-7^28 Mr. Thompson’s Experiments , &c. 
impurities of all kinds are fo very detrimental to gun-powder. 
It is not that they deftroy or alter the properties of any of the 
^bodies of which the powder is compofed, but (imply, that by 
obftrufting the prog refs of the inflammation, they leflen its 
force, and render it of little or no value. Too much care, 
therefore, cannot be taken in manufacturing- powder to free 
the materials from all heterogeneous matter. 
Of an attempt to foot fame inf e ad of bullets . 
Having often obferved paper and other light bodies to come 
out of great guns and fmall arms inflamed, I was led to try if 
other inflammable bodies might not be fet on Are in like man- 
ner, and particularly inflammable fluids j and I thought if this 
could be effected, it might be pnffible to project fuch ignited 
bodies by the force of the explonon, and by that means 
communicate the fire to other bodies at fome confiderable 
diftance ; but in this attempt I failed totally. I never could 
fet dry tow on fire at the diftance of five yards from the 
muzzle of my barrel. I repeatedly difcharged large wads 
of tow and paper, thoroughly foaked in the moft inflammable 
fluids, fuch as alkobol , ather ial fpirit of turpentine , half am of 
fulphur , &c. ; but none of them were ever fet on fire by the 
explofion. Sometimes I difcharged three or four fpoonfuls of 
the inflammable fluid, by interpofmg a very thin wad of cork 
over the powder, and another over the fluid ; but (hill with nc 
better fuccefs. The fluid was projected againft the wall as be- 
fore, and left a mark where it hit ; but it never could be made 
to take fire ; fo 1 gave up the attempt. If it had fuoceeded 
probably it would have turned out one of the moft importan 
difcoveries in the art of war that have been made fince tKi 
Invention of gun-powder. 
