 of drawing is adopted, there must be one star within 

 another, painted in different colours and designs, and 

 as transparent as possible. Behind this is placed the 

 double alternating wheel formerly described, and the 

 diameter of the two must be so regulated that one 

 may cover with its fire the outer star, and the other 

 the inner. Thus when these burn alternately, the 

 star will appear to diminish and to enlarge at intervals. 

 Its beauty may be much improved by adding to it an 

 outer star of lights, as indicated in the figure. 



Figs. 20, 21. The nature of this firework is also intel- Figs. 20, 

 ligible; and it may be varied in many other ways be- *! 

 sides the two which are here given. 



Fig. 22. This is a pointed star of fixed lights, Fig. 22. 

 which may be modified in many ways, by altering 

 the proportions and the number of the rays. The 

 same figure shows three modes of doing this, out of 

 many others that might be suggested. Inside it may 

 carry one wheel or two; and besides this, a pointed 

 star may also be placed in the centre. 



Fig. 23. Not to multiply figures, this one re- Fig. 23. 

 presents three or four modes, or more, of combining 

 wheels, all of which produce very brilliant effects. 

 Six small wheels may be placed on arms, at a con- 

 siderable distance from a larger central one. These 

 arms may also be ornamented with single or with 

 double rows of lights. One or two small wheels may 

 also be carried round with the larger, so as to produce 

 the flourishing curve either inside or outside of iL 

 Or, lastly, it is represented as carrying a star in the 

 middle. More varieties might easily be introduced, 

 but the artist may select enough among these. If the 

 whole should be adopted, the effect will be extremely 

 splendid; but in this case it will be necessary to adopt 

 a large scale, to prevent the different fires from being 

 too much crowded. 



Fig. 24. This is a very splendid disposition of p ig . g*. 

 fire, which may also be varied in different ways, as re- 

 presented in the same figure. It is in the first place a 

 pyramid of wheels, with intermediate cases. Care 

 must be taken to place them so that they may throw 

 fires clear of the circles performed by the wheels. 

 The arms may be illuminated or not, and there may 

 also be stars at the intersections. This machine may 

 be treated on the principle of mutation. Thus the 



