new inflammable Air or Gafs , See. 411 
joins the barrel with the air box (as may be feen in the 
figure). The pi ftol was filled with pure dephlogifticated air 
(which was drawn-in by the pifton from an elaftic gum 
bottle), and one drop of aether being poured into it, the 
air within was kindled by an electrical fpark directed 
through it. The air took fire : the explofion was as loud 
as that of a common mufket, and the force fo great, that 
the whole fore part of the air box with the piftol barrel 
flew off, all the fix ferews were broke, and the ftrong and 
tough metal of which they were made was rent. Three 
ftrong brafs ferews, by which the bottom of the air box 
was fixed to the wooden handle, were loofened, and the 
Whole frame of the piftol was out of order. The fub- 
ftance of the air barrel, where it was tore, was of the 
thicknefs of about a half crown piece. 
Being now convinced, that though inflammable air 
from metals with dephlogifticated or common air, is far 
inferior to the force of gunpowder, the explofive force 
of the compound of dephlogifticated and aether air ap- 
proaches it much nearer, I thought it worth while to fit 
the piftol up in fuch a manner as to be out of all danger 
of burfting. For this purpofe I defired Mr. nairne to 
adapt, and folder to the fore part of the air box, a hollow 
cone of brafs, the extremity of which fhould terminate 
in the gun barrel. 
As 
