On Signals made by Fire . 297 
and an half wide. They then must take pieces of cork, 
proportioned to the mouth of these vessels, but not quite 
so wide, that they may be let down with ease to the bot- 
tom of these vessels. They next fix in the middle of this 
cork a stick, which must be of equal size in both these 
vessels. This stick must be divided exactly and distinct- 
ly by spaces of three inches each, in order that suck- 
events as generally happen in war may be written on 
them. For example, in one of these intervals the follow- 
ing words may be written : u A body of horse are march- 
ed into the country.” On another, 66 A body of infantry, 
heavily armed, are arrived hither.” On a third, Infan- 
try lightly armed.” On a fourth, iC Horse and foot,” On 
another, 66 Ships.” Then, 66 Provisions :” and so on, till 
all the events which may probably happen in the war that 
is carrying on are written down in these intervals. 
This being done, each of the two vessels must have a 
little tube or cock of equal bigness, to let out the water in 
equal proportion. Then the two vessels must be filled 
with water ; the pieces of cork, with their sticks thrust 
through them, must be laid upon them, and the cocks 
must be opened. Now it is plain that as these vessels are 
equal, the corks will sink, and the sticks descend lower 
in the vessels, in proportion as they empty themselves* 
But to be more certain of this exactness, it will be proper 
to make the experiment first, and to examine whether all 
things correspond and agree together by an uniform ex- 
ecution on both sides. 
When they are well assured of this, the two vessels 
must be carried to the two places where the signals are 
to be made and observed ; water is poured in, and the 
corks and sticks are put in the vessels. In proportion, as 
any of the events which are written on the sticks shall 
happen, a torch or other light is raised, which must be 
held aloft till such time as another is raised by the party 
Yol. i. v p w 
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