The 



AGHICULTUiiAL MUSEUM. 



OMNIS FERET OMNIA TELLUS. VIRG. 



V'>!. I "[ aeonyfJowi, Ca. Feb. 20, 1811. fNo. 17." 



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FROM THE AURORA. 



Manufdciure of Gunpoicder. 



Tlio unnro\ emont in (he manufacture of gun powder, 

 in the Uiiitcfl States, has exceeded ail calcuhition. Some 

 time since, it was an opinion generally entertained, that 

 the Americans could not prepare gun powder equal to 

 the French or Er.glish. This idea appeared more plau< 

 sible from the circumstance, that so many able and cele- 

 brated chymists of Europe, devoted their time and ta- 

 lents in researches of this kind. Experiments after ex- 

 periments were almost daily instituted, for the purpose 

 of determining the best mode of refining, or preparing 

 the nitre, sulphur, and charcoal. 



The Americans have, however, with a zeal becominar 

 the character which they so deservedly bear, improved 

 the several parts of the process — in the purification of 

 the nitre and sulphur — in the carbonization of wood in 

 iron cylinders, and in tlie proper proportion and mix- 

 ture of the ingredients. The result of these researches 

 it may with justice be said, has far exceeded our rr ost 

 sau'j^uine expectations. And. indeed, the extent of im- 

 provement in this country, of which the arts and manu- 

 factures generally are susceptible, is beyond compari- 

 son. Are we not called to witness, on numerous occa- 

 sions, the suoeriority of American fabrics over those of 

 foreign import? 



The salt petre refined at the powder mills of Frank- 

 ford, under the direction of a celebrated artist. Mr. 

 Munns, wiien chymically examined, and compared with 

 the best London refined salt petre, far exceeded it in 

 purity The gun powder prepared from it, projected a 

 ball cansiderably farther; under the same circumstances^ 



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