28 Life of Count Rumford. 



with a variety of most expressive caricature features. 

 In this sketch the roguish artist seems to have antici- 

 pated an innovation of our own times, as he has intro- 

 duced both a young and an old woman into this Coun- 

 cil, with two other faces that may belong to either sex. 

 There is an admirably drawn psalm-book, open and 

 showing the notes of a tune, and a well-shaded scroll. 

 There are boats and ships, a table with bottles and 

 glasses, pistols, Indian tomahawks, and human bones. 

 Here is indeed a boyish medley, but indicating a 

 wonderful versatility. 



The earliest entry of a more serious character is 

 without date, and contains a recipe for making rock- 

 ets, &c., giving the proportions of powder, sulphur, 

 saltpetre, and charcoal for rockets of different sizes, 

 with the following directions, accompanied by ink- 

 drawn sketches : 



" The Composition for middle-size Rockets, may serve for 

 Serpents and for Raining Fire. Composition for Stars- 4 oz. 

 Saltpetre, 2 oz. Brimstone, 2 oz. Powder, ground fine and made 

 into a paste, and rolled into little balls, and then on dry gun- 

 powder dust, then dry them. The Tail of the Rocket should be 

 seven times as long as the Rocket itself. 



" A Compound Rocket has a head filled with Serpents, 

 Crackers, Stars, &c., or fire-balls, or any combustibles, having 

 a piece of leather covered over the top of the Rocket, with 

 small holes burnt through the middle of it, to let the fire 

 through to the Crackers, &c., having some dry ground powder 

 in the head. 



" A double Rocket is one placed above another, with goose 

 quill placed from the lower to the bottom of the upper one. 



" To make a Report : When you have filled the Rocket 

 within about two inches of the top, thrust down a piece of 

 leather about the bigness of the hole of the Rocket, and punch 



