DETONATING SYSTEM. 81 



I have confined them to the most simple, and, therefore, 

 as yet, the best detonating system: which, in the 

 trifling matter of caps, patches, &c. may be suited to 

 the shooter's fancy; but, as to all those intricate 

 magazines, moveable bodies, and other complicated 

 machinery, I leave their merits, and the directions about 

 them, to the dissertation of some very learned mechanic, 

 as their advantage and utility are far beyond my com- 

 prehension. 



ANTI-CORROSIVE PERCUSSION POWDER. 



In August, 1824, I gave the following statement 

 relative to this powder : 



" Since the first part of this work was printed off, a 

 letter has been received from Mr. Joyce, chemist, 11, 

 Old Compton-street, Soho, commenting, as he is fully 

 justified in doing, on the injury done to fire-arms by the 

 oxymuriate of potash; and enclosing a specification of a 

 new ' Awzi-corrosive 9 percussion powder. The author, 

 however, is extremely tenacious of misleading his 

 readers, by recommending any article that has not been 

 thoroughly tried ; and, therefore, all he can as yet say 

 is, that he has fired 24 copper caps with this new 

 powder, after dipping each cap, for some time, in water, 

 and not one of them missed fire ; nor was there any 

 acid produced by the decomposition. 



" Were Mr. Joyce's invention good for the gun trade, 

 it would soon find its way to the public ; and, if de- 

 fective, he might expect every assistance for its im- 

 provement. But as, on the contrary, it is rather the 



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