198 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



There are two general methods of examining gun- 

 powder: one with regard to the purity of its com- 

 position, the other as to its strength. Its purity may 

 be known, by laying two or three little heaps near 

 eacb other upon white paper, and firing one of them.' 

 If this takes fire readily, and the smoke rises upright, 

 without leaving any dross or feculent matter behind, 

 and without burning the paper, or firing the other 

 heaps, it is esteemed a sign that the sulphur and ni- 

 tre were well purified, that the coal was good, and 

 that the three ingredients were thoroughly incorpo- 

 rated together; but if the other heaps also take fire at 

 tke same time, it is presumed, that either common 

 salt was mixed with the nitre, or that tbe coal was 

 not well ground, or the whole mass not well beaten 

 and mixed together; and if either the nitre or sul- 

 phur be not well purified, the paper will be black or 

 spotted. 



For proving the strength of powder a number of 

 machines have been invented, all of which seem lia- 

 ble to objection; and frequently upon trial, with the 

 same powder, are found to give results so different, 

 that no dependence can be placed in them : to so many 

 modifications are the principal properties of powder 

 subject, even in experiments conducted with the ut- 

 most care. These variations have been attributed by 

 many to the different density of the atmosphere, at 

 the time of the different experiments; but the opi- 

 nions upon this matter are so improbable in them- 

 selves, and so contradictory to each other, that they 



