Dr. Cutbush on the Chinese Fire, <^c. 137 



Having taken a general view of the nature and prop- 

 erties of some pyrotechnical compounds, we may here 

 remark, that most, if not all the compositions used in 

 fire works, including military pyrotechny, were more 

 the result of the labours of the artisan, who was neither 

 directed by fixed principles, nor by a knowledge of the 

 effects and properties of bodies, than of the system- 

 atic experiments of the chemist ; and yet, in conse- 

 quence of some fortuitous and repeated trials, we find that 

 he has been successful, and moreover has presented a body 

 of facts, which, we may reasonably infer, may either be 

 rendered more perfect, or enlarged and improved upon by 

 the direct aid of chemical science. 



The Chinese have been longer acquainted with the art 

 of preparing fire works than the Italians or French. Bar- 

 row, in his Travels in China, mentions particularly some of 

 their exhibitions. After stating the appearance of their 

 different fires, he remarks, that "the diversity of colours 

 with which the Chinese have the secret of clothing fire, seenis 

 one of the chief merits of their pyrotechny." 



!t was not, however, until 1739, in consequence of the 

 peace which took place in that, or the preceding year, that 

 fire works in Europe were rendered more complete. Ve- 

 ry splendid exhibitions were made at the town-house of Pa- 

 ris, at the Pont neuf, and at Versailles. 



The duke of Sully in 1606 made an exhibition of fire- 

 works at Fontainebleau ; and in 1612 Morel, commissary of 

 artillery, prepared also aJi exhibition. 



The art of communicating fire from one piece of fire- 

 work to another, as is now done in a system of mutations, 

 was discovered by Ruggeri, artificer to the king at Boulogne 

 in France, in 1743. The Italians however, preceded the 

 French in the knowledge of pyrotechny. 



Pyrotcheny is at present considered under two heads. 

 viz. fire works for exhibition, and military fire works. The 

 latter is unquestionably the most useful, as it embraces a va- 

 riety of preparations calculated for attack and defence, both 

 for naval and land service. 



The ancients do not seem to have been much acquainted 

 with fire works, and this may be attributed to a variety of 

 circumstances. Nitre, if we believe Professor Beckman 

 was either not known, or, if it was, its properties, as its de- 



Vol. VII.— No. 1. 18 



