22 REPORT— 1839. 



seen by these observatories, distant 105 and 85 miles. They 

 must, however, rise 1100 yards, while those used by me as- 

 cended from 600 to 800 yards only ; but this is a range quite 

 within reach of Woolwich pyrotechny. Several which I lately 

 made, not exceeding two pounds, rose with the same heading, 

 from 1200 to 1500 yards ; and, judging from the range of Eng- 

 lish war-rockets, their ascent would be even greater. If they 

 be supplied, it would be an object of no common interest to see 

 the instruments of carnage and terror dovoted to the ministry of 

 science. The flash of powder can be seen at even greater di- 

 stances than those named, but its flame is far less brilliant than 

 many other pyrotechnic compositions, some of which I find are 

 thrice as luminous. If this attempt succeeds, the junction of 

 Dublin with Oxford, by signals on the Welsh mountains, is not 

 more difficult ; and perhaps even the connection of Greenwich 

 and Paris, by a single station, is not impossible. 



T. R. Robinson. 



