206 MR. J. NASMYTH ON WAR ROCKETS. 



served between the curves of total chemical intensity and 

 area of solar disk must be due to variations in the intensity 

 of the diffused light ; and the rapid diminution observed 

 during the first part of the eclipse may be explained by 

 the dark body of the moon cutting oif the light from the 

 highly luminous portion of sky lying on one side of the 

 sun's disk. 



I have to thank Mr. Baxendell for his kindness in fur- 

 nishing me with the astronomical data required in the 

 above calculation. 



XIV. On War Rockets, By James Nasmyth, C.E., 

 Corresponding Member of the Society. 



Eead December 29th, 1868. 



Under the impression that the improvement suggested in 

 the following remarks on the above-named subject may 

 lead to important results when carried into effect, I have 

 ventured to solicit the favour of the attention of the Mem- 

 bers of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society 

 to the subject, in the hope that it may interest them, and 

 by their kind favour be recorded in their Transactions, and 

 so place the suggested improvements in question at the 

 service of the public. 



The valuable properties possessed by rockets as imple- 

 ments of warfare are so great that, could precision of flight 

 be added, they would rise to a position of the highest im- 

 portance as destructive agents. 



The comparative lightness and portability of rockets, 

 and the fact of their combining gun and charge, shot or 

 shell, all in one and the same projectile, together with their 

 alarm-producing and highly destructive properties, have 



