Wooden Matches for Artillery! 5i 
The match confines its fire to itself* 
The port-fire costs from three pence to four pence half- 
penny : 
The match costs but three half-pence or two-pence. 
The last consideration is of great importance, since, 
from calculations made in the war-office, what would cost 
the state in the one case a thousand pounds, in the other 
would not come to more than seventy-five.* 
As it was necessary to ascertain, whether these new 
matches would resist the rain, I had several burnt during 
long and heavy rains, and they were not extinguished 
till they were totally consumed ; their combustion being 
a little retarded only. 
As the fabrication of these matches requires some care 
and precaution, I shall conclude this paper with a mi- 
nute description of the process, agreeably to the request 
of his excellency the minister at war, for the instruction 
of the artificers employed in our arsenals. 
Method of preparing the combustible wooden Matches for 
Artillery.^— Shape of the Matches and choice of Wood . 
The matches should be parallelopipedons, half a yard 
long, and half an inch square. The best w ood for them 
is that of the lime tree, or birch ; but for want of these, 
poplar or fir may be used. Any white and soft wood 
might be taken, if necessary ; but those above-mentioned 
are to be preferred. 
The shape might be supposed of no consequence : yet 
experience proves, that round matches do not furnish so 
good a fire as the square. The angles of the latter keep 
the coal in the centre burning vividly, and the match al- 
ways terminates in a burning cone two inches long. 
* According to the estimates just before given, the saving would be much, 
greater than this on the lowest calculation. T.— [And still more so, if the plan, 
proposed in a former note should be found to answer. Ed.} 
