_ GUNPOWDER, 
nently fur all other i Deere either aneiont or mo- 
deen, for the purpofe of military projections; for as to the 
motion of thefe projectiles only, many of the 
‘wallike hackines of the ancients produced this in a degree acc 
far fi that of our heavieft cannon-fitot or fhells ; but 
the great y given to thefe bodies cannot be in the leaft 
approached by any other means than by the flame of pews 
der. The reafon of this difference is, that the ancients cou 
by weights, or the elatticity of {prings and ftretched chords, 
their powers to any degree defired ; but then each 
power brought with it a proportional addition 
poche fo that ucreafed, 
thofe parts of the machine which were to communicate me- 
tion to’ the’ projectile, and were cabilacpent to wrath with 
—_ — sent and we it nece 
alas extent of theid activ vity. rag then rs 
came td: Lieut that, though thefe ancient machines could 
throw enormous: weights, they could proje&t them but with 
fmall degr of cel , compared with what we can com- 
I degrees, erity, ¢ 
— ea cannon and mufket-fhot 5 whence i in all ope- it 
» but- — nitre. _ The methods moft: com 
vlilertdlee emcnorine to mance rane are, on ae 
fions, =e eed made ufe. of, mt: Hepat bear paid 
analogy to the -c n powder-triers, fold. at Py 
only they are more eokelig fabricated, and inftead of a 
they move a weights, which is @ more. certain and e 
Acinthet method of proving gunpow idee, issotake out of 
feveral barrels'a_meafure, of about the fize of a thimble. 
whichoie Gpetediipedt a near of. ie: -writing paper, and then. 
fired; if the in: flammation is very ra id, the {moke rifes per= 
_ pendicularly, and the paper is er burnt. nor. fpotted,. 
the powder is judged to be. good: then two scape of the 
fame powder, being a ag weighed, are put into a ae 
chine, called eprowvette. or gunpowder provers which, if. 
rifes a erent of aglb. to the height of. 33 lalate it ‘nied 
owed to be 
But thefe machines, fays Mr. Robins, though more per= 
fee than the common powder-triers, are yet liable to great 
irregularities ; eat as they are all moved by the sory a 
- the flame, and not by its. contin 
do not determine the force of the fired p. novder: na tit cere 
- tainty and uniformity which were date txt defired in 
of trials: og therefore, the method followed. by, the the 
French, int pvt petibe of ponders from the makers,, feems: 
reniufes, who have capacity fsa to be much seller ee eh ee a 
the effion according to its true | y haves IL mortar caft withits 
independent of the partial pe ite Baa of bed, according to: deren pubdiess which is the fame 
we times: a throughout the kingdom + this mortar is always | 
" +here are feveral ways of proving the goodnels of ae 45°, and it contains jut three ounces-of powder ; sgt 
powder.’ Ie By fight ; for if it be too black, it is. ng.maxim,, that ‘no’ can be received into their 
moitt, ‘or “has too too much charcoal in it; fo alfo if. ribbed ftores, unlefs three ounces of in the. at 
| ‘mortar, threw a folid ball of bie inches diameter to 
it blackens it more than. 
divetite tebe, of-a, kind ‘ofa bei acts BO 
inclining 
a red; it isa fign of jrock powder. » 2. 7 
i his too much, charcoal in it ; or.if in prefling under your. 
fi ins feel hard 
raed me well mixed with the nitres' and ‘the > powder i is. bad. 
alio by powder,. and 
* as és you were about. sg BG ot ef it, 
Se Sai & 
it with your fingers ” ends, she 
veafily, and turn into duit, without =e Se: heed, delay fo 
this: 
diftance of at leaft 55 French fathom. But i cach bale 
powder wag to be: proved. in this-manner, the trouble of 
changing. the. mortar, &¢. would be ie Serene and the 
t; that no bufinefs, of this kind could | apd 
Traas, vole ie: Pp: 421.) ‘Dr. Hatton eee Sis seo 
chine for this purpole, which hea ade ontri nial 
- toitfelf. It isa fmall cannon, the bore of  eiadechast 
one inch. in diameters and it is. i elonlly, ch een me 
of powder, and 
$e sepititions. ok 
firin en ia ane Ii ey si i ot pera. 
se ever: yield.a-dh fleren iy tovtontl ob che ronda pass 
Spee - Benne ant ole In) s rg 
ers; atmos 
