N 
GU 
Ce hich the mere striking body 
_ bration, by w was 
=O t sets has an new notions re= 
_-specting er, ing the reasons for its power 
i * ‘Mr Robins insufficient, viz. the gases and the 
at. He attributes the power of the powder. to the 
our of the water it contains, and supposes the heat 
to be the result of friction. His views of the subject have 
not been countenanced by other philosophers, as they 
appear to be con’ to experience. Mr Robins, and 
more recently Mr Coleman, found that powder was the 
strongest in its most dry state, if none of the materials 
were injured, eure it became weakened by the 
sli t quantity of moisture. 
""Ratwithtandng all the caution used in purifyin 
the nitre, all powder has a great tendency to absor 
moisture from the atmosphere. This may goon to a 
considerable extent, without any permanent injury to 
the powder, its power being restored by drying. If, 
however, the water absorbed be sufficient to effect a so- 
lution of nitre, the latter afterwards crystallizes, and 
pears like hoar-frost upon the grains of the powder ;. 
This is called the starting of the saltpetre, when the 
powder is not capable of being restored to its original 
seg by drying ; for the nitre is, to a certain extent, 
d from the other two ingredients. Powder is. 
sometimes so much injured by dampness, as to be of no 
value, except in so far as the nitre can be recovered 
from it by solution. (c.s.) 2 0°. 
GUNPOWDER Piotr. This conspiracy, one of the 
most iniquitous and daring treasons recorded in histo- 
y, was the memorable offspring of religious bigotry. 
rd had its origin in the disappointed zeal of the Catho- 
lics, and has contributed more than any thing to. fix 
upon themselves that very intolerance, of which they 
have given so many and such dreadful examples. 
After the death of Mary, who was regarded as a mar- 
tyr to their, cause, they rested their last hope on the 
y sco protection of her son. Of these they pre- 
tended to have received the most unequivocal assurance ; 
and mere toleration was among the lowest of their an- 
ticipations. James quickly undeceivedgthem; and 
certainly less hostile to their religion than jea- 
lous of the papal supremacy, he shewed a confirmed 
resolution of at all times enforcing against them the 
enactments of the two preceding reigns. . Their sur- 
prise and rage at this conduct were excessive. They 
saw. nothing before them but submission or revenge ; 
and they chose their part. Robert Catesby, a gentle- 
man of ancient family, and whose character in other 
respects suited little with the desperation of a zealot, 
formed the terrible scheme of at once avenging and re-. 
trieving their lost ascendancy. He imparted his 
thoughts to a few zealous Catholics, among whom were 
Piercy, Rookwood, and Sir Everard. Digby. A meet- 
ing was held, to consult what measures would best ac- 
complish their purpose. Piercy, in the true spirit of fa- 
naticism, proposed to assassinate the king, and to be 
himself the instrument ; but Catesby, with deeper pur- 
pose, laid before them a wider plan of vengeance. He 
represented to them the inefficacy and the danger of stri- 
king a single victim, which would but mark out them- 
selves for a more dreadful atonement. He shewed them 
that the whole of their enemies might be struck at once, 
by running a mine below the House of Parliament, and 
when all should be assembled at the opening of the ses- 
sion, blowing them up in one common ruin, and con- 
signing them, as he chose to express himself, “ from 
‘ 
589 
cord of the arch of yi- flames above to flames below.” The scheme was recei« G 
GUN 
ved with enthusiasm. A few more Catholics were ta- 
“toe 
ken into the plot and, with the others, had their con. “7” 
sciences absolved by the Jesuits ‘Garnet and Tesmond. 
Among these was the famous‘ Guy Fawkes, who had 
been sent fer from Flanders, and was well fitted, by 
his zeal and intrepidity, to take a prominent share in 
this extraordinary enterprize. 
_ The plot being now fully concerted, a house adjoin- 
ing the House of Parliament was hired in Piercy’s name, 
and the operation commenced towards the end of the 
year 1604. Nothing could exceed the industry with 
which it was forwarded. A store of provisions was taken 
in to prevent the necessity of interruption ; and the 
conspirators came armed to the work, determined to 
succeed, or “— in the attempt. 
Between the houses was a partition wall, three yards 
thick. This, after much labour, they succeeded in pier- 
cing ; but just as the work opened to the other side, 
they were alarmed by an unaccountable noise from be- 
low.. Fawkes, who passed himself for Piercy’s valet, 
went out to enquire into the cause, and Jearned, to their 
inexpressible satisfaction, that the sounds they had 
heard proceeded from a coal vault under the House of 
Lords, where coals were at that moment selling off, and 
that the vault mee would be let after the The 
conspirators seized with eagerness the e897 5 
henge up the remainder of the coals,. a ired the 
ar Thirty-six barrels of gunpowder were procured 
m Holland, conveyed into the vault, concealed un< 
der coals and. faggots, and the doors boldly thrown 
open, as if to challenge inspection. 
Matters being thus far in preparation, there remained 
but one obstacle to the completion of the enterprize. 
The Duke of York and the Princess Elizabeth, on ac 
count of their youth, would be absent from parliament, 
and escape destruction. It was resolved, therefore, that 
when the explosion should have done its work, Piercy, 
who, as a gentleman pensioner, had access to the Pa- 
lace, should carry off or assassinate the Duke, while Sir 
E. Digby, having assembled his friends on pretence of 
a hunting match, was to seize the princess, then at 
Lord Harrington’s house in Warwickshire, and proclaim 
her queen. 
Every thing was now arranged for the dreadful is« 
sue, “The ee approached (the 5th of November) ap- 
pointed for the meeting of parliament. The conspira~« 
tors looked forward to a certain triumph, when, fortu- 
nately for the country and for Protestantism, the indis- 
cretion of a Catholic laid open the treason. 
Ten days before the sitting of parliament, Lord Mont- 
eagle, a Catholic, son of Lord Morely, received from a 
m unknown. the following letter. It had been 
put into the hand of his servant, with express injunc~ 
tions to be delivered only to himself. ‘ My Lord, out 
of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care 
of your preservation. Therefore I would advise you, 
as you tender your life, to devise some excuse to shift 
off your attendance-at this parliament. For God and 
man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this 
time... And think not slightly of this advertisement ; 
but retire yourself inte your country, where you may 
expect the event in safety. For though there be no ap~ 
ce of any stir, yet I say they will receive a ter« 
rible blow this parliament, and yet they shall not see 
who hurts them. This council is not to be contemned, 
because it may do you good, and can do you no harm. 
For the danger is past as soon as you have burned the 
letter. And I hope God will give you grace to make 
lh 
