upon Gun-powder, &c. ^3 
Of the fpecific gravity of gun-powder . 
To determine the fpecific gravity of gnn-powder I made ufe 
©f the following method. A large glafs bucket, with a narrow 
mouth, being fufpended to one of the arms of a very nice 
balance, and exaftly counter-poifed by weights put in the op- 
pofite fcale, it was filled firft with government powder poured 
in lightly, then with the fame powder fhaken well together, 
afterwards with powder and water together, and daftly with 
water alone, and in each cafe the contents of the bucket were 
very exaftly weighed. 
The fpecific gravity of gun-powder,, as determined from 
thefe experiments, is as follows r 
Specific gravity of rainwater - - 1,000 
Government powder, as it lies light in a heap, mixed*] 
with air * - - - J- 
Government powder well lhaken together * 0,937" 
The folid fubftance of the powder - - 1,745 
Hence it appears, that a cubic inch of government powder 
lhaken well together weighs juft 243 grains ; that a cubic inch 
of folid powder would weigh 442 grains; and, confeqtientlyy 
that the interftices between the particles of the powder, as it 
is grained for ufe, amnearly as great as tic spaces which i th©& 
particles occupy. 
