npon Gun-powder , &c. 263 
fufficient to burn up all inflammable bodies that it came near, 
and to melt the (hot that it furrounded and impelled, efpecially 
when they were fmall, and were compofed of lead or any other 
foft metal ; but, on the contrary, we frequently fee the fined; 
paper come out of the mouth of a piece uninflamed, after it 
has fiiftained the aft ion of the fire through the whole length of 
the bore, and the fmalleft lead (hot is difcharged without being 
melted. 
But it may be objected here, that bullets are always found to 
be very hot if they are taken up immediately after they come 
out of a gun ; and that this circumftance is a proof of the inten- 
fity of the heat of the flame of powder, and of its great power 
of communicating heat to the denfeft bodies. But to this I 
anfwer, I have always obferved the fame thing of bullets dif- 
charged from wind-guns and crofs-bows, efpecially when they 
have impinged againfl: any hard body, and are much flattened ; 
and bullets from mufkets are always found to be hotter in pro- 
portion to the hardnefs of the body againfl: which they are 
fired. If a mufket ball is fired into any very foft body, as {for 
inftance) into water, it will not be found to be fenfibly warmed ; 
but if it is fired againfl: a thick plate of iron, or any other body 
that it cannot penetrate, the bullet will be demolifhed by the 
blow, and the pieces of it that are diiperfed about will be 
found to be in a flate very little fhort of fufion, as I have ofcen 
found by experience. It is not by the flame therefore that bul- 
lets are heated, but by percuflion. They may, indeed, receive 
feme fmall degree of warmth from the flame, and ftill more 
perhaps by fridlion againfl: the Aides of the bore, but it is in ftrik- 
iftg againfl: hard bodies, and from the reiiflance they meet with 
in penetrating thofe that are fofter, that they acquire by far 
2 N 2 the 
