DISCOVERY AND INTRODUCTION OF GUNPOWDER. 405 



as well as its terrible effects, but at the same time assert that he 

 was fearful of betraying the wonderful secret, knowing full well 

 that its introduction into the world would be attended with the 

 most calamitous consequences; and, for humanity's sake alone, 

 if not from other ulterior motives, he determined to keep the 

 secret as long from the knowledge of man as possible. 



However, be all this as it may, there is no doubt but that 

 Berthold Schwarz, a German Monk of the Order of St. Francis, 

 was the first person who made the composition of this wondrous 

 substance generally known to the world, and that the discovery, 

 though ancient it might he, was nevertheless altogether original 

 with himself. 



The circumstances of the discovery are these: Berthold 

 Schwarz, a native of Freiburg, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, 

 during his relaxation from monastic duties, occupied much of 

 his time in the enticing and absorbing pursuit of Chemistry. 

 During some of his manipulations, having pounded in a mortar 

 an accidental mixture of charcoal, sulphur, and nitre, he was 

 amazed and wildly astounded by its sudden and fearful explo- 

 sion on the hap-hazard application of a spark of fire. 



This terrible, but still more novel, exhibition of power in a 

 simple compound like this very naturally aroused in the mind 

 of the zealous student a spirit of investigation, and the result 

 of further experiment was the discovery of that still mysterious 

 composition known as gunpowder; a discovery that has not 

 only immortalized the otherwise obscure Monk, but, since its 

 general introduction and application to the use of fire-arras, has 

 actually given rise to a new era in the workings of man ; in 

 fact, has been the chief and all-powerful instrument of not only 

 shaping the mighty affairs of great nations, but, at the same 

 time, governing, and will ever continue to control the more ex- 

 tended destinies of a vast and ever-changing world. 



All this happened about the year 1340; and the city of Frei- 

 burg has lately very properly commemorated the wonderful 

 event by the erection of a handsome fountain, emblazoned with 

 suitable inscriptions, and surmounted by a statue of the eminent 

 discoverer. 



