i6o Experiments to determine 



It is hardly necessary for me to observe, that all these 

 experiments prove that the combustion of gunpowder is 

 very far from being so instantaneous as has generally 

 been imagined. I will just mention one experiment 

 more, in which this was shewn in a manner still more 

 striking, and not less conclusive. A small piece of red- 

 hot iron being dropped down into the chamber of a 

 common horse-pistol, and the pistol being elevated to 

 an angle of about 45 degrees, upon dropping down into 

 its barrel one of the small globes of powder (of the size 

 of a pea), it took fire, and was projected into the at- 

 mosphere by the elastic fluid generated in its own com- 

 bustion, leaving a very beautiful train of light behind it, 

 and disappearing all at once, like a falling star. 



This amusing experiment was repeated very often, 

 and with globes of difi'erent sizes. When very small 

 ones were used singly, they were commonly consumed 

 entirely before they came out of the barrel of the pistol ; 

 but when several of them were used together, some, if 

 not all of them,' were commonly projected into .the at- 

 mosphere on fire. 



I shall conclude this paper by some observations on 

 the practical uses and improvements that may probably 

 be derived from these discoveries, respecting the great 

 expansive force of the fluid generated in the combustion 

 of gunpowder. 



As the slowness of the combustion of gunpowder is 

 undoubtedly the cause which has prevented its enormous 

 and almost incredible force from being discovered, so it 

 is evident, that the readiest way to increase its effects is 

 to contrive matters so as to accelerate its inflammation 

 and combustion. This may be done in various ways, 

 but the most simple and most effectual manner of doing 



