GUNPOWDER. 177 



Greek fire into it, that they burned a third part of the town, and 

 obliged the English to capitulate. 



Although the invention of gunpowder with its application to 

 fire-arms may be ranked among the most important discoveries, 

 yet the date of that invention, with the name of the person to 

 whom mankind are indebted for it, are both equally unknown* 

 From the number slain in engagements previous to its introduc- 

 tion, what, at first view of its fatal effects, might be deemed an 

 additional and severe scourge, has rather proved beneficial to the 

 human race, by reducing the destruction of the species in battle 

 within narrower limits. Formerly, when men engaged hand to 

 hand, they were so intermingled, that the only criterion of vic- 

 tory was, the having no more of the enemy to kill : the duration 

 of sieges* has also been considerably shortened since the use of 

 gunpowder and artillery, by which the lives of many millions has 

 been saved, who would otherwise have perished by hardships or 

 disease, commonly in sieges more fatal than the sword, and in 

 providing man with increased power over the animal world, and 

 thus multiplying the catalogue of his food, the advantages de- 

 rived from gunpowder are eminent. 



* A numerous train of artillery, with a few barrels of this wonderful 

 powder deposited in a mine, soon batter and throw down the strongest 

 walls ; and indeed the greatest effects towards a victory and capitulation 

 are brought about as much by the terror occasioned by the noise of the 

 cannon, as the real mischief or slaughter, few men having sufficient firm- 

 ness to stand their dreadful thunder ; and it is undoubtedly a fact that 

 many a battle or town is won, more by the flight of those who are ter- 

 rified at the sound of the artillery, than from the actual loss of those 

 killed or wounded by it. At Gibraltar, on the memorable 13th of 

 September, 1782, the casualties amounted only to sixteen officers and 

 men killed, and sixty-eight wounded ; a loss so trifling, as to be scarcely 

 credible, that such a quantity of fire, in almost all its destructive modes 

 of action, should not have produced greater effect with respect to the loss 

 of men. 



