Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/artlficialfirewoOOjone 
 
Artificial Fir e-W orks, 
 
 Improved to the M o d e r n P r a c t i c e. 
 From the Minutest to the Highest Branches : 
 
 CONTAININ 
 
 G 
 
 Aigrettes 
 
 Globes 
 
 Silver-Rain 
 
 Amber-lights 
 
 Gold-Rain 
 
 Spur-Fire 
 
 Balloons 
 
 Grand Volutes 
 
 Squibs 
 
 Batteries 
 
 Leaders 
 
 Stars 
 
 Chinefe Fire-Ships 
 
 Lights 
 
 Sky-Rockets 
 
 Cohorns 
 
 Mines 
 
 Swans 
 
 Cones 
 
 Matches 
 
 Swarms 
 
 Crackers 
 
 Mortars 
 
 Thunder in Rooms 
 
 Cafcades 
 
 Marrons 
 
 Towering- Rockets, 
 
 Dodecadrons 
 
 Moons 
 
 double andiingle 
 
 Ducks 
 
 Neptune’s Chariot 
 
 Tourbiilons 
 
 Earthquakes 
 
 Potts 
 
 Trees 
 
 Flights 
 
 Pumps 
 
 Water Fire-Works 
 
 Flyers 
 
 Rain-Fall 
 
 Wheels 
 
 Fountains 
 
 Rockets 
 
 Yew-Trees 
 
 Gerbes 
 
 Sea-Fights 
 
 
 With all their Ingredients, Compofitions, Preparations, 
 Machines, Moulds, and Manner to make them, refining 
 Salt-Petre, and to extradt it from damaged 
 Gunpowder, &c. 
 
 With about 100 of the principal Figures beautiful!/ 
 engraved on Copper Plates 0 
 
 The SECOND EDITION, 
 
 With the Addition of many new and beautiful 
 Fire- Works, and 3 large Copper-Plates. 
 
 ■By ROBERT JONES, 
 
 Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. 
 
 L O N D O N.; 
 
 Panted for J. M ill a n, near Whitehall. (Price ys-. 6d.) 
 Mdcclxvio 
 
CONTE NTS to the Additions, 
 
 FAGS 
 
 To make a Fountain of Sky Rockets - - - - - - 253 
 
 The Palm Tree ------ 25^ 
 
 The Rofe Piece and Sun ^ - 256 
 
 Tranfparent Stars with Illuminated Rays - - - - - 256 
 
 Tranfparent Table Star Illuminated - -- -- - -257 
 
 Regulated, Illuminated Spiriti Piece, with a 1 s 
 
 projected Star Wheel Illuminated - - - 1 “~ 2 5 
 
 New Figure Piece illuminated with five pointed Stars 259 
 
 Star Wheel Illuminated -------------259 
 
 Pyramid of Flower pots - -- -- -- -- -- -- 259 
 
 Illuminated Regulating Pieces - -- -- -- -- -260 
 
 To fix a Sky-Rocket with its Stick on the top of) - 
 another - -- -- - ------ i 2 ® 1 
 
 New method of placing Leaders - -- -- -- -- 262 
 
T O 
 
 SIR CHARLES FREDERICK, 
 KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE 
 ORDER OF THE BATH, 
 SURVEYOR GENERAL OF HIS 
 MAJESTY’S ORDNANCE, 
 AND FELLOW OF THE ROYAL 
 SOCIETY, AT LONDON, 
 THIS TREATISE 
 ON ARTIFICIAL FIREWORKS 
 IS HUMBLY INSCRIBED 
 B Y 
 
 His MOST OBEDIENT 
 AND MUCH OBLIGED 
 HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 ROBERT JONES, 
 
- 
 
 VT!4:*' ; - r ^ 
 
 
 
 
 . • *U -A 
 
 
 : 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I SHALL not pretend to fay 
 any thing here concerning the 
 origin of Fireworks; thofe who are 
 willing to be better informed of 
 that point, may have recourfe to 
 the treatife of M. F*'**, on that 
 fubjed, who has handled this point 
 in a moft elaborate manner ; and 
 perhaps it may be no difpleafing 
 furprize to the reader, to find that, 
 while he imagines himfelf only con- 
 cerned about an invention which 
 he could not have thought to have 
 fubfifted above 422 years, he is 
 carried gradually back to the age 
 of Auguftus, and from thence to 
 the time of the Trojan war. 
 
 It is fuffident for me that Fire- 
 works have fubfifted a long time, 
 and ftill continue to do fo among 
 the politeft nations of both Europe 
 a 3 and 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 and Alia. I am very well aware 
 that it may here be objected, there 
 are already treat ifes publifhed on 
 this fubjedt, and fome of thole 
 voluminous ones; but then thofe 
 are either tranllations from the 
 French and Italian authors, &c. 
 which in themfelves are both im- 
 perfect and erroneous ; or elfe they 
 are very fmall abridgments, and 
 thofe little, not of the art itfelf, 
 only on fome particular branches 
 of it. 
 
 I have endeavoured, in the fol- 
 lowing treatife, to avoid prolixity 
 as much as pollihie without being 
 obfcure ; the rules I have laid 
 down, are as plain as was in my 
 power to make them, and I have 
 endeavoured to carry the reader in 
 by the molt gradual manner, from 
 the minuteft circumftances to the 
 highelt, and have been careful to 
 
 keep 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 vii 
 
 keep to the fubjeCt I firR propofed, 
 only as an Eflay on Artificial Fire- 
 works. I own I cannot help re- 
 flecting with fome kind of chagrin, 
 that, whenever we have had occa- 
 fion for any of thefe fort of diver- 
 fions to be exhibited in England, 
 we have almoft always had re- 
 courfe to foreigners to execute 
 them ; if this has been owing to 
 the ignorance of our own people 
 on this fubjeCt, I fhall be verv 
 happy if it is in my power to cor- 
 rect it ; if it is only owing to that 
 prevailing fondnefs we entertain for 
 every thing that is foreign, I know 
 no remedy for that evil but time 
 and experience. 
 
 June 2o ; 1765,. 
 
 a 4 
 
 SUB- 
 

SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 
 
 A. 
 
 OLONEL Amherft 
 
 Lumney Arnold, Efq; 
 Captain Anderfon 
 Mr. Thomas Ardefoif 
 Thomas Appreece, Efq; 
 Lieutenant Abbot 
 Mr. Nenon Armftrong 
 John Archbold, Efq; 
 
 Sir Richard Betenfpn, Baronet 
 Lieutenant-General Belford 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Brome 
 Captain Buchannan 
 Captain Richard Bowles 
 Charles Booth, Efq; 
 
 Captain Burt 
 Captain Bothwick 
 Captain Baffet 
 Captain Henry Balfour 
 Captain Henry Brafier 
 Chriftopher Bath, Efq; 
 Captain Bettelworth 
 Lieutenant Bio infield 
 Lieutenant Bellew 
 
 B. 
 
 Lieutenant 
 
Jt Subscribers Names. 
 
 Lieutenant Barbutt 
 Lieutenant Bruere 
 Lieutenant Burton 
 Lieutenant Brady 
 Lieutenant Burgh 
 Lieutenant Burrows 
 Lieutenant Brietzcke 
 Lieutenant Barber 
 Lieutenant Browne 
 Enfign Bertie 
 Mr. Bertie 
 ——Burk, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Burford. 
 
 C. 
 
 Lieu ten an Colon el Ch en e vi jf 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Cleaveland 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Carlton 
 Major A. Campbell 
 
 The Honourable Lucius Ferdinand Cary 
 
 Captain Campbell 
 
 Captain Clark 
 
 Captain Charlton 
 
 Thomas Cunningham, Efq; 
 
 John Cockburn, Efq; 
 
 Cecil Calvert, Efq; 
 
 John Cathcart, Efq; 
 
 Partriek George Craufurd, Efq; 
 Lieutenant Chapman 
 Lieutenant Richard Chapman 
 Thomas Chowne, Elq; 
 
 Cooke, Efq; 
 
Subscribers Names. 
 
 xi 
 
 D. 
 
 Lieutenant-General Durand 
 Sir Charles Davers 
 Colonel Defaguliers 
 Lieutenant- Colonel Bailing 
 Major Dade 
 Captain Debbeig 
 Captain Dixon 
 Captain Defbrifay 
 Captain Davis 
 George Durant, Efq; 
 
 Henry Pelham Davis, Efq; 
 
 Lieutenant Durnford 
 Lieutenant Dixon 
 Lieutenant Botiglafs 
 Lieutenant Downing 
 Mr. Decofta 
 
 E. 
 
 Lieutenant-General Elliot 
 Sir John Eyles Styles, Baronet 
 Edmonds, Efq. 
 
 F. 
 
 Sir Charles Frederick, Knight of the Bath 
 William Farrell, Efq; 
 
 William Charles Farrell, Efq; 
 
 Captain Chriftopher French 
 Captain Fuller 
 
 Captain French G„ 
 
Subscribers Names. 
 
 xii 
 
 G. 
 
 The Right Honourable the Marquifs of 
 Granby 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Godwin 
 Captain Gordon 
 Captain Garth 
 Captain Gray 
 Captain George 
 Lieutenant Garftin 
 Lieutenant Grofe 
 Lieutenant Goffip 
 John Henry Grofe Efq; 
 
 Jacob Grofe, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Greffe 
 
 H. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Howe 
 Sir Samuel Hillier, LL. D. 
 
 The Honourable Charles Hamilton, Efq; 
 Captain Hayes 
 Captain Hedges 
 Captain Harcourt 
 — — * - Hillerfdon, Efq; 
 
 John Hughfon, Efq; 
 
 John Harrifon, Efq; 
 
 Lieutenant Hill 
 Lieutenant Handcock 
 Mr. Alexander Hope 
 Enfign Harcup. 
 
Subscribers Names. 
 
 xili 
 L 
 
 Major James 
 Captain Innis 
 Captain Jeffery s 
 Thomas Jones, Efq; 
 
 Captain Jones. 
 
 K. 
 
 Major General Keppel 
 Captain Kennedy 
 Lieutenant King 
 Enfign Keith 
 Doctor Kennedy 
 
 L. 
 
 The Right Honourable Lord Vifcouat 
 Ligonier 
 Captain Leflie 
 Captain Lewis 
 Lieutenant Leith 
 Lieutenant Lawfon 
 Lieutenant Lemoine 
 Lieutenant Henry Haftings Lloyd 
 Enfign Lechmore 
 Enfign Leigh 
 Mr. Lepremaudaye 
 Mr. George Lambert 
 Mr. John Lampard* 
 
 i 
 
 M. 
 
XIV 
 
 Subscribers Names, 
 
 M. 
 
 General Monckton 
 Colonel Montrefor 
 Sir William Manfel, Baronet 
 Captain Marfh 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Monypenny 
 Enfign Maccarthymore 
 Robert Morley, Efq; 
 
 James Mofs, Efq; 
 
 John Muller, Efq; 
 
 N. 
 
 Colonel Nugent 
 Mr.* Nichols, 
 
 a 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Ord 8 
 
 P. 
 
 Sir Mark Parfons, Baronet 
 Colonel Pearfon 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Pattilbn 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Philips 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Pepper 
 Captain Parkhill 
 
 A 
 
 Captain Pringle 
 Captain Peach 
 Lieutenant Paterfop 
 
 James 
 
I 
 
 Subscribers Names, xv 
 
 James Philips, Efq; 
 
 Charles Philips, Efq; 
 
 James Powel, Efq; 
 
 Lieutenant Pearfe 
 Lieutenant Pocock 
 George Parker, Efq; 
 
 R. 
 
 His Grace the Duke of Rutland 
 The Right Honourable Lord Romney 
 Captain Reynolds 
 
 Lieutenant Ratcliff 
 Lieutenant Rofat 
 Lieutenant Robertfon 
 Lieutenant Rcbifon. 
 
 S* 
 
 Sir Harry Seaton 
 Colonel Skinner 
 Major Straton 
 Major Skey 
 Captain Stewart 
 Captain Skyner 
 Lieutenant Strachan 
 Cornet Sievright 
 «— — Stevenfon, Efq; 
 
 T. 
 
 Lieutenant Timms 
 Lieutenant Thomas 
 
 Mr. 
 
xvi Subscribers Names 
 
 Mr. David Thomas 
 Zachariah Taylor, Efq; 
 
 V. 
 
 Mr. George Villeneuve. 
 
 W. 
 
 Major General Williamfon 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Walfh 
 Major Wrightfon 
 Captain Wilkie 
 Captain Williamfon 
 Captain Walker 
 Lieutenant Williams 
 
 Lieutenant Williams 
 John Willis, Efq; 
 
 — Ward Efq; 
 
 John Weftrope, Efq; 
 
 Richard Stranton Wilmot, Efq; 
 Mr. Wife. 
 
CONTENTS- 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 20 
 
 I I 
 
 /\F Salt-petre • Pag. i 
 
 ^ How to refine Salt-petre . 2 
 
 How to pulverifie Salt-petre . 3 
 
 How to extract Salt-petre from damaged 
 Gun-powder . ibid. 
 
 O/" Sulphur or Brimfione . 5 
 
 to prepare Charcoal for Fire 
 
 works . 
 
 To make Artificial Camphor . 
 
 To 7 ?iake the Oil of Camphor . 
 
 O/’ Benjamin . 
 
 0/~ Gun-powder and its Original . 
 
 O/’ the Compofition for Gun-powder of. 
 
 different Sorts. 1 3 
 
 2~0 refiore damaged Gun-powder to its 
 proper Strength . 16 
 
 0/ Silent-powder y commonly called White- 
 powder. 1 9 
 
 To make Silent-powder. 20 
 
 Ti? Gun-powder of different Co- 
 lours. 2 1 
 
 To make Gun-powder white . 22 
 
 Powder red. ibid. 
 
 To make yellow Powder. 23 
 
 5*0 gmvz Powder. ibid. 
 
 b 20 
 
xviii CONTENTS. 
 
 To make blue Powder . 23 
 
 To make Pulvis Fulmanans or Thunder 
 in a Room . 24 
 
 SECT. II. 
 
 Of the Spur -fire. 26 
 
 The Gompofition for the Spur-fire . 28 
 
 Characters , fgnificant Signs , for difi- 
 tinguijhing the different Ingredients ufed 
 in Fireworks . 29 
 
 How to meal Gun-powder , Brimflone y 
 and Charcoal. 31 
 
 To prepare Cafi Iron for Gerbes > white 
 Fountains, and Chinefie Fire . 32 
 
 Charges for Sky-rockets , GV. 34 
 
 F<?r Rockets of four Ounces . ibid. 
 
 F$r Rockets of eight Ounces . ibid. 
 
 Ftfr Rockets of one Pound. ibid. 
 
 F<?r Sky-rockets in General. 35 
 
 F<?r Sky-rockets. ibid. 
 
 F<?r Rockets of a middling Size. ibid. 
 Compofitions for Rocket Stars. 36 
 
 For white Stars. ibid. 
 
 For blue Stars. ibid. 
 
 Coloured or variegated Stars , ibid. 
 For brilliant Stars . ibid. 
 
 For common Stars . 3 7 
 
 F<?r Stars. ibid. 
 
 For drove Stars. ibid. 
 
 4 For 
 
XIX 
 
 CONTENT 
 
 For fixed pointed Stars . 
 
 Stars of a fine Colour . 
 
 Gold Rain for Sky-rockets .. 
 
 Silver Rain . 
 
 For Water-rockets . 
 
 finking Charge for Water-rockets . 40 
 For Wheel Cafes 9 from two Ounces to 
 
 four Pound . ibid, 
 
 yf yZow F/ro for Wheels . 42 
 
 ^ F/ro for Wheels . ibid. 
 
 For fianding or fixed Cafes . ibid. 
 
 For Sun Cafes . 43 
 
 For ^ brilliant Fire . ibid. 
 
 For Gerbes . 44 
 
 Chinefe Fire . ibid. 
 
 Charges for Four billons . ibid. 
 
 For jfo&r Ounce Four billons. ibid. 
 
 For eight Ounce Four billons, ibid. 
 
 For /^zrg'O Four billons. 45 
 
 For Water Balloons . ibid. 
 
 For Water Squibs . ibid. 
 
 For A/iVzo Ports or Serpents . 46 
 
 Por£ F/m for firing Rockets , £?c. ibid, 
 Por/ Fires for Illuminations. 4 7 
 
 For Cones or Spiral Wheels * ibid. 
 
 For Crowns or Globes. ibid, 
 
 For ^Fr Balloon Fuzes. ibid. 
 
 Serpents for Pots det Brins . 48 
 
 For Fire Pumps . ibid. 
 
 For # flow white Flame . ibid. 
 
 b 2 For 
 
 37 
 . 38 
 ibid, 
 ibid. 
 
 39 
 
XX 
 
 CONTENTS, 
 
 For Amber Lights, 49 
 
 For Lights of another Sort . ibid. 
 
 For a red Fire, ibid. 
 
 For a common Fine . ibid. 
 
 To make an artificial Far th quake. 50 
 A Table of Rocket Charges , taken from 
 Siemienawicz, 5 2 
 
 A Table of Rocket Charges , taken from 
 M, F***. 53 
 
 A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from 
 Hanzelet, 54 
 
 A Table of Rocket Charges , taken from 
 He nr ion. 55 
 
 ^ Table of Rocket Charges , from 
 
 Saint Remy, with improvements by 
 
 M. F***. 56 
 
 Remarks on the foregoing Tables. 57 
 Compojitions for Stars of different Co- 
 lours, 60 
 
 For Stars that carry Tails of Sparks . 6 1 
 Another fort of Stars, which yield Jome 
 Sparks. 62 
 
 For Stars of a yellowifh Colour. ibid. 
 Stars of another Sort. 63 
 
 Of the Colours produced by the different 
 
 Compojitions . 
 
 ibid. 
 
 For a white Flame. 
 
 . 64 
 
 For a blue Flame. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 For a Flame inclining to red. 
 
 65 
 
 Of 
 
CONTENTS, xxf 
 
 Of fuch Ingredients as few themfelves 
 in Sparks when rammed in cloaked 
 Cafes . ibid. 
 
 How to make Cotton Quick-match. 66 
 Ingredients for the Match . 68 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
 Of Sky-rocket Moulds , 69 
 
 A "Table of Dimenfons for "Rocket Moulds , 
 in which the Rockets are rammed 
 folid. 72 
 
 Of Moulds for Wheel- cafes, or Ser- 
 pents. 73 
 
 How to roll Rockets and other Cafes . 74 
 
 To make Tour billon Cafes . 78 
 
 To make Balloon Cafes, or Paper Shells . 79 
 Of the Method of mixing Compofltions. 82 
 How to preferve Steel or Iron Fil- 
 ings. 83 
 
 The Method of driving or ramming of 
 Sky-rockets, &c. 85 
 
 Of the Proportion of Mallets . 90 
 
 Of the Proportion of Sky-rockets, with 
 the manner of heading them. 91 
 
 Of the Decorations for Sky-rockets. 93 
 A Table of Dimenfons and Poife of 
 Rocket -flicks. 94 
 
 The Method of boring Rockets which have 
 been drove folid . 96 
 
 Of 
 
xxii CONTENTS, 
 
 Of a Hand Machine ufed for boring of 
 Rockets inflead of a Lathe. 99 
 
 The Manner of making large Gerbes . 1 o * 
 Of f mall Qerbes or white Fountains. 105 
 To make Pafle-beard and Paper Mor- 
 tars. 104 
 
 SECT. IV. 
 
 The Manner of loading Air Balloons. 106 
 Of Coe horn B alio ins. 108 
 
 Of Coehorn Balloons , 109 
 
 Of Royal Balloons. no 
 
 Of Royal Balloons. 1 1 1 
 
 Of eight Inch Balloons. 112 
 
 Remarks on Balloons. 113 
 
 Of eight Inch Balloons. 1 1 5 
 
 Of an eight Inch Balloon. 116 
 
 Of a Compound ten Inch Balloon. 117 
 Of a tenlnchBalloon of three changes. 1 1 8 
 To make Balloon. ibid. 
 
 Of Tour billons. 120 
 
 The Manner of making Mortars , for 
 throwing Aigrettes and loading and 
 firing the fame. 122 
 
 The Manner of makings loadings and firing 
 of Pots d&s Brins. 125 
 
 Of Pots des Saucijfons. 127 
 
 To fix one Sky-rocket on the top of an- 
 other. 128 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 xxni 
 
 Of Caduceus-rockets . 130 
 
 Of Honorary-rockets . 1 3 1 
 
 To divide the Tail of a Sky-rocket, fo as 
 to form an Arch when Afc ending. 133 
 To make feveral Sky-rockets rife together , 
 in the fame direction, and equally difiant 
 from each other . 134 
 
 Of Signal Sky-rockets. 135 
 
 To fix two or more Sky-rockets on one 
 Stick. 136 
 
 Of Sky-rockets without Sticks. 140 
 Of 'Rain-falls for Sky-rockets, double and 
 
 fingle. 
 
 Of ft rung Stars. 
 
 Of tailed Stains* 
 
 Of drove Stars. 
 
 Of rolled Stars . 
 
 Of Scrolls for Sky-rockets. 
 
 Of S warmers or finall Rockets. 
 
 Of the Caufe of Sky-rockets rifing. 
 
 Of Stands for Sky-rockets. 
 
 Of Girandole Chefis for Flights of 
 Rockets. 152 
 
 Of Serpents or Snakes for Pots des 
 Aigrettes, f mall Mortars, Sky-rockets, 
 &c. 155 
 
 Of Leaders or Pipes of Communication, ibid. 
 
 141 
 
 *44 
 
 ibid. 
 
 146 
 
 H7 
 
 148 
 
 149 
 
 150 
 
 151 
 
 SECT. 
 
xxiv CONTENTS, 
 
 SECT. V. 
 
 Of Aquatick Fireworks . 157 
 
 Of Water Rockets. ibid. 
 
 To jnake Pipes of Communication , which 
 may he ufed under Water . 159 
 
 Of Horizontal Wheels for the Water . ibid. 
 Of Mines for the Water . 1 6 1 
 
 Of Fire Globes for the Water . 162 
 
 Of odoriferous Water Balloons * 164 
 
 Of Water Balloons . 166 
 
 QT Water Squibs. 167 
 
 reprefent a Sea fight with fmall Ships , 
 dW to prepare a Firefhip for the 
 fame. 168 
 
 Tb fire Sky-rockets under Water . 172 
 
 jf £ reprefent Neptune in his Chariot. 173 
 
 To reprefent Swans and Ducks in the 
 Water • 175 
 
 Qf Fire fountains for the Water . 177 
 
 SECT. VI. 
 
 To make Crackers . 179 
 
 Of jingle Reports. 180 
 
 0/ Marrons . 1 8 1 
 
 Of Mar r on Batteries . 183 
 
 Of Line Rockets. ibid . 
 
 Of 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Pag. 1 6 . lin. 6. for fait, read falt-peire 
 
 30. 1 2. for iling glafs, read ifinglafs 
 
 35. 11. for midling, read middling 
 
 47. 15. for balloons, read balloon 
 
 86. 26. infert : to a rocket of eight ounces 
 
 twenty-one ftrokes. 
 
 115. 5. for one eighth, read one inch one eighth 
 
 152. 24. for griandole, read girandole, 
 
 ibid. 25. for griandole, read girandole, 
 
 172. 19. for hoops, read hooks, 
 
 203. 8. add at I, nine inches from H, fix three 
 
 pegs. 
 
 £43. 18. for fcrole, read feral!. 
 

CONTENTS. xxy 
 
 Of the different Decorations for Line 
 
 Rockets. 185 
 
 Of Chinefe Flyers. 186 
 
 Of Fable Rockets. 188 
 
 Fo make Wheels and other Works incom - 
 bufiible . 189 
 
 Of Jingle Vertical Wheels . 190 
 
 Of Horizontal Wheels. 192 
 
 Of Spirali Wheels. 193 
 
 Of Plural Wheels. 194 
 
 Of the illuminated Spiral Wheel. 19$ 
 Of the double Spiral Wheel. 196 
 
 Of Balloon Wheels . 197 
 
 Of Fruiloni Wheels. 298 
 
 Of Port-fires for Illuminations . 200 
 
 Of common Port -fires. ibid. 
 
 Of Cafcades of Fire. 201 
 
 Of the Fire Free. 202 
 
 Of Chinefe Fountains. 203 
 
 Of illuminated Globes with Horizontal 
 Wheels. 205 
 
 Of the Dodecaedron. 207 
 
 Of the Tew Free of Brilliant Fire . 209 
 
 Of Stars with Points for regulated 
 Pieces, &c. 210 
 
 Of the fixed Sun with a Franfparent 
 Face. 2 1 1 
 
 Of three Vertical Wheels illuminated, 
 which turn on their Naves upon a 
 Horizontal Fable. 2 1 4 
 
 C Of 
 
xxvi CONTENTS. 
 
 Of the illuminated Chandelier . 216 
 
 Of the illuminated Tew Tree . 217 
 
 Of famingS tar s wit kBrilliant Wheels . 218 
 Of Touch-paper for Capping of Serpents , 
 Crackers , <SV. 220 
 
 O/' <2 projected regulated Piece of Nine 
 Mutations . . 221 
 
 Ti ^ Horizontal Wheel change 
 
 to a Vertical Wheel with a Sun in 
 Front. 234 
 
 Of the Gra?id Volute illuminated , with a 
 projected Wheel in Front. 236 
 
 Of the Moon and Seven Stars . 239 
 
 Of the -double Cone Wheel illuminated. 240 
 Of Fire Pumps. 242 
 
 Of the Vertical Scroll Wheel. 243 
 
 Of Pin Wheels . 244 
 
 Of Fire Globes. 246 
 
 To thread and join Leaders , with the 
 Method of placing them on different 
 Works. 247 
 
 The Manner of placing Fireworks to be 
 exhibited \ with the Order of Fir- 
 ing. 250 
 
 A TRE A- 
 
E i 1 
 
 A 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O N 
 
 A rtificial F ireworks. 
 
 SECT. I. 
 
 Of Saltpetre. 
 
 S ALTPETRE being the princi- 
 pal ingredient in fireworks, and a 
 volatile body, by reafon of its aque- 
 ous and aerial parts, is eafily rarified 
 by fire ; but not fo foon when foul and 
 grofs, as when purified from its crude 
 and earthy parts, which greatly retard 
 its velocity : therefore, when any quan- 
 tity of Fireworks are intended to be 
 made, it would be neceffary firft to ex- 
 B amine 
 
2 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 amine the faltpetre; for if it be not well 
 cleaofed from all impurities, and of a 
 good fort, your works will not have 
 their proper effect, neither will it agree 
 with the ftanding proportions of com- 
 portions : but to prevent accidents I (hall 
 proceed with the method of refining it. 
 
 How to refine Saltpetre, 
 
 Put into a copper* or any other vef- 
 ~fel, one hundred weight of rough nitre 
 with about fourteen gallons of clean 
 water, and let it boil gently for half an 
 hour, and as it boils take off the fcum - 3 
 then ftir it about in the copper, and be- 
 fore it fettles put it into your liltring- 
 bags, which mufc be • hung on a rack,, 
 with' glazed earthen pans, under them in 
 which mu ft be fticks laid acrofs for the 
 cryftals to adhere to it rnuft ftaod in 
 the pans for two or three days to ihoot, 
 then take out the cryftals and let them 
 dry : the water that remains in the pans 
 boil again for an hour, and ftrain it into 
 the pans as before, and the faltpetre will 
 be quite clear and tranfparent ; if not, it 
 wants more refining, to do which pro- 
 ceed as ufual, ■ till it is well cleanfed of 
 all it’s earthy parts, N, B* 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 3 
 
 N. B. Thofe who do not chufe to 
 procure their faitpetre by the above me- 
 thod, may buy it ready done, which for 
 fireworks in general will do equally as 
 well. 
 
 How to pulverife Saltpetre. 
 
 Take a copper kettle whofe bottom 
 mull be fpherical, and put into it four- 
 teen pound of refined faitpetre, with two 
 quarts or five pints of clean water ; then 
 put the kettle on a flow fire, and when 
 the faitpetre is diffolved, if any impuri- 
 ties arife, fldm them off, and keep con- 
 ftantly ftirring it with two large fpatulas, 
 till all the water exhales ; and when done 
 enough, it will appear like white fand, 
 and as fine as flour but if it fliould boil 
 too faft, take the kettle off the fire, and 
 fet it on fome wet fand, which will pre- 
 vent the nitre from flicking to the ket- 
 tle. When you have pulverifed a quan- 
 tity of faitpetre, be careful to keep it in 
 a dry place. 
 
 How to extract Saltpetre from 
 damaged Gun-Powder. 
 
 Firft you muft have fome filtring bags, 
 hung on a rack, with glazed earthen pans 
 B 2 under 
 
4 A Treatise on 
 
 under them, in the fame manner as thofe 
 for refining faltpetre : then take any 
 quantity of damaged powder, and put 
 it into a copper, with as much clean wa- 
 ter as will juft cover it ; and when it 
 begins to boil take off the fcum, and 
 after it has boiled a few minutes, ftir it 
 up then take it out of the copper with 
 a fmali hand kettle for that purpofe, and 
 put fome into each bag, beginning at 
 one end of the rack, fo that by the time 
 you have got to the laft bag, the firft 
 will be ready for more ; continue thus, 
 till all_ the bags are full 5 then take the 
 liquor out of the pans, which boil and 
 filter, as before, two or three times, till 
 the water runs quite clear, which you 
 muft let ftand in. the pans for fome time, 
 and the faltpetre will appear at top. Now 
 to get all the faltpetre entirely out of the 
 powder, take the water from the faltpe- 
 tre already extracted, to which add fome 
 frefh water and the dregs of the pow- 
 der that remain in the bags, and put 
 them together in a veffel, to ftand as long 
 as you pleafe, and when you want to ex- 
 trad: the nitre, you muft proceed with 
 this mixture as with the powder at firft, 
 by which means you will draw out all 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 5 
 
 the faltpetre ; but this procefs mu ft be 
 boiled longer than the firft. 
 
 Of Sulphur, or Brimstone. 
 
 Sulphur is by nature the food of fire* 
 and one of the principal ingredients in 
 gunpowder, and almoft in all compofi- 
 tions of fireworks ; therefore great care 
 ought to be taken, of its being good 
 and brought to the higheft perfection. 
 Now to know when the fulphur is good, 
 yo u are to obferve that it be of a high 
 yellow, and if, when held in one’s hand, 
 it crackles and bounces, it is a fign that 
 it is frefh and good : but as the me- 
 
 thod of reducing brimftone to a powder, 
 is very troubiefome to do, it is better to 
 buy the flower ready made, which is 
 done in large quantities, and in great 
 perfection : but when a grand collection 
 of fireworks are to be made, the ftrongeft 
 and beft fulphur to ufe, is the lump 
 brimftone ground in the fame manner as 
 gun powder, which we ihall treat of in 
 the following part of the treat ife. 
 
6 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 How to prepare Charcoal for 
 
 Fireworks. 
 
 Charcoal being a prefervative by which 
 the faltpetre and the brimftone is made 
 into gun-powder, by preventing the fill— 
 phur from fuffbeating the flrong and win- 
 dy exhalation of the nitre. There are fe- 
 veral forts of wood made life of for this 
 purpofe; fome prefer hazle, others willow 
 and alder ; but there being fo little differ- 
 ence, you may make ufe of either which 
 is moft convenient to begot. And the me- 
 thod of burning the wood is this : Cut it 
 in pieces about one or two feet long, then 
 fplit each piece in four parts ; fcale off the 
 bark and hard knots, and dry them in the 
 fun or in an oven, then make in the earth 
 a fquare hole, and line it with bricks, in 
 which lay the wood, crofiing one another, 
 and fetit on fire; when thoroughly light- 
 ed and in a flame, cover die hole with 
 boards, and fling earth over them clofe, 
 to prevent the air from getting in, yet fo 
 as not to fall among the charcoal, and 
 when it has lain thus for twenty-four 
 hours, take out the coals and lay them in a 
 dry place for ufe. It is to be obferved that 
 
 charcoal 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 7 
 
 charcoal for fireworks muft always be foft 
 and well burnt, which may be bought 
 
 ready done. 
 
 To make Artificial Camphor. 
 
 Capaphor, in the Materia medica, 
 is a body of a particular nature, being 
 “ neither a refin, nor a volatile fait, nor 
 <s an oil, nor a juice, nor a bitumen, 
 nor a gum, but a mixed fub fiance, 
 dry, white, tranfparent and brittle, 
 of a ftrong and penetrating fmelh 
 “ The Indians difiinguifh two kinds of 
 it, a finer and a coarferj the finer is 
 <c the produce of Borneo and Sumatra, 
 <c is very rare, and is hardly ever fent 
 <c into Europe ; the coarfer is the Japo- 
 “ nefe kind, which is the common fort, 
 €C both in the Indies and in Europe. 
 
 “ The camphor, which we meet 
 <s with in the fhops, is alfo of two 
 €i kinds, differing in regard to the degree 
 of their purity, and difiinguifhed by 
 the name of rough and refined cam~ 
 f<r phor. The tree, which produces 
 “ camphor, is a fpecies of bay tree, 
 
 €e every part of which abounds with 
 ** camphor 5 but is not collected from 
 B 4 " it 
 
s 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 “ it in the manner of refins, but by a 
 fe fort of chemical procefs. — The na- 
 “ tives of the place where the trees 
 (C grow, cut the wood and roots into fmall 
 pieces. And put them into large cop- 
 “ per vefiels, which they cover w r ith 
 €C earthen heads, filled with ftraw they 
 rc give a moderate fire under them, and 
 the camphor is raifed in form of a 
 ec white downy matter, and retained 
 “ among the ftraw ; when the procefs 
 iC is over, they fhake it out of the ftraw, 
 and knead it into cakes. Thefe cakes 
 te are not very compadt, but eafily crum- 
 “ bled to pieces ; they are moderately 
 “ heavy, of a greyifh or dulky reddifh 
 white in colour, of a pungent fmell 
 “ and acrid tafte, and are what we call 
 rough camphor. 
 
 Refined camphor muft be chofen of 
 “ a perfectly clean white colour, very 
 bright and pellucid, of the fame fmell 
 “ and tafte with the rough, but more 
 iC acrid and pungent — -It is fo vola- 
 te tile that merchants ufually inclofe 
 * £ it in lin-feed, that the vifcofity of 
 that grain may keep its particles to- 
 H gether,” 
 
 Now 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 9 
 
 Now there is alfo an artificial cam- 
 phor for fireworks, which I fhall here 
 give you the method of making ; take 
 of gum faodarach pul verified two pound, 
 and of diflilled vinegar enough to cover 
 it ; put them together in a glafs phial, 
 and let it for twenty days in warm horfe 
 dung. Then take it out again, and pour 
 it into another phial, with a large mouth 
 to it ; and expofe it to the fun for a 
 month, and you will have a concreted 
 camphor in form of the crufi: of bread, 
 and fomething like the natural cam- 
 phor : which when you ufe muft be 
 ground to a powder with a little fpirits 
 of wine in a mortar. Though we have 
 here taught the method of making ar- 
 tificial camphor, I would not recommend 
 it to thofe who chufe to make their works 
 to perfection, the natural camphor, 
 being by far the belt. 
 
 To make the Oil of Camphor. 
 
 The oil of camphor, which is fome- 
 time ufed to moiften compofitions, is 
 produced by adding to fome camphor a 
 little oil of fweet almonds, and working 
 them together in a brafs mortar, till it 
 turns to a green oil. N. B. 
 
id A Treatise on 
 
 N. B. Thofe works that have any 
 camphor in their compofitions, (hould 
 be kept as much from air as pofiible, 
 or the camphor will evaporate* 
 
 i 
 
 Of Benjamin. 
 
 Benjamin is a refin (much ufed by per- 
 fumers, and fometimes in medicine) ; it 
 is brought from the Indies, where it is 
 found of different forts ; and diftin- 
 guifhed by the following colours, viz. 
 yellow, grey, and brown, but the beft 
 is that which is eafy to break and full of 
 white-fpots. 
 
 Benjamin is alfo one of the ingredi- 
 ents in odoriferous fireworks, when re- 
 duced to a fine flour; which may be 
 done by obfervieg the following direc- 
 tions. Put into a deep, and narrow ear- 
 then pot, three or four ounces of ben- 
 jamin grofsly pounded, cover the pot 
 with paper, which tie very clofe round 
 the edge ; then fet the pot on a flow fire, 
 and once in an hour take off the paper, 
 and you will find fome flower flicking 
 to it, which return again in the pot ; 
 this you muft continue till the flower ap- 
 5 pears 
 
Artificial Fireworks. ii 
 
 pears white and fine. There is alfo an 
 oil of benjamin, which is fometimes 
 drawn from the dregs of the flour ; it 
 affords a very good fcent, and may beufed 
 in wet compofitions. 
 
 Of Gun-powder and its original. 
 
 Gun-powder being a principal ingre®* 
 dient in fireworks, it will not be impro- 
 per to give a Abort definition of its ft range 
 exploiive force, and caufe of adtion, 
 which, according to Dr. Shaw’s opinion, 
 of the chemical caufe of the exploiive 
 force of gun-powder, is as follows. 
 ec Each grain of powder confiding of 
 a certain proportion of fulphur, nitre, 
 ec and coal, the coal prefently takes fire, 
 (C upon contact of the fmalleft fpark : at 
 which time both the fulphur and the 
 “ nitre immediately melt, and by means 
 (c of the coal interpofed between them, 
 burft into flame ; which fp reading 
 from grain to grain, propagates the 
 “ fame effedt almofl inftantaneoufly : 
 65 whence the whole mats of powder 
 ££ comes to be fired ; and as nitre con- 
 45 tains both a large proportion of air and 
 water, which are now violently rari- 
 
 44 fied 
 
12 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 €( fied by the heat, a kind of fiery ex- 
 ee plofive blaft is thus produced, wherein 
 “ the nitre feerns, by its aqueous and 
 €€ aerial parts, to adt as bellows to the 
 “ other inflammable bodies, fulphur 
 ie and coal, to blow them into a flame, 
 tfC and carry off their v/hole fubftance in 
 64 fmoke and vapour.'" 
 
 After having fpoke of the nature of 
 powder, I fnall in the next place pro- 
 ceed to its original, though fomewhat 
 uncertain; bulk is imagined tohavebeen 
 invented in the time of Alexander the 
 great, asPhiloftratus fpeaksof a city near 
 the river Hypafis in the Indies, that 
 was faid to be impregnable and its in- 
 habitants relations of the gods, becaufe 
 they thew thunder and lightning on 
 their enemies ,* but this perhaps might 
 be the effect of gun-powder, which, not 
 being known by any other people, might 
 very well be faid to be thunder and 
 lightning. 
 
 This conjecture has been confirmed 
 by feme travellers, who aflert that it 
 was ufed in the Eafl: Indies, particular- 
 ly in the Philippine I (lands about the 
 year 85, which is 1265 years before it 
 was known in Europe, where they fay 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 13 
 
 it was not known till 1350* though, it 
 is faid, there is mention made of gun- 
 powder in the regifters of the chambers 
 of accounts in France, as early as the 
 year 1338, and Friar Bacon mentions 
 the compofition of powder in exprefs 
 terms, in his treatife Denullitate magiae, 
 publifhed at Oxford in the year 1216 ; 
 but we find from moft accounts, that the 
 Germans have the honour of the inven- 
 tion, as is commonly reported, 
 
 I fhould give a defer ip tion of a ma- 
 chine for the trying of gun powder, but 
 they being fo common, it would be need- 
 le fs ; yet, would have all thofe who prac- 
 tice this art, know, that, when they make 
 fky rockets with powder, that it muft 
 be of the beft fort ; but as to wheels, and 
 other common works, any powder will 
 do, only be careful that it is quite dry. 
 
 Of the Compofitions for Gun- 
 powder of different forts. 
 
 Having treated of the nature of pow- 
 der, and its original, I fhall here give 
 the proportion of each ingredient, ne- 
 ceffary for compofing the different forts 
 
14 A Treatise on 
 
 of gun -powder, it being proper that 
 every one who makes ufe of powder, 
 fhould know of what it is compofed. 
 Therefore in the iirft place ; I fhall fet 
 down the feveral compofitions mentioned 
 in Cafimir biemienowicz’s grand art of 
 artillery, in which there are lix forts, 
 viz. 
 
 I. Saltpetre one hundred pound, ful- 
 phur twenty five pound, and coal 
 twenty five pound. 
 
 II. Saltpetre one hundred pound, fill- 
 phur eighteen pound, and coal twenty 
 pound. 
 
 III. Saltpetre one hundred pound, ful- 
 phur twelve pound, and coal fifteen 
 pound. 
 
 IV. Saltpetre one hundred pound, ful- 
 phur twenty pound, and coal twenty 
 four pound. 
 
 V. Saltpetre one hundred pound, ful- 
 phur fifteen pound, and coal eighteen 
 pound. 
 
 VI. Saltpetre one hundred pound, fid- 
 phur ten pound, and coal eight 
 pound. 
 
 Mr. ' 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 15 
 
 Mr. Belidor, in his Hydraulics, fpeaks 
 of a compoiition for gun powder which 
 is as as follows, to thirty pound of falt- 
 petre, add five pound of fulphur, with 
 as much coal : but the proportion of 
 the feveral ingredients for powder, are 
 to be found beft by experience. For tho 5 
 there has been fo much practice in mak- 
 ing powder, there has not yet been 
 afcertained a {landing proportion of the 
 nitre, fulphur, and coal ; but it is hoped 
 that in time this great and noble inven- 
 tion will be much improved, and that 
 the different, and beft quantity of every 
 ingredient, will be determined. At the 
 powder mills they generally allow for 
 wafting, in making up, one pound and 
 a half in a hundred. And their mixture 
 for a hundred weight of good powder 
 is thus : To feventy-fix pound and a half 
 of faltpetre, well refined and dry’d, 
 twelve pound and a half of coal, and 
 as much fulphur, all which added toge- 
 ther makes one hundred one pound and 
 a half, which when worked up will near- 
 ly weigh one hundred. As it is moft cer- 
 tain that gun-powder is capable of be- 
 ing improved, I fhall not omit any par- 
 ticular that may be of fervice to fuch 
 
 ingenious 
 
i6 A Treatise on 
 
 ingenious gentlemen as are willing to 
 make experiments ; for which reafon we 
 {hall here infert another compofition for 
 powder, mentioned by an author on this 
 fuhjed:, whofe name I have forgot, but 
 the compofition is thus: Refined fait- 
 five pounds, fulphur one pound four 
 ounces, and charcoal feven ounces and 
 a half. 
 
 But notwithftanding you may have a 
 good proportion of ingredients, the pow- 
 der will not always be the fame, for there 
 is a great deal depends on their being 
 well incorporated, corned and dry’d, the 
 method of which will be taught in the 
 next article. 
 
 To reftore damaged Gun-powder 
 to its proper flrength. 
 
 It is moft certain, that, if powder be 
 kept long in a damp place, it will be- 
 come weak and moift, and great part of 
 it will be formed into hard lumps, which 
 is a certain fign of its being damaged. 
 When powder is thus found, you will 
 alfo fee at the bottom of the barrel fome 
 faltpetre, which, by being wet, wiilfepa- 
 rate from the fulphur and coal, and al- 
 
 always 
 
Artificial Fireworks* 17 
 
 Ways fall to the bottom of the veflel 
 wherein the powder is contained, and 
 fettle there in the form of a white 
 downey matter ; but the only method to 
 prevent this, is to move the barrels as 
 often as convenient, and place them on 
 their oppofite fides or ends, to which 
 they before ftood : but although ever fo 
 great care be taken of powder, and it be 
 kept as dry as poffible, length of time 
 will greatly leffen its primitive ftrength. 
 
 Therefore when any of the above 
 mentioned accidents happen to your 
 powder* you may recover it by applying 
 to the directions here given; for exam- 
 ple, if you imagine that the powder 
 has not received much damage* proceed 
 thus. Spread it on canvas, or dry boards, 
 and expofe it to the fun, then add to it 
 an equal quantity of good powder, and 
 mix them well together* and, when tho- 
 roughly dry, barrel it up, and put it in a 
 dry and proper place. But if gun-pow- 
 der be quite bad* the method to reftore 
 it is as follows ; firft, you mu ft know 
 what it weighed when good 3 then, by 
 weighing it again, you will find how 
 much it has loft by the feparation and 
 evaporation of the faltpetre; then add 
 
 C to 
 
i8 A Treatise oNf 
 
 to it as much refined faltpetre, as it has 
 loft in weight, but as a large quantity of 
 this would be difficult to mix, it will be 
 beft to put a proportion of nitre, to 
 every twenty pound of powder ; when 
 done, put one of thefe proportions into 
 your mealing table, and grind it therein, 
 till you have brought it to an impalpable 
 powder, and then fearce it with a fine 
 fieve ; but if any remain in the fieve that 
 will not pafs through, return it to the 
 table, and grind it ag^in, till you have 
 made it all fine enough to go through 
 the fieve ; being thus well ground and 
 lifted, it mu ft be made into grains in the 
 following manner, firft you muft have 
 fome (copper wire fieves) made accord- 
 ing to what fize you intend the grains 
 Ihould be j thefe are called corning fieves 
 or grainers, which being provided, fill 
 them with the powder compofition, then 
 fhake them about, and the powder will 
 pafs through the fieve formed into grains. 
 Having thus corned your powder, fet it 
 to dry in the fun ; and when quite dry, 
 fearce it with a fine hair fieve in order to 
 feparate the duft from the grains. This 
 duft may be worked up again with an- 
 other mixture i fo that none of the 
 
 powder 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 19 
 
 powder will be wafted : but fometimes 
 it may fo happen, that the weight of 
 the powder when good cannot be known $ 
 in which cafe add to each pound an 
 ounce or an ounce and a half of fait- 
 petre, according as the powder is de- 
 cayed, and then grind, lift, and granu- 
 late it as before directed. 
 
 N. B. If you have a large quantity of 
 powder, that is very bad, and quite 
 fpoiled ; the only way is to extract the 
 faltpetre from it, according to the ufual 
 manner : for powder thus circumftanced, 
 would be very difficult to recover. 
 
 Of Silent Powder, commonly 
 called White Powder. 
 
 It would be rather abfurd for any one 
 to imagine, that it is poffible for gun- 
 powder to have any effed without fome 
 report, when it is plain and well known, 
 that the found does not proceed from 
 the powder only, but from the air being 
 rarified by the expanfion of the powder. 
 
 From whence it is evident, that any 
 compofition ading with the fame explo- 
 five force as gun-powder, would cer- 
 C 2 tainly 
 
20 A Treatise on 
 
 tainly produce the fame effed:, in every 
 refpedt. However as for fuch fort of 
 powder I never had any proof, nor ever 
 knew any experiment made of it, but 
 have fo little opinion of it, that I fhould 
 not have given it a place in this work, 
 had it not been treated of by fome au- 
 thors of note ; and at the fame time giv- 
 ing every one, who is fond of this art, 
 an opportunity of making experiments, 
 and of knowing every thing belong 
 thereto. 
 
 To make Silent Powder. 
 
 For the firft fort, mix two pound of 
 borax, with four pound of gun-powder. 
 
 2d. Add half a pound of lapis-cala- 
 minaris, and half a pound of borax, to 
 two pound of powder. 
 
 3d. To fix pound of gun-powder, 
 half a pound of calcined moles, with 
 as much borax of Venice. 
 
 4th. To fix pound and a half of fait- 
 petre, eight pound and a half of fulphur, 
 and half a pound of the fecond bark of 
 an elder tree, burnt and ground to a pow- 
 der, with two pound of common fait. 
 
 There 
 
Artificial Fireworks, 21 
 
 There are alfo many other methods of 
 making powder filent, according to re- 
 port, by ufing camphor or touch- 
 wood inftead of charcoal, or by adding 
 to the common powder burnt paper, hay 
 feed, See. When any of thefe ingredients 
 are to be mixed with common powder, 
 grind them together, and make them 
 into grains. 
 
 To make Gun-powder of differ* 
 ent Colours. 
 
 Notwithftanding the repeated trials 
 and experiments made by the greateft 
 artifts, to add to the firength of gun- 
 powder, all have proved without fuse- 
 cefs, and moft of them have agreed that 
 the prefent powder will not admit of a 
 fourth ingredient ; therefore it is evi- 
 dent, that any thing being mixed with 
 the prefent compoiition of gun-powder, 
 would rather reduce it’s ftrength than 
 add to it ; confequently coloured pow- 
 der niuft be weaker than black ; fo that 
 the making of powder of different co- 
 lours, is only a fancy that ferves to pleafe 
 tbf curious, without any other eftedt. 
 
 Q 3 
 
tz 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 To make Gun-powder white. 
 
 To fix pound of falt-petre, add one 
 pound of the pith of an elder tree, well 
 dryed and pulverifed, with a fufficient 
 quantity of brimftone to make it into 
 powder, which you will find in the 
 compoiition of gun-powder, or an ounce 
 of the fait of tartar, calcined till it comes 
 white, and then boiled in clear water, 
 till the water is all evaporated. 
 
 To make Powder red. 
 
 Boil in water fome brafil wood or 
 Vermillion and a pound of chopped pa- 
 per ; and, when boiled for fome time to 
 draw out the colour, dry and meal it 
 with a pound of fulphur, and eight 
 pound of faltpetre. 
 
 Or, to fix pound of faltpetre, put one 
 pound of fulphur, and half a pound of 
 amber, and blood flone one pound. 
 
 To 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 23 
 
 To make Yellow Powder. 
 
 Take eight pound of faltpetre^ and 
 one pound of fulphur, to which add one 
 pound of wild faffron, that has been 
 boiled in aqua vitse, and afterwards made 
 dry and mealed. 
 
 To make Green Powder. 
 
 Boil two pound of rotten wood, with 
 fome verdegreafe in aqua vitas, then 
 «ky and pound it, and mix it with 
 a pound of fulphur, and ten pound of 
 falt-petre. 
 
 To make Blue Powder, 
 
 Boil fome indigo in aqua vitas, with a 
 pound of the bark of a young linden 
 tree, then dry and reduce it to a pow- 
 der, and mix it with a pound of brim** 
 ftone, and eight pound of faltpetre* 
 
H 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 To make Puids Fulmanans, or 
 Thunder in a Room, 
 
 This compofition is very Ample, yet 
 has a very curious effect j it is made of 
 three parts of faltpetre, two of fait of 
 tartar, and one of fulphur, all ground 
 to a fine powder, and well incorporated 
 together. As the effedt of this powder is 
 quite different to that of gun- powder, 
 fo is there a different method of firing 
 it, which is thus: Put about two tea 
 fpoonfulls of it into a fire-fhovel, or iron 
 ladle, and fet it over a flow fire, and 
 when it is quite hot, it will go off with 
 a violent report. There is fomething 
 furprifing in the nature of this compofi- 
 tion; for as the common powder adts 
 every way equal, and makes the great- 
 efl noife when confined, this, on the 
 contrary, adls only downwards, and 
 makes the ftrongeft report when not 
 confined. 
 
 There is another fort of fulminating 
 powder, called fulmanans aurum, on ac- 
 count of there being gold mixed in its 
 compofition, which is done by a chemi- 
 cal 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 25 
 
 cal preparation ; but as the preparing 
 of the ingredients require a tedious and 
 expenfive procefs, I fhall omit the me- 
 thod of doing it, and let thofe who chufe 
 to make chemical experiments refer to 
 authors on that fubjedf, by whom they 
 will find the manner of making this pow- 
 der fully explained. It is faid one grain 
 of fulmanans aurum, when made- to per- 
 fection, and held on the point of a knife, 
 over a candle, will make a report louder 
 than a mufket. 
 
 SECT. 
 
$6 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 SECT. II. 
 
 Of the Spur-Fire. 
 
 T HIS fire is the mod beautiful 
 and curious of any yet known, 
 and was invented by the Chinefe, but 
 now is in greater perfection in England, 
 than in China ; and as it requires a great 
 deal of trouble to make it to perfection, 
 it will be neceffary that young beginners 
 fhould have full inftruCtions in every par- 
 ticular ; therefore care ought to be taken 
 that all the ingredients be of the belt 
 fort, that the lamp-black is not damp, 
 and clodded, and that the faltpetre and 
 brimftone are thoroughly refined. This 
 compofition is generally rammed in one 
 or two ounce cafes, about five or ibc 
 inches long, but not drove very hard 5 
 and thefe cafes mu ft .have their concave 
 ftroke ftruck very fmooth, and the choalc 
 or vent not quite fo large as the ufual 
 proportion ; this charge, when driven 
 
 and 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 27 
 
 and kept a few months, will be much 
 better than when juft rammed, but will 
 not fpoil, if kept dry, in many years. 
 
 Now as the beauty of this compofi- 
 tion cannot be feen at fo great a diftance 
 as brilliant fire, it has a better effed: in 
 a room than in the open air, and may 
 be fired in a chamber without any dan- 
 ger ; for it is of fo innocent a nature, 
 that, though with an improper phrafe, 
 it may be called a cold fire; and fo extra- 
 ordinary is the fire produced from this 
 compofition, that, if well made, the 
 fparks will not burn a handkerchief, 
 when held in the midft of them ; you 
 may hold them in your hand while burn- 
 ing, with as much fafety as a candle; 
 and if you put your hand within a foot 
 of the mouth of the cafe, you will feel 
 the iparks like drops of rain. When 
 any of thefe fpur-fires are fired fingly, 
 they are called artificial flower pots ; but 
 fome of them placed round a tranfparent 
 pyramid of paper, and fired in a large 
 room, make a very pretty appearance. 
 
 The 
 
28 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 The Composition for the Spur- 
 
 fire. 
 
 Saltpetre four pound eight ounces, 
 fblphur two pound, and lamp-black one 
 pound eight ounces. 
 
 Or, faltpetre one pound, fulphur half 
 a pound, and lamp-black four quarts. 
 
 As the fpur-fire compofition is very 
 difficult to mix, and the manner of do- 
 ing it quite different from any other, I 
 final! here treat of it feparately ; for ex- 
 ample,- the faltpetre and the brimftone 
 muff be firft fifted together, and then 
 put into a marble mortar, and the lamp- 
 black with them, which you work down 
 by degrees, with a wooden peflle, till 
 all the ingredients appear of one colour, 
 which will be fomething greyifh, but 
 very near black ; then drive a little into 
 a cafe for tryal, and fire it in a dark 
 place 5 and if the fparks, which are 
 called ftars, or pinks, come out in clut- 
 ters, and afterwards fpread well with- 
 out any other fparks, it is a fign of its 
 being good, otherwife not ; for if any 
 drcffy fparks appear, and the ftars not 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 2^ 
 
 full, it is then not mixed enough ; but 
 if the pinks are very final!, and foon 
 break, it is a fign that you have rubbed 
 
 it too much* 
 
 N. B. This mixture, when rubbed too 
 much, will be too fierce, and hardly (hew 
 any ftars at all ; and, on the contrary, 
 when not mixed enough, will be too 
 weak, and throw forth an cbfcure 
 fmoke, and lumps of drofs, without 
 any ftars. The reafon of this charge 
 being called the fpur-fire, is becaufe 
 the fparks it yields have a great refem-* 
 blance to the rowel of a (pur, from 
 whence it takes it’s name. 
 
 Characters, or fignificant Signs, for 
 diftinguiflimg the different In- 
 gredients ufed in Fireworks. 
 
 Meal Powder - — — M 
 
 Corned Powder — — - — - 3 
 
 Saltpetre — — — > - — — 0 
 
 Brimftone — — - — — > Z 
 
 Crude Sulphur — • — — - C Z 
 
 Charcoal ■> * — ■ C -F 
 
 Sea Coal — - — — — — C S 
 
 Saw-duft or Beech-rafpings — B R 
 
 Steel 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 30 
 
 Steel or Iron-filings *— — - S x 
 
 Brafs-duft — - — B x 
 
 Glafs-duft — - — — G x 
 
 Tanners-duft of Bark — — — T X 
 
 Caft Iron • — — — — C I 
 
 Antimony Crude — . — - — ■ C A 
 
 Camphor «. .. — — . x 
 
 Yellow Amber — — A Y 
 
 Lapis Calaminaris * — — L S 
 
 Gum - — — > — ^ 
 
 Lamp Black — — — B L 
 
 Ifing Glafs G I 
 
 Spirit of Wine - W 
 
 Spirits of Turpentine S T 
 
 Oil of Spike — — P O 
 
 The life of the above characters is, 
 that by the help of them, the different 
 receipts may be contracted to fo fmall 
 a compafs, that they may all be con- 
 tained in one leaf of a pocket book, 
 which is much lefs than any table that 
 has yet been invented. Thefe figns are 
 alfo very convenient for thofe who travel* 
 
 Hovr 
 
Artificial Fireworks* 
 
 31 
 
 How to meal Gun-powder, Brim- 
 stone, and Charcoal. 
 
 There have been many methods ufed 
 to grind thefe ingredients to a powder 
 for fireworks, fuch as large mortars and 
 peftles, made of ebony, and other hard 
 wood ; likewife horizontal mills with 
 brafs barrels ; but none of thefe methods 
 has proved fo eftedtual and fpeedy as the 
 laft invention, that of the mealing table, 
 which is reprefented in Plate I. Fig. I. 
 This table it made of elm, with a rim 
 round it's edge, four or five inches high; 
 and at the narrow end. A, is a llider, 
 which runs in a groove and forms part 
 of the rim ; fo that when you have taken 
 out of the table, as much powder as 
 you conveniently can, with the copper 
 Ihovel Fig. 2. you may fweep all clean 
 out at the ilider A. When you are going 
 to meal a quantity of powder, obferve 
 not to put too much in the table at once; 
 but when you have put in a good pro- 
 portion, take the muller Fig. 3. and 
 rub it therewith till all the grains are 
 broke, then fearce it ; in a lawn fieve 
 I that 
 
§2 A Treatise on 
 
 that has a receiver and top to it ; and 
 that which does not pafs through the 
 fieve, return again to the table and grind 
 it more, till you have brought it all fine 
 enough to go through the fieve. Brim- 
 ftone and charcoal are ground in thd 
 fame manner as gun-powder, only the 
 mu Her muft be made of ebony, for 
 thefe ingredients being harder than pow- 
 der, would flick in the grain of elm, 
 and be very difficult to grind ; and as 
 the brimftone is apt to flick and clod to 
 the table, it would be beft to keep one 
 for that purpofe only, by which means 
 you will always have your brimftone 
 dean and well ground; 
 
 To prepare Cast-Iron for Gerbes, 
 White Fountains, and Chinefe 
 Fire, 
 
 Caft-iron being of fo hard a nature* 
 as not to be cut by a file, we are obliged 
 to make ufe of the following method to 
 reduce it into grains, though fomewhat 
 difficult to perform ; but if we confider 
 what beautiful fparks this fort of iron 
 yields, no pains fhould be fpared to gra- 
 nulate fuch an eflential material, to do 
 
 which 
 
Artificial Fireworks* 33 
 
 which you muft proceed thus : get at an 
 iron foundry fome thin pieces of iron* 
 fuch as generally runs over the moulds,, 
 at the time of calling : then have „a 
 fquare block made of cafe iron, and 
 a fquare hammer of the fame metal, 
 about four pound weight ; then, having 
 covered the floor v/ith cloth, or fome~ 
 thing to catch the beatings, lay the thin 
 pieces of iron on the block, and beat them 
 thereon with the hammer, till you have 
 reduced them into fmall grains, which 
 afterwards fearee with a very fine lieve,in 
 order to feparate from them the fine duft, 
 which is fometimes ufed in fmall cafes 
 of brilliant fire, inftead of fteel dull ; 
 and when you have got out all the duff, 
 fift what remains with a fieve a little 
 larger, and fo on with fieves of different 
 fizes, till the iron will pafs through 
 about the bignefs of fmall bird fhot : 
 your iron being thus beat and lifted, put 
 each fort into wooden boxes or oiled 
 paper, to keep it from getting ruft. 
 When you ufe any of this iron, obferve 
 that you make a difference in its fize, in 
 proportion to the cafes for which the 
 charge is intended ; for the coarfe lort 
 D of 
 
CfQ . 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 34 
 
 of it is only defigned for very large 
 erbes, of fix or eight pound weight. 
 
 Charges for Sky-Rockets, &c. 
 
 For Rockets of Four Ounces. 
 
 Mealed powder one pound four ounces* 
 faltpetre four ounces, and charcoal two 
 ounces. 
 
 For Rockets of Eight Ounces. 
 
 I. Meal powder one pound, faltpetre 
 four ounces, brimftone three ounces, 
 and charcoal one ounce and a half. 
 
 II. Meal powder one pound and a 
 half, and charcoal four ounces and a 
 quarter. 
 
 For Rockets of One Pound. 
 
 Meal powder two pound, faltpetre 
 eight ounces, brimftone four ounces, 
 charcoal two ounces, and fteel filings 
 one ounce and a half. 
 
 For 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 35 
 
 For Sky Rockets in general. 
 
 I. Saltpetre four pound, brimftone 
 one pound* and charcoal one pound and 
 
 a half. 
 
 II. Saltpetre four pound, brimftone 
 one pound and a half, charcoal one pound 
 twelve ounces, and meal powder two 
 ounces. 
 
 For large Sky Rockets. 
 
 Saltpetre four pound, meal powder 
 one pound, and brimftone one pound. 
 
 The following Compofitions may 
 be ufed for Rockets of a mid- 
 ling fize. 
 
 I. Saltpetre eight pound, fulphur three 
 pound, meal powder three pound. 
 
 II. Saltpetre three pound, fulphur tw o 
 pound, meal powder one pound, char- 
 coal one pound. 
 
 D 2 
 
 Compo- 
 
Compoiitions for Rocket Stars. 
 
 For White Stars. 
 
 Meal powder four ounces, faltpetre 
 twelve ounces, fulphur vivurn fix ounces, 
 oil of fpike two ounces, and camphor 
 five ounces. 
 
 For Blue Stars. 
 
 Meal powder eight ounces, faltpetre 
 four, fulphur two, fpirits of wine two, 
 and oil of fpike two. 
 
 Coloured, or variegated Stars. 
 
 Meal powder eight drams, rochpetre 
 four ounces, fulphur vivum two ounces, 
 and camphor two ounces. 
 
 For Brilliant Stars. 
 
 Saltpetre three ounces and a half, ful- 
 phur an ounce and a half, and meal 
 powder three quarters of an ounce. This 
 compofition muft be worked up with 
 fpirits of wine only. 
 
 For 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 For Common Stars, 
 
 Saltpetre one pound, brimftone four 
 ounces, antimony four ounces and three 
 quarters, ifinglafs half an ounce, cam- 
 phor half an ounce, and Ipirits of wine 
 three quarters of an punce. 
 
 For Tailed Stars. 
 
 Meal powder three ounces, brimftone 
 two ounces, faltpetre one ounce, and 
 charcoal (coarfely ground) three quarters 
 of an ounce. 
 
 For Drove Stars. 
 
 I. Saltpetre three pound, fulphur one 
 pound, brafs duft twelve ounces, and 
 antimony three ounces. 
 
 II. Saltpetre one pound, antimony 
 four ounces, and fulphur eight. 
 
 For fix’d Pointed Stars. 
 
 Saltpetre eight ounces and an half, 
 fulphur two ounces, and antimony one 
 ©mice and ten drams. 
 
 Stars 
 
3 8 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Stars of a fine Colour. 
 
 Sulphur one ounce, meal powder one 
 ounce, faltpetre one ounce, camphor 
 four drams, oil of turpentine four drams. 
 
 Gold Rain for Sky Rockets. 
 
 I. Saltpetre one pound, meal powder 
 four ounces, fulphur four ounces, brafs 
 duft one ounce, faw duft two and a 
 quarter, and glafs duft fix drams. 
 
 II. ‘Meal powder twelve ounces, falt- 
 petre two ounces, and charcoal four. 
 
 III. Saltpetre eight ounces, brimftone 
 two ounces, glafs duft one ounce, anti- 
 mony three quarters of an ounce, brafs 
 duft a quarter of an ounce, and faw 
 duft twelve drams. 
 
 Silver Rain. 
 
 I. Saltpetre four ounces, fulphur, 
 meal powder, and antimony, of each 
 two ounces, and half ah ounce of fal 
 prunellae. 
 
 II. Saltpetre half a pound, brimftone 
 two ounces, and charcoal four. 
 
 III. Salt- 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 39 
 
 III. Saltpetre one pound, brimftone 
 a quarter of a pound, and antimony fix 
 ounces. 
 
 IV. Saltpetre four ounces, brimftone 
 one ounce, powder two ounces, and 
 fteel duft three quarters of an ounce. 
 
 For Water Rockets. 
 
 I. Meal powder fix pound, faltpetre 
 four pound, brimftone three pound, and 
 charcoal five pound. 
 
 II. Saltpetre one pound, brimftone 
 four ounces and a half, and charcoal fix 
 ounces. 
 
 III. Saltpetre one pound, brimftone 
 four ounces, and charcoal twelve ounces. 
 
 IV. Saltpetre four pound, brimftone 
 one pound eight ounces, and charcoal 
 one pound twelve ounces. 
 
 V. Brimftone two pound, faltpetre 
 four pound, and meal powder four pound. 
 
 VI. Saltpetre one pound, meal pow- 
 der four ounces, brimftone eight ounces 
 and a half, and charcoal two ounces. 
 
 VII. Meal powder one pound, falt- 
 petre three pound, brimftone one pound, 
 feacoal one ounce, charcoal eight ounces 
 and a half, faw duft three quarters ot 
 
 D 4 an 
 
A TREATISE ON 
 
 4° 
 
 an ounce, Heel duft half an ounce, and 
 coarfe charcoal a quarter of an ounce. 
 
 VIII. Meal powder one pound twelve 
 ounces, faltpetre three pound, fulphur 
 one pound eight ounces, charcoal twelve 
 ounces, faw duft two ounces. 
 
 A linking Charge for Water 
 Rockets. 
 
 Meal powder eight ounces, charcoal 
 three quarters of an ounce. 
 
 For Wheel Cafes, from two Ounces 
 to four Pound. 
 
 I. Meal powder two pound, faltpetre 
 four ounces, and iron filings feven ounces. 
 
 II. Meal powder two pound, faltpe- 
 tre twelve ounces, fulphur four, and 
 fteel duft three ounces. 
 
 III. Meal powder four pound, falt- 
 petre one pound, brioiftone eight ounces, 
 and charcoal four ounces and a half. 
 
 IV. Meal powder eight ounces, falt- 
 petre four, faw duft one ounce and a 
 half, and lea coal three quarters of an 
 ounce. 
 
 V. MeqJ 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 41 
 
 V. Meal powder one pound four 
 ounces* brirnftone four ounces ten drams, 
 faltpetre eight ounces, glafs duft two 
 ounces and a half. 
 
 VI. Meal powder twelve ounces, char- 
 coal one ounce, faw duft half an ounce. 
 
 VII . Saltpetre one pound nine ounces, 
 brirnftone four ounces, and charcoal four 
 ounces and a half. 
 
 VIII. Meal powder two pound, falt- 
 petre one pound, brirnftone half a pound, 
 and fea coal two ounces. 
 
 IX. Saltpetre two pound, brirnftone 
 one pound, meal powder four pound, 
 and glafs duft four ounces. 
 
 X. Meal powder one pound, faltpetre 
 two ounces, and fteel duft three ounces 
 and a half. 
 
 XL Meal powder two pound, and 
 fteel duft two ounces and a half, with 
 two ounces and a half of the fine duft 
 of beat iron. 
 
 XII. Saltpetre eleven pound thirteen 
 ounces, brirnftone eight ounces, and 
 charcoal fix ounces. 
 
 v 
 
 A flow 
 
42 
 
 A Treatise oh 
 
 A flow Fire for Wheels, 
 
 I. Saltpetre four ounces* brimftone 
 two ounces, and meal powder one ounce 
 and a half. 
 
 II. Saltpetre four ounces, brimftone 
 one ounce, and antimony one ounce fix 
 drams. 
 
 III. Saltpetre four ounces and a half, 
 brimftone one ounce, and mealed pow- 
 der one ounce and a half. 
 
 A dead Fire for Wheels. 
 
 Saltpetre one ounce and a quarter* 
 brimftone a quarter of an ounce, lapis- 
 calaminaris a quarter of an ounce, and 
 antimony two drams. 
 
 For ftanding or fixed Cafes. 
 
 I. Meal powder four pound, faltpetre 
 two pound, brimftone and charcoal one 
 
 pound. 
 
 II. Meal powder two pound, faltpetre 
 one pound, and fteel duft eight ounces. 
 
 III. Meal powder one pound four 
 ounces, and charcoal four ounces. 
 
 IV. Meal 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 43 
 
 IV. Meal powder one pound, and 
 fteel duft four ounces. 
 
 V. Meal powder two pound and a 
 half, brimftoiie four ounces* and fea- 
 coal fix ounces. 
 
 VI. Meal powder three pound, char- 
 coal five ounces, and faw duft one ounce 
 and a half. 
 
 For Sun Cafes. 
 
 L Meal powder eight pound and a 
 half, faltpetre one pound two ounces, 
 fteel duft two pound ten ounces and a 
 half, and brimftone four ounces. 
 
 II. Meal powder three pound, faltpe- 
 tre fix ounces, and fteel duft feven ounces 
 and a half. 
 
 For a Brilliant Fire. 
 
 Meal powder twelve pound, faltpetre 
 one pound, brimftone four ounces, and 
 fteel duft one pound and a half. 
 
 For 
 
44 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 For Gerbes. 
 
 Meal powder fix pound, and beat iron 
 two pound one ounce and a half. 
 
 Chinefe Fire. 
 
 Saltpetre twelve ouces, meal powder 
 two pound, brimftone one pound two 
 ounces, and beat iron twelve ounces. 
 
 Charges for Tourbillons, 
 
 For four ounce Tourbillons. 
 
 Meal powder two pound four ounces^ 
 and charcoal four ounces and a half. 
 
 For eight ounce Tourbillons. 
 
 Meal powder two pound, and char- 
 coal four ounces and three quarters. 
 
 For 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 45 
 
 For large Tourbillons. 
 
 Meal powder two pound, falipetre one 
 pound, brimftone eight ounces, and beat 
 iron eight ounces. 
 
 N< B. Tourbillons may be made very 
 large, and of different colour'd fires, only 
 you are to obferve, that the larger they 
 be, the weaker muft be the charge ; and, 
 on the contrary, the fmaller they be, the 
 ftronger muft be their charge. 
 
 For Water Balloons. 
 
 I. Saltpetre four pound, brimftone 
 two pound, meal powder two pound, 
 antimony four ounces, faw duft four 
 ounces, and glafs duft one ounce and a 
 quarter. 
 
 If. Saltpetre nine pound, brimftone 
 three pound, meal powder fix pound, 
 rolin twelve ounces, and antimony eight 
 ounces. 
 
 For Water Squibs. 
 
 I. Meal powder one pound, and char- 
 
 coal one pound. 
 
 II. Meal 
 
4-6 A Treatise on 
 
 II. Meal powder one pound, and char- 
 coal nine ounces. 
 
 For Mine-ports or Serpents. 
 
 I. Meal powder one pound, and char- 
 coal one ounce. 
 
 II. Meal powder nine ounces, and 
 charcoal one ounce. 
 
 Fort- fires for firing Rockets, &c. 
 
 I. Saltpetre twelve ounces, brimftone 
 four ounces, and meal powder two ounces. 
 
 II. Saltpetre eight ounces, brimftone 
 four ounces, and meal powder two 
 ounces. 
 
 III. Saltpetre one pound two ounces, 
 meal powder one pound and a half, and 
 brimftone ten ounces. This compofi- 
 on muft be moiftened with one gill of 
 linfeed oil. 
 
 IV. Meal powder fix ounces, faltpetre 
 two pound two ounces, and brimftone 
 ten ounces. 
 
 V. Saltpetre one pound four ounces, 
 meal powder four ounces, brimftone five 
 ounces, and faw duft eight ounces. 
 
 VI. Salt- 
 
Artificial Firework^ 47 
 
 VI. Saltpetre eight ounces, brim- 
 ftone two ounces, and meal powder two 
 ounces. 
 
 Port- fires for Illuminations. 
 
 Saltpetre one pound, brimftone eight 
 ounces, and meal powder fix ounces. 
 
 For Cones or Spiral Wheels. 
 
 Saltpetre one pound and a half, brim- 
 ftone fix ounces, meal powder fourteen 
 ounces, and glafs dull: fourteen ounces. 
 
 For Crowns or Globes. 
 
 Saltpetre fix ounces, brimftone two 
 pound, antimony four ounces, and Cam™ 
 
 phor two ounces. 
 
 For Air Balloons Fuzes. 
 
 I. Saltpetre one pound ten ounces, 
 brimftone eight ounces, and meal pow- 
 der one pound fix ounces. 
 
 II. Saltpetre one pound and a half, 
 brimftone eight ounces, and meal pow- 
 der one pound eight ounces. 
 
 Serpents 
 
4 8 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Serpents for Pots des Brins; 
 
 Meal powder one pound eight ounces, 
 faltpetre twelve ounces, and charcoal 
 two ounces. 
 
 * 
 
 For Fire Pumps. 
 
 I. Saltpetre five pound, brimftone oae 
 pound, meal powder one pound and a 
 half, and glafs dull one pound. 
 
 II. Saltpetre five pound eight ounces,* 
 brimftone one pound, meal powder one 
 pound eight ounces, and glafs dull one 
 pound eight ounces. 
 
 For a Slow White Flame, 
 
 I. Saltpetre two pound, fulphur three 
 pound, antimony one pound. 
 
 II. Saltpetre three pound and a half, 
 fulphur two pound and a half, meal pow- 
 der one pound, antimony half a pound, 
 glafs dull four ounces, brafs dull one 
 ounce. * 
 
 N. B. Thefe compofitions, driven one 
 inch and a quarter in a one ounce cafe, 
 will burn one minute, which is much 
 5 longer 
 
Artificial Fireworks* 49 
 
 longer time than an equal quantity of 
 any compofition will laft, that has yet 
 been made public. 
 
 For Amber Lights. 
 
 Meal powder nine ounces, and am- 
 ber three ounces. This charge may be 
 drove in fmall cafes, for illuminations. 
 
 For Lights of another Sort. 
 
 Saltpetre three pound, brimftone one 
 pound, meal powder one pound, anti- 
 mony ten ounces and a half. All thefe 
 ingredients muft be mixed with the oil 
 of fpike. 
 
 For a Red Fire. 
 
 Meal powder three pound, charcoal 
 twelve ounces, and faw dull eight ounces. 
 
 For a Common Fire. 
 
 Saltpetre three pound, charcoal ten 
 ounces, and brimftone two ounces. 
 
 E 
 
 To 
 
5 ° 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 To make an Artificial Earthquake. 
 
 Mix the following ingredients to a 
 pafte with water, and then bury it in 
 the ground, and in a few hours the earth 
 will break and open in feveral places. 
 The compofition : Sulphur four pound, 
 and heel duft four pound. 
 
 Having laid down, under the preced- 
 ing heads, the different compofitions 
 ufed in fireworks by our modern artifts ; 
 I fhall, in the next place, give fome tables 
 of charges that were formerly ufed, ac- 
 cording to the feveral accounts given by 
 thofe authors from whom they are col- 
 lected : but if the reader will confider, 
 he will find the charges in thefe tables 
 to be very uncertain, by comparing their 
 method of determining the fize and 
 weight of rockets, and the proportions 
 of ingredients thereto, with the method 
 taught in this work, which is fo plain, 
 eafy, and certain, that 1 have never yet 
 known it fail ; and doubt not, but that 
 it will be fo allowed by all who chufe to 
 make a tryai thereof. 
 
 The 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 51 
 
 The fubfequent table is taken from 
 Siemienowicz, wherein is fpecified the 
 different charges of Iky rockets, from 
 half an ounce to one hundred pound ; 
 the charges being calculated in propor- 
 tion to the weight of a leaden ball of 
 the fame diameter as the bore of each 
 mould ; which bores are divided into 
 inches and lines *, and each line into 
 twelve equal parts, according to the 
 French method. 
 
 * A line is the twelfth part of an inch,* 
 
 E 2 
 
 Weight 
 
5 2 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 TAB. I. 
 
 Weight 
 
 Diameter 
 
 pow- 
 
 Salt- 
 
 Brim 
 
 char- 
 
 of the 
 
 of the 
 
 
 der. 
 
 petre 
 
 {tone 
 
 coal. 
 
 ball. 
 
 mould 
 
 
 
 
 
 lb. oz. 
 
 in. 
 
 1. 1 
 
 pts j 
 
 lb.oz. 
 
 lb.oz. 
 
 lb.oz. 
 
 lb.oz. 
 
 V 
 
 a 
 
 I 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 1 } 
 
 ;° 15 
 
 0 0 
 
 0 0 
 
 0 2 
 
 % 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 1 1 
 
 0! 
 
 ’ 0 12 
 
 0 2 
 
 0 \ 
 
 0 if 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 I _ 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ol 
 10 . 
 
 ► 1 3 
 
 0 12 
 
 0 4 
 
 0 if 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 o 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 ii 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 0 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 J 3 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 . 1 
 
 6 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 18 0 
 
 8 0 
 
 2 0 
 
 4 0 
 
 2 O 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 3 j 
 
 1 
 
 60 0 
 
 
 
 3 ° 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 r 0 0 
 
 2 0 
 
 55 0 
 
 4 o 
 
 5 © 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 9 ] 
 8 1 
 
 £00 
 
 64 0 
 
 8 0 
 
 16 0 
 
 6 o 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 9 1 
 
 P 
 
 
 
 
 8 o 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 j* 0 0 
 
 35 0 
 
 5 0 
 
 10 0 
 
 IO o 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 4 ' 
 
 | 0 0 
 
 62 0 
 
 9 0 
 
 20 0 
 
 12 O 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 io ' ( 
 
 ?■ 0 0 
 
 32 0 
 
 8 0 
 
 16 0 
 
 15 O 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 4 - 
 
 
 
 
 37 O 
 
 20 O 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 5 ; 
 
 ^ o o 
 
 64 0 
 
 12 0 
 
 16 0 
 
 27 O 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 O O 
 
 0 0 
 to < 5 h 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 1 1 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 0 0 
 
 30 0 
 
 7 0 
 
 18 0 
 
 60 0 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 3 ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 300 O 
 
 1 7 
 
 5 
 
 3 . 
 
 h 0 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 10 0 
 
 20 0 
 
 r 
 
 TAB 
 
Artificial Fireworks, 
 
 53 
 
 TAB. II. 
 
 The following table is taken from a late 
 French author whofe method of re- 
 gulating the charges is according to 
 the interior diameter of the mouldy 
 which he divides into lines. 
 
 Interior di- 
 ameter of 
 the mould. 
 
 Weight of the 
 rocket. 
 
 Saltpe- 
 
 tre. 
 
 Brim- 
 
 Rone. 
 
 Char- 
 
 coal. 
 
 Lines. 
 
 lb. 
 
 oz. 
 
 dr. 
 
 ounces. 
 
 ounces. ' 
 
 ounces. 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 4' 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 ■ 44 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 8 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 1 „ 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 5] 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 r 4 ° 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 1 1 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 0 J 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 32 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 7] 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 *3 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 6 ! 
 
 38 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 1 J 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 4] 
 
 ! 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 36 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 0 
 
 1 1 
 
 0 1 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 0 
 
 J 3 
 
 1 ' 
 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 0 
 
 15 
 
 4 
 
 ? 34 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 igi 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 - 
 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 24 
 
 1 
 
 15 
 
 1 
 
 32 
 
 5 ( 
 
 16 
 
 30 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 f> 3 ° 
 
 6 
 
 18 
 
 72 
 
 55 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 P Traite des feux d’artifice, par M. F***. 
 
 E 3 T AB. 
 
54 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 T A B. III. 
 
 A table of charges for fky-rockets in 
 which the charges are adapted in pro- 
 portion to the weight of compofition 
 contained in each rocket, after the 
 method of Hanzelet. 
 
 Weight of 
 
 Powder 
 
 Saltpe- 
 
 Bri 
 
 m- 
 
 Char- 
 
 compoli- 
 
 tion. 
 
 
 
 tre. 
 
 ftone. 
 
 coal. 
 
 lb. oz. 
 
 lb. 
 
 oz. 
 
 lb. 
 
 oz. 
 
 lb. 
 
 oz. 
 
 lb. 
 
 oz. 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 0 
 
 I 
 
 or, 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 0 
 
 1 4 
 
 
 
 0 
 
 i' 
 
 O 2 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 or. 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 0 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 o 4 i 
 o 8 J 
 
 • I 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 or, 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 i 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 3* 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 3*' 
 
 I 0 
 
 I 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 0 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 or, 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 3* 
 
 3 0 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 H 
 
 7 
 
 7* 
 
 0 
 
 ii 
 
 6 o 1 
 7- o J 
 
 I 
 
 
 3 1 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 8 o \ 
 
 JO O 1 
 
 j 
 
 1 
 
 
 8 
 
 0 
 
 i 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 TAB, 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 55 
 
 T A B. IV. 
 
 A table colledted from Henrion, whofe 
 method of adj tiding the charges is 
 the fame as in the preceding table. 
 
 Weight of 
 compofi- 
 tion. 
 
 Powder 
 
 Saltpe- j 
 tre. 
 
 Brim- 
 
 Itone. 
 
 Char- 
 
 coal. 
 
 lb. OZ. j 
 
 lb. oz 
 
 lb. oz. 
 
 lb. oz. 
 
 lb. oz. 
 
 ‘ 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 or, 
 
 1 0 
 
 1 0 
 
 1 0 
 
 
 : 0 2 
 
 0 I 
 
 3 
 
 4 l 
 
 8. 
 
 4 * 
 
 ’ 4 0 
 
 0 1 
 
 1 0 
 
 0 \ 
 
 0 I 
 
 0 4 
 
 or, 
 
 1 8 
 
 1 0 
 
 0 4 
 
 0 4 
 
 
 O 2 
 
 O I 
 
 8' 
 
 3 * 
 
 0 10 
 
 
 0 3 l 
 
 > 2 5 
 
 0 0 < 
 
 0 2 ' 
 Heel dull 
 
 > 0 6 
 
 10 . 
 12 
 
 17 0 
 
 0 4 
 
 1 0 V 
 
 i 0 3 t 
 
 0 7 
 
 
 , 2 8 
 
 0 9 < 
 
 0 3 , 
 
 Heel daft 
 
 , 0 3 
 
 1 0 
 
 1 0 
 
 0 0 
 
 0 0 
 
 W OO 
 
 0 3 
 
 2 0 
 
 0 2 
 
 0 12 
 
 0 I 
 
 0 3 
 
 3 0 
 
 >00 
 
 8 0 . 
 
 f i 4 ' 
 J fteel daft 
 
 l 2 2 
 
 10 0 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 I 0 2 
 
 J 
 
 E 4 
 
 TAB 
 
5 6 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 TAB. V. 
 
 A table of charges for Iky rockets, taken 
 from the Memo ires D’Artillerie de 
 M. de Saint Remy, with improve- 
 ments by M. F * * 
 
 Compofition ! 
 for a rocket of 
 two pound. 
 
 Compofition 
 for a rocket of 
 one pound. 
 
 Compofition 
 for a rocket of 
 half a pound. 
 
 Compofition j 
 for a rocket of 
 four ounces. 
 
 Compofition 
 for a rocket of 
 one ounce and 
 a half. 
 
 Cofre&ed by 
 
 M. F * * *, 
 one pound. 
 
 Corredled, ele- 
 ven ounces. 
 
 Correfled, fe- 
 ven ounces and 
 a half. 
 
 Carrefted, fix 
 ounces five 
 drams. 
 
 Corre£ted, one 
 ounce five 
 drams. 
 
 lb.oz. 
 Pow. 2 C 
 Saltp. i c 
 Brimft. 5 
 Chare, a 
 Steel-d. 2 
 
 lb. oz, 
 1 0 
 
 12 
 2 
 
 lb. cz. 
 
 I 4 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 OZ. 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 1 
 
 'L 
 
 OZ. 
 
 8 or 9 
 
 5 
 
 T 
 
 l or 1 
 
 Height of the 
 mould, nine 
 inches and a 
 half. 
 
 Height of the 
 mould, eight 
 inches and a 
 half. 
 
 Height of the 
 mould, feven 
 inches and a 
 half. 
 
 Height of the 
 mould feven 
 inches. 
 
 Height of the 
 mould, four 
 inches and a 
 half. 
 
 Diameter of 
 the mould, one 
 in. feven lines. 
 
 Diameter of 
 the mould, one 
 inch five lines. 
 
 Diameter of 
 ‘the mould,one 
 jifich three Jin. 
 
 Diameter of 
 the mould, one 
 inch two lines. 
 
 Diameter of 
 the mould, 
 nine lines. 
 
 French Names for Sky Rockets. 
 
 Double Mar-1 Marquife, J Grofie de jDe partement.lFufiedeCaifTe. 
 quife. | j partement. j j 
 
 Remarks 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 57 
 
 Remarks on the foregoing Tables. 
 
 In table the firft, we find that the 
 compofitions for all rockets under one 
 pound are made chiefly of gun-powder 
 and charcoal, which method has been 
 long proved erroneous in many refpedts : 
 firft, that rockets made with fuch charges 
 will not keep long without fpoiling ; 
 fecondly, that they are very uncertain 
 in performing their proper effect ; third- 
 ly, they will carry but a ftiort tail, with 
 a black and fmoaky fire. 
 
 We alfo find thofe charges for rockets 
 above one pound, that are compofed of 
 faltpetre, brimftone, and charcoal, to be 
 too ftrong ; by which we ftiould ima- 
 gine that, at the time when they were 
 ufed, the piercers did not bear the fame 
 proportion to the rockets, as thofe made 
 ufe of by our prefent artifts ; for it is 
 on the fize of the cavity in the compo- 
 fition, that the effedt of the rocket and 
 proportion of the charge depends : which 
 we lhall endeavour to fhew hereafter. 
 
 Table the fecond is given, by the au- 
 thor, as an improvement on the firft; 
 wherein he takes notice of the charges 
 
 being 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 58 
 
 being too many in number ; he has 
 therefore reduced them to (even only, 
 which, according to his opinion, are 
 fufficient for rockets of any fize : he al- 
 io obferves, that the ingredients are ex- 
 preffed in unequal quantities ; which he 
 has likewife laid down in a more regular 
 order. By the fame author’s account, 
 rockets were made in France, not many 
 years fince, with the compoiitions men- 
 tioned in his table. I fhali not here pre- 
 tend to fay, that rockets Vvere not made 
 with the charges given in the above- 
 mentioned table; yet can affirm, by prac- 
 tice and experience, that feveral of them 
 will not agree with our prefen t moulds. 
 
 As to the method prefcribed in the 
 third and fourth tables, it is difficult to 
 determine whether we fhali praife or 
 condemn it, as they were wrote when the 
 art of making fireworks was in it’s in- 
 fancy as may be feen by their ftrange 
 method of determining the proportion 
 of ingredients, and weight of rockets, 
 by the quantity of compofition contain- 
 ed in each cafe ; which muft have re- 
 quired a very nice calculation, for at 
 that time, they had not fixed upon an 
 exa£t length for rockets, but made them 
 
 from 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 59 
 
 from fix to nine diameters long : all 
 which differ fo much from our modem 
 practice, that 1 never thought it worth 
 the trouble of making a trial : but am 
 of opinion, that very few of the charges 
 will anfwer. 
 
 In table the fifth, the compoiitions 
 are in proportion to the weight of the 
 rocket, with it’s head and ftick, all 
 compleat ; which head and ftick toge- 
 ther are equal to the weight of the 
 rocket, according to the improvement 
 made by M. F * * *, as may be feen by 
 the fecond column from the top ; he 
 alfo has added the diameters to the 
 moulds, in proportion to their height, 
 allowing each fix diameters, which fup- 
 pofing to be right, the rockets will be 
 nearly reduced to half their weight given 
 in the firft column. On the charges 
 in this table I have made no experiment, 
 therefore cannot recommend them as 
 proof. 
 
 Having already given a variety of 
 charges for fky-rockets, in the preced- 
 ing tables, which are collected from the 
 principal authors on this fubjeft, toge- 
 ther with remarks on the fame I (hall, 
 in die next place, according to my pro- 
 
 mife 
 
6q A Treatise on 
 
 mife of not omitting any thing that may 
 be of fervice to the reader, add fome 
 compoiitions for rocket-ftars of feveral 
 colours,, as inferted by former authors. 
 
 Compoiitions for Stars of different 
 Colours. 
 
 I. Meal powder four ounces, faltpetre 
 two ounces, biimftone two ounces, fleel 
 duit one ounce and a half, and camphor,, 
 white amber, antimony, and mercury- 
 fublimate, of each half an ounce. 
 
 II. Rochepetre ten ounces, brimilone, 
 charcoal, antimony, meal powder, and 
 camphor, of each three quarters of an 
 ounce, moiftened with oil of turpentine. 
 Thefe compofitions are made into ftars, 
 by being worked to a pafle with aqua 
 vitae, in which has been diffolved fome 
 gum-tragacanth; and after you have roll’d 
 them in powder, make a hole through 
 the middle of each, and firing them on 
 quick-match, leaving about two inches 
 from one to the other. 
 
 III. Saltpetre eight ounces, brimflone 
 two ounces, yellow amber one ounce, 
 antimony one ounce, and powder three 
 ounces. 
 
 IV. Brim- 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 6i 
 
 IV. Brimftone two ounces and a half* 
 faltpetre fix ounces, olibanum or frank- 
 Incenfe in drops four ounces ; maftick, 
 and mercury-fublimate, of each four 
 ounces ; meal powder five ounces ; white 
 amber, yellow amber, and camphor, 
 of each one ounce ; antimony and orpi- 
 ment half an ounce each. 
 
 V. Saltpetre one pound, brimftone 
 half a pound, and meal powder eight 
 ounces, moiftened with potrolio-oil. 
 
 VI. Powder half a pound, brimftone 
 and faltpetre, of each four ounces. 
 
 VIL Saltpetre four ounces, brimftone 
 two ounces, and meal powder one ounce* 
 
 For Stars that carry Tails of 
 
 I. Brimftone fix ounces, antimony 
 crude two ounces, faltpetre four ounces, 
 and rofin four ounces. 
 
 II. Saltpetre, rofin, and charcoal, of 
 each two ounces ; brimftone one ounce, 
 and pitch one ounce. 
 
 Thefe compofitions are fometimes 
 melted in an earthen pan, and mixed 
 with chopped cotton match, before they 
 
 S 
 
 are 
 
62 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 are rolled into liars, but will do as well 
 if wetted, and worked up in the ufual 
 manner. 
 
 Another Sort of Stars, which yield 
 
 I. Camphor two ounces, faltpetre one 
 ounce, meal powdej* one ounce. 
 
 II. Saltpetre one ounce, ditto melted 
 half an ounce, and camphor two ounces. 
 When you would make liars of either 
 of thefe compolitions, you mult wet 
 them with gum water, or lpirit of wine, 
 in which has been di Halved fome gum- 
 arabick, or gum-tragacanth, that the 
 whole may have the conliltence of a 
 pretty thick liquid ; having thus done, 
 take one ounce of lint, and llir it about 
 in the compolition till it becomes dry 
 enough to roll into liars. 
 
 For Stars of a yellowifh Colour. 
 
 Take four ounces of gum-tragacanth 
 or gum-arabick, pounded and lifted thro’ 
 a fine fieve, camphor difTolved in brandy 
 two ounces, faltpetre one pound, fulphur 
 
 half 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 63 
 
 half a pound, coarfe powder of glafs 
 four ounces, white amber one ounce 
 and a half, and orpiment two ounces. 
 All thefe ingredients being well incor- 
 porated, make them into ftars after the 
 common method. 
 
 Stars of another Sort. 
 
 Take a pound of camphor and melt 
 it in a pint of fpirit of wine over a flow 
 fire j then add to it a pound of gum- 
 arabiek that has been diffolved ; with 
 this liquor, mix one pound of faltpetre, 
 fix ounces of fulphur, and five ounces 
 of meal powder; and after you have 
 ftirred them well together, roil them 
 into ftars proportionable to the rockets 
 for which you intend them. 
 
 Of the Colours produced by the 
 different Compoiitions. 
 
 As variety of fires adds greatly to a 
 collection of works, it is neceffary that 
 every artift ftiould know the different 
 effeCt of each ingredient ; for which 
 reafon, I fhali here explain the colours 
 
64 A Treatise on 
 
 they produce of themfelves ; and like- 
 wife how to make them retain the fame 
 when mixed with other bodies : as for 
 example, fulphur gives a blue, camphor 
 a white or pale colour, faltpetre a clear 
 white, yellow amber a colour inclining 
 to yellow, fal-armoniac a green, anti- 
 mony a reddifh, rofin a copper colour, 
 and greek-pitch a kind of bronze or 
 between red and yellow. All thefe in- 
 gredients are fuch as £hew themfelves in 
 a flame, viz. 
 
 For a white Flame. 
 
 Saltpetre, fulphur, meal powder, and 
 camphor, the faltpetre muft be the 
 chief part. 
 
 For a blue Flame. 
 
 Meal powder, faltpetre, and fulphur 
 vivum, the fulphur muft be the chief 
 part : or, meal powder, faltpetre, brim- 
 ftone, fpirit of wine, and oil of fpike ; 
 but let the powder be the principal part. 
 
 For 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 6; 
 
 For a Flame inclining to Red, 
 
 Saltpetre, fulphur, antimony, and 
 greek-pitch, the faltpetre the chief part. 
 
 By the above method may be made 
 various colours of fire, as the practiti- 
 oner pleafes ; for, by making a few trials, 
 he may caufe any ingredient to be pre- 
 dominant in colour. 
 
 Of fuch Ingredients as (Lew them- 
 feives in Sparks when rammed 
 in choaked Cafes. 
 
 The fet colours of fire produced by 
 fparks are divided into four forts, viz. 
 the black, white, grey, and red ; the 
 black charges are compofed of two in- 
 gredients, which are meal powder and 
 charcoal ; the white of three, viz. falt- 
 petre, fulphur, and charcoal ; the grey 
 of four, viz. meal powder, faltpetre, 
 brimflone, and charcoal ; and the red of 
 three, viz. meal powder, charcoal, and 
 fav/ duft. 
 
 There are, befides ihefe four regular or 
 fet charges, two others, which are diftin- 
 F guifhed 
 
66 A Treatise on 
 
 guifhed by the names of compound and 
 brilliant charges ; the compound charge 
 being made of many ingredients, fuch 
 as meal powder, faltpetre, brimftone, 
 charcoal, faw dull, feacoal, antimony^ 
 glafs daft, brafs duft, fteel filings, caff 
 iron, tanner's daft, &c. or any thing 
 that will yield fparks ; all which muff 
 be managed with difcretion. The bril- 
 liant fires are compofed of meal powder, 
 faltpetre, brimftone, and fteel duft ; or 
 with meal powder and fteel filings only. 
 
 How to make Cotton Quick-match. 
 
 Quick-match is generally made of 
 fuch cotton as is put in candles, of fe- 
 veral fizes, from one to fix threads thick, 
 according to the pipes it is defigned for, 
 which pipe muff be large enough for the 
 match, when made, to be pufhed in eafily 
 without breaking it. Having doubled 
 the cotton into as many threads as you 
 think proper, coil it very lightly into a 
 flat-bottomed copper or earthen pan ; 
 then put in the faltpetre and tne liquor, 
 and boil them together about twenty mi- 
 nutes j after which, coil it again into 
 another pan, as is fhewn in Fig. 4. and 
 
 pour 
 
Artificial Fireworks, 67 
 
 pour on it what liquor remains 5 then 
 put in forne meal powder, and prefs it 
 down with your hands, till it is quite 
 wet; afterwards place the pan before 
 the wooden frame. Fig. 5, which muft 
 be fufpended by a point in the center of 
 each end ; and place yourfelf before the 
 pan, tying the upper end of the cotton 
 to the end of one of the fides of the 
 frame. 
 
 When every thing is thus got ready, you 
 muft have one to turn the frame round, 
 while you let the cotton pafs through 
 your hands, holding it very lightly, and 
 at the fame time keeping your hands 
 full of the wet powder; but if the pow- 
 der ftiould be too wet to ftick to the cot- 
 ton, put more in the pan, fo as to keep 
 a continual fhpply till the match is all 
 wound up ; you may wind it as clofe on 
 the frame as you pleafe, fo that it does 
 not ftick together ; when the frame is 
 full, take it off the points, and lift dry 
 meal powder on both fides the match, 
 till it appears quite dry : in winter the 
 match will be a fortnight before it is fit 
 for ufe ; when it is thoroughly dry, cut 
 it along the outfide of one of the fides 
 F 2 of 
 
68 A Treatise on 
 
 of the frame, and tie it up in fkains for 
 ufe. 
 
 N. B. The match mu ft be wound 
 tight on the frames. 
 
 Ingredients for the Match. 
 
 Cotton one pound twelve ounces, fait— 
 petre one pound, fpirit of wine two 
 quarts, water three quarts, ifinglafs three 
 gills, and meal powder ten pound. To 
 diflblve four ounces of ifinglafs, take 
 three pints of water. 
 
 SECT, 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 69 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
 Of Sky-rocket Moulds. 
 
 S the performance of rockets de- 
 
 pends much on their moulds, it is 
 requisite to give a definition of them and 
 their proportions, which are as follows : 
 They are made and proportioned by 
 the diameter of their orifice, which is 
 divided into fix equal parts : as for ex- 
 ample, Fig. 6. reprefents a mould made 
 by its diameter A B, its height from C 
 to D is fix diameters and two thirds ; 
 from D to E is the height of the foot, 
 which is one diameter and two thirds ; 
 F the choak, or cylinder, whofe height 
 is one diameter and one third ; it . muff 
 be made out of the fame piece as the 
 foot, and fit tight in the mould ; G an 
 iron pin that goes through the mould 
 and cylinder, to keep the foot faft } H 
 the nipple, which is half a diameter high, 
 and two thirds thick, and of the fame 
 
jo A Treatise on 
 
 •piece of metal as the piercer I, whofe 
 height is three diameters and a half, 
 and at the bottom is one' third of the 
 diameter thick, and from thence taper- 
 ing to one fixth of the diameter : the 
 bell way to fix the piercer in the cylin- 
 der, is to make that part below the 
 nipple long enough to go quite through 
 the foot, and rivet it at the bottom. 
 Fig. y. is a former or rowler for the 
 cafes, whofe length, from the handle, is 
 feven diameters and a half, and its dia- 
 meter two thirds of the bore AB; 
 8. the end of the former, which is of the 
 fame thicknefs and one diameter and 
 two thirds long, the fmall part ; which 
 fits into the hole in the end of the rowler 
 when the cafe is pinching, is one fixth 
 and a half of the mould’s diameter thick. 
 Fig. 9, the firft drift, which muft be 
 fix diameters from the handle, and this 
 as well as all other rammers muft be a 
 little thinner than the former, to pre- 
 vent the Tacking of the paper, when you 
 are driving in the charge : in the end of 
 this rammer is a hole to fit over the 
 piercer ; the line K marked on this is 
 two diameters and one third from the 
 handle, fo that when you are filling the 
 
 rocket, 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 71 
 
 rocket, this line appears at top of the 
 cafe ; you muft then take the fecond 
 rammer, 10, which from the handle is 
 four diameters ; and the hole for the 
 piercer is one diameter and a half long. 
 Fig. 1 l is the fhort and folid drift 
 which you ufe when you have filled the 
 cafe as high as the top of the piercer. 
 
 It is to be obferved, that all rammers 
 muft have a collar of brafs at the bot- 
 tom, to keep the wood from fpreading 
 or fplitting ; and that the fame propor- 
 tion be given to all moulds, from one 
 ounce to fix pound. I mentioned no- 
 thing concerning the handles of the ram- 
 mers; however, if their diameter be equal 
 to the bore of the mould, and two dia- 
 meters long, it will be a very good pro- 
 portion ; but the fhorter you can ufe 
 them the better, for the longer the drift, 
 the lefs will be the preffure on the com- 
 polition, by the blow given with the 
 mallet. 
 
 f 4 
 
 A Table 
 
7 2 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 A Table of Dimenfions for Rock- 
 et Moulds, in which the Rock- 
 ets are rammed folid. 
 
 W eight 
 of rock- 
 ets. 
 
 Length of the 
 moulds with- 
 out their feet. 
 
 Interior diameter 
 of the moulds. 
 
 ’ Height of the 
 nipples. 
 
 lb. oz. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 6 o 
 
 34»7 
 
 3=5 
 
 
 4 ° 
 
 38,6 
 
 2,9 
 
 *=4 
 
 2 O 
 
 - * 3=35 
 
 2,1 
 
 1,0 
 
 I o 
 
 12,25 
 
 i »7 
 
 0,85 
 
 o 8 
 
 10,125 
 
 1,333 &c - 
 
 0,6 
 
 o 4 
 
 7=75 
 
 1,125 
 
 °>5 
 
 O 2 
 
 6,2 
 
 0,9 
 
 °>45 
 
 Q I 
 
 i 4=9 
 
 °>7 
 
 °>35 
 
 O 4 - 
 
 3=9 
 
 °=55 
 
 0,25 
 
 6 drams 
 
 3=5 
 
 °>S 
 
 0,225 
 
 q. drams 
 
 2,2 
 
 °=3 
 
 C,2 
 
 The diameter of the nipple muft al- 
 ways be equal to that of the former. 
 
 1 have omitted the thicknefs of the 
 moulds* it being very immaterial, pro- 
 vided they are fubftantial and ftrong. 
 
 I would 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 73 
 
 I would n,ot advife any one who makes 
 rockets for his private amufement, to 
 ram them folid, for it requires a very 
 fkilful hand, and an expenlive apparatus 
 for boring them, which will be (hewn 
 herereafter. Driving of rockets folid 
 is the moft expeditious method, but not 
 fo certain as ramming them over a 
 piercer, which I have found by expe- 
 rience. 
 
 Of Moulds for Wheel Cafes, or 
 Serpents. 
 
 Fig. 12. reprefents a mould in 'which 
 the cafes are drove folid ; L the hippie 
 with a point at top, which, when 
 the cafe is filling, ferves to flop the neck, 
 and prevent the compofitipn from fall- 
 ing out, which without this point it 
 would do ; and, in confequence, the air 
 would get into the vacancy in the charge, 
 and at the time of firing caufe the cafe 
 to burfl. Thefe fort of moulds are made 
 
 * The nipple and cylinder to bear the fame pro- 
 portion as thole for rockets. 
 
 f A round bit of brafs, equal in length to the 
 nick of the cafe, and Hat at the top. 
 
 5 
 
 of 
 
74 A Treatise on 
 
 of any length cr diameter, according as 
 the cafes are required, but the diameter 
 of the rollers mutt be equal to half the 
 bore, and the rammers made quite folid. 
 
 How to roll Rocket and other 
 Cafes. 
 
 Sky rocket cafes are to be made fix 
 and a half of their exterior diameter 
 long, and all other cafes that are to be 
 filled in moulds mu If be as long as the 
 moulds, within half its interior dia- 
 meter. 
 
 Rocket cafes, from the fm all eft to 
 four or fix pound, are generally made of 
 the ftrongeft fort of cartridge paper, and 
 rolled dry; but the large fort are made 
 of pafted pafte-board. As it is very dif- 
 ficult to roll the ends of the cafes quite 
 even, the beft way will be to keep a 
 pattern of the paper for the different 
 forts of cafes, which pattern flhould be 
 fomewhat longer than the cafe it is de- 
 signed for, and on it marked the num- 
 ber of {beets required, which will pre- 
 vent any paper being cut to wafte : hav- 
 ing cut your papers of a proper fize, and 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 75 
 
 the laft fheet for each cafe with a Hope 
 at one end, fo that when the cafes are 
 rolled it may form a fpiral line round 
 die outfide, and that this dope may al- 
 ways be the fame, let the pattern be fo 
 cut for a guide : before you begin to 
 roll, fold down one end of the firft ftieet* 
 fo far that the fold will go two or three 
 times round the former ; then, on the 
 double edge, lay the former with its 
 handle oft* the table, and when you have 
 rolled on the paper, within two or three 
 turns, lay, on that part which is loofe, 
 the next fheet, and roll it all on. 
 
 Having thus done, you muft have a 
 fmooth board, about twenty inches long, 
 and equal in breadth to the length of 
 the cafe 1 in the middle of this board 
 muft be a handle placed length-ways ; 
 under this board lay your cafe, and let 
 one end of the board lay 011 the table ; 
 then prefs hard on it, and pu(h it for- 
 wards, which will roll the paper very 
 tight $ do this three or four times before 
 you roll on any more paper : this muft 
 be repeated every other iheet of paper, 
 till the cafe is thick enough ; but if the 
 rolling board be drawn backwards, it 
 will loofen the paper : you are to obferve, 
 
 when 
 
76 A Treatise on 
 
 when you roll on the laft fheet, that the 
 point of the Hope be placed at the foiall 
 end of the roller. Having rolled your 
 cafe to fit the mould, pufh in the fmall 
 end of the former F, about one diame- 
 ter from the end of the cafe, and put in 
 the end piece within a little diftance of 
 the former ; then give the pinching cord 
 one turn round the cafe, between the 
 former and the end piece ; at firft pull 
 eafy, and keep moving the cafe, which 
 will make the neck fmooth, and with- 
 out large wrinkles ; when the cafes are 
 hard to choak, let each flieet of paper 
 (except the firft and lafft in that part 
 where the neck is formed) be a little 
 moiftened with water: immediately after 
 you have ftrack the concave ftroke, bind 
 the neck of the cafe round with fmall 
 twine, which mu ft not be tied in a knot, 
 but fattened with two or three hitches. 
 
 Having, thus pinched and tied the cafe 
 fo as not to give way, put it into the 
 mould without it’s foot, and, with a 
 mallet, drive the former hard on the 
 end piece, which will force the neck 
 clofe and fmooth ; this being done, cut 
 the cafe to its proper length, allowing 
 from the neck to the edge of the mouth 
 
 half 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 77 
 
 half a diameter, which is equal to the 
 height of the nipple ; then take out the 
 former, and drive the cafe over the 
 piercer with the long rammer, and the 
 vent will be of a proper fize. Wheel 
 cafes muft be drove on a nipple with 
 a .point, in order to clofe the neck,, and 
 make the vent of the fize required ; 
 which, in mod cafes, is generally one 
 fourth of their interior diameter : as it 
 is very often difficult, when the cafes are 
 rolled, to draw the roller out, you may 
 make a hole through the handle, and put 
 in it a frnall iron pin, by which you may 
 eafily turn the former round, and pull 
 it out. Fig. 17. fhews the method of 
 pinching cafes ; P a treddle, which, 
 when preffed hard with the foot, will 
 draw the cord tight, and force the neck 
 as clofe as you pleafe ; Q_a fmall wheel 
 or pully, with a groove round it for the 
 cord to run in. 
 
 Cafes are commonly rolled wet, for 
 wheels and fixed pieces ; and when they 
 are required to contain a great length of 
 charge, the method of making thofe 
 fort of cafes is as follows : Your paper 
 muft be cut as ufual, only the laft fheet 
 muft not be cut with a Hope 3 having 
 
 your 
 
78 A Treatise 0$ 
 
 your paper ready, pafte each fheet on 
 one fide, then fold down the firft Iheet 
 as before directed, but be careful that 
 the pafte does not touch the upper part 
 of the fold, for if the roller be wetted, 
 it will tear the paper in drawing it out : 
 
 ~ in parting the laft fheet, obferve not to 
 wet the laft turn or two in that part 
 where it is to be pinched, for if that 
 part be damp, the pinching cord will 
 ilick to it, and tear the paper 5 there- 
 fore, when you choak thofe cafes, roll 
 a bit of dry paper once round the cafe, 
 before you put on the pinching' cord ; 
 but this bit of paper mart be taken off 
 after the cafe is choaked. The rolling 
 board, and all other methods, according 
 to the former directions for the rolling 
 and pinching of cafes, mu ft be ufed to 
 thefe as well as all other cafes. 
 
 To make Tourbillon Cafes, 
 
 Thofe forts of cafes are generally made 
 about eight diameters long, but if very 
 large, feven diameters will be fufficient : 
 tourbillon s will anfwer very well from 
 four ounces to two pound, but when 
 larger there is no certainty. The cafes 
 
 are 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 79 
 
 are beft rolled wet with pafte, and the 
 laft fheet muft have a 'ftreight edge, fo 
 that the cafe may be all of a thicknefs : 
 when you have rolled your cafes, after 
 the manner of wheel cafes, pinch' them 
 at one end quite clofe; then, with the 
 rammer, drive the ends down flat, and 
 afterwards ram in about one third of a 
 diameter of dryed clay. The diameter 
 of the former for thefe cafes, mull be 
 the fame as for iky rockets. 
 
 N. B. Tcurbilions are to be rammed 
 in moulds without a nipple, or in a mould 
 without its foot. 
 
 A 
 
 To make Baloon Cafes, or Pa- 
 per Shells. 
 
 Firft you muft have an oval former 
 « turned of fmooth wood ; then pafte a 
 quantity of brown or cartridge paper, 
 and let it lay till the pafte has quite 
 foaked through ; this done, rub the for- 
 mer with foap or greafe, to prevent the 
 paper from flicking to it ; then lay the 
 paper on in fmall flips, till you have 
 made it one third of the thicknefs of the 
 fhell intended 5 having thus done, fet it 
 
 to 
 
8o 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 to dry, and when dry, cut it round the 
 .middle, and the two halves will ealily 
 come off ; but obferve, when you cut, to 
 leave about one inch not cut, which will 
 make the halves join much better than 
 if quite feparated ; when you have fomc 
 ready to join, place the halves even to- 
 gether, and pafte a flip of paper round 
 the opening to hold them together, and 
 let that dry ^ then lay on paper all over 
 as before, every where equal, excepting 
 that end which' goes downwards in the 
 mortar, which may be a little thicker 
 than the reft ; for that part which re- 
 ceives the blow from the powder in the 
 chamber of the mortar confequently 
 requires the greateft it length : when the 
 fheil is thoroughly dry, burn a round 
 ' vent at top, with fquare iron, large 
 enough for the fuze : this method will 
 do for baloons from four inches two 
 fifths, to eight inches diameter ; but if 
 they are larger, or required to be thrown 
 a great height, let the firir fheil be turn’d 
 of elm, inltead of being made of paper. 
 
 For a balloon of four inches two fifths, 
 lei the former be three inches one eighth 
 diameter, and five inches and a half 
 long. For a balloon of five inches and 
 
 a half 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 8i 
 
 a half, the diameter of the former mull 
 be four inches, and eight inches long. 
 For a balloon of eight inches, let the 
 diameter of the former be five inches 
 and fifteen fixteenths, and eleven inches 
 feven eighths long. For a ten inch bal- 
 loon, let the former be feven inches 
 three fixteenths diameter, and fourteen 
 inches and a quarter long. The thick- 
 nefs of a fhell for a balloon of four inches 
 two fifths, muftlae half an inch. For 
 a balloon of five inches and a half, let 
 the thicknefs of the paper be five eighths 
 of an inch. For an eight inch balloon 
 feven eighths of an inch. And for a 
 ten inch balloon, let the fhell be one 
 inch and one eighth thick. 
 
 Shells that are defigned for liars only, 
 may be made quite round, and the thinner 
 they are at the opening the better ; for 
 if they are too ftrong, the fiars are apt 
 to break at the burfting of the fhell : 
 when you are making the fhell, make 
 ufe of a pair of calibers, or a round 
 gauge, fo that you may not lay the pa- 
 per thicker in one place than another ; 
 and alfo to know when the fheell is of 
 a proper thicknefs; balloons mu ft always 
 be made to go eafy into the mortars. 
 
 G Of 
 
8a 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Of the Method of mixing Com- 
 
 The performance of the principal 
 part of fireworks depends much on the 
 compofitions being well mixed ; there- 
 fore great care ought to be taken in this 
 part of the work, particularly in the 
 compofitions for Iky rockets. When 
 you have four or five pounds of ingre- 
 dients to mix, which is a fufticient quan- 
 tity at a time (for a larger proportion 
 will hot do fo well), firft put the differ- 
 ent ingredients together, then work 
 them about with your hands, till you 
 think they are pretty well incorporated ; 
 after which put them into a lawn fieve 
 with a receiver and top to it ; and if, 
 after it is lifted, any remains that will 
 not pafs through the fieve, grind it a- 
 gain till fine enough ; and if it be twice 
 fifted it will not be amifs ; but the com- 
 pofitions for wheels and common works 
 are not fo material, nor need not be fo 
 fine. But in all fixed works, from which 
 the fire is to play regular, the ingredients 
 mu ft be very fine, and great care taken 
 
 in 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 83 
 
 In mixing them well together ; and ob- 
 ferve that, in all compofitions wherein are 
 fteel or iron filings, the hands mu ft not 
 touch, nor will any works, which have 
 iron or fteel in their charge, keep long 
 in damp weather, without being pro- 
 perly prepared, according to the direO 
 tions given in the following article. 
 
 How to preferve Steel or Iron 
 Filings. 
 
 It fometimes may happen, that fire- 
 works may be required to be kept a 
 long time, or fent abroad j neither of 
 which could be done with brilliant fires, 
 if made with filings unprepared ; for 
 this reafon, that the falfpetre being of a 
 damp nature, it caufes the iron to ruft, 
 the confequence of which is, that when 
 the works are fired, there will appear 
 but very^ few brilliant fparks, but in- 
 ftead of them a number of red and drof- 
 fy fparks, and befide's, the charge will 
 be fo much weakened, that if this mould 
 happen to wheels, the fire will hardly 
 be ftrong enough to force them round : 
 but to prevent fuch accidents, prepare 
 your filing’s after the following manner. 
 
 G 2 Melt 
 
84 A Treatise on 
 
 Melt in a glazed earthen pan fome 
 brimftone over a flow fire, and when 
 melted throw in fome filings ; which 
 keep ftirring about till they are covered 
 with brimftone, this you muft do while 
 it is on the fire ; then take it off, and 
 ftirr it very quick till cold, when you 
 muft roll it on a board with a wooden 
 roller, till you have broke it as fine as 
 corn powder ; after which fift from it 
 as much cf the brimftone as you can. 
 There is another method of preparing 
 flings, fo as to keep two or three 
 months in winter ; this may be done 
 by rubbing them between the ftrongeft 
 fort of brown paper, which before has 
 been moiftened with linfeed oil. 
 
 K f . B. If the brimftone fhould take 
 fire, you may put it out, by covering 
 the pan clofe- at top : it is not of much 
 fignification what quantity of brimftone 
 you ufe, fo that there is enough to give 
 each grain of iron a coat, but as much 
 as will cover the bottom of a pan, of 
 about one foot diameter, will do for five 
 or fix pound of filings : caft iron for 
 gerbes may be preferved by the above 
 method. 
 
 The 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 The Method of Driving or Ram- 
 ming Sky Rockets, &c. 
 
 Rockets which are drove over a 
 piercer mu it not have fo much compo- 
 fition put in them at a time, as when 
 drove folid, for the piercer, taking up 
 great part of the bore of the cafe, would 
 caufe the rammer to rife too high ; fo 
 that the p re fill re of it would not be fo 
 great on the compofition, nor would it 
 be drove every where equal : to prevent 
 which, obferve the following rule ; that 
 for thofe rockets, that are rammed over 
 a piercer, let the ladle * hold as much 
 compofition as when drove, will raife 
 the drift one half the interior diameter 
 of the cafe, and for thofe drove folid to 
 contain as much as will raife it half the 
 exterior diameter of the cafe : ladles are 
 generally made to go eafy in the cafe, 
 and the length of the fcocp about one 
 and a half of its own diameter. 
 
 The charge of rockets muft always 
 be drove one diameter above the piercer. 
 
 # A copper fcoop with a wooden handle. 
 
 G 3 and 
 
86 A Treatise on 
 
 « 
 
 and on it mu ft be rammed one third of a 
 diameter of clay, through the middle of 
 which bore a fmall hole to the compofiti- 
 on, in order that, when the charge is burnt 
 to the top, it may communicate its fire, 
 through the hole, to the ftars in the 
 head : great care muft always be taken, 
 to ftrike with the mallet, and with an 
 equal force, the fame number of ftrokes 
 to each ladle-ful of charge ; otherwife 
 the rockets will not rife with an uni- 
 form motion, nor will the compofition 
 burn equal and regular ; for which rea- 
 fon they cannot ~ carry a proper tail, for 
 it will break before the rocket has got 
 half way up ; inflead of reaching from 
 the ground- to the top, where the rocket 
 breaks and difperfes the ftars, rains, or 
 whatever is contained in the head. When 
 you .are ramming, keep the drift con- 
 ftantly turning or moving; and when 
 you ufe the hollow rammers, ■ knock out 
 of them the compofition now and then, 
 or the piercer will fplit them : to a 
 rocket of four ounces, give to each la- 
 dle-ful of charge iixteen ftrokes : to a 
 rocket of one pound, twenty eight : to 
 a two pounder, thirty-fix : to a four. 
 
 pounder 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 87 
 
 pounder forty-two : and to a fix poun- 
 der fifty ftrokes ; but rockets of a larger 
 fort cannot be drove well by hand, but 
 mu ft be rammed with a machine made 
 in the fame manner as thofe for driving 
 piles, which are fo very common 
 to be feen, that I {hall here omit giv- 
 ing a description of them. 
 
 The method of ramming of wheel 
 cafes, or any other fort, in which the 
 charge is drove folid, is much the fame 
 as fky rockets ; for the fame proportion 
 may be obferved in the ladle, and the 
 fame number of ftrokes given, accord- 
 ing to their diameters, all cafes being 
 diftinguiftied by their diameters ^ in this 
 manner, a cafe wliofe bore is equal to 
 a rocket of four ounces is called a four 
 ounce cafe, and that which is equal to 
 an eight ounce rocket an eight ounce 
 cafe, and fo on, according to the different 
 rockets. 
 
 Having taught the method of ram- 
 ming cafes in moulds ; we fhall here 
 fay fome thing concerning thofe filled 
 without moulds, which method, for 
 ftrong pafted cafes, will do extremely 
 well, and fave the expence of making 
 fo many moulds. The reader muit here 
 G 4 obferve. 
 
.88 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 obferve, when he fills any fort of 
 cafes* to place the mould on a perpendi- 
 cular block of wood| and not on any 
 place that is hollow* for we have found 
 by experience, that when cafes were 
 rammed on driving benches, which 
 were formerly ufed, the works frequent- 
 ly mifcarried, on account of the hollow 
 refiflanee of the benches, which often 
 jarred and loofened the charge in the 
 cafes ; but this accident has never hap- 
 pened fince the driving blocks * have 
 been ufed. 
 
 When cafes are to be filled without 
 moulds, proceed thus ; have fome nip- 
 ples made of brafs or iron, of feveral 
 forts and fizes, in proportion to the 
 cafes, and to fcrew or fix in the top of 
 the driving block; when you have fixed 
 in a nipple, make, at about one inch 
 and a half from it, a fqu are hole in the 
 block, fix inches deep and one inch di- 
 ameter ; then have a piece of wood, fix 
 inches longer than the cafe intended to 
 be filled and two inches fquare ; on one 
 fide of it cut a groove a! mod the length 
 
 * A piece of hard wood in the form of an anvil 
 block. 
 
 of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 89 
 
 of the cafe, whofe breadth and depth 
 mod be fufficient to cover near half the 
 cafe ; then cut the other end to fit the 
 hole in the block, but take care to cut 
 it fo that the groove may be of a proper 
 diftance from the nipple : this half 
 
 mould being made and fixed tight in 
 the block, cut, in another piece of wood 
 nearly of the fame length as the cafe, 
 a groove of the fame dimenfions as that 
 in the fixed piece ; then put the cafe on 
 the nipple, and with a cord tie it and 
 the two half moulds together, and your 
 cafe will be ready for filling. 
 
 The dimenfions of the above defcrib- 
 ed half moulds, are proportionable for 
 cafes of eight ounces; but notice mud 
 be taken, that they differ in fize in pro- 
 portion to the cafes. 
 
 Note, the clay, mentioned in this ar- 
 ticle, mu ft be prepared after this man- 
 ner ; get feme clay, in which there is 
 no ftones nor fand, and bake it in an oven 
 till quite dry ; then take it out and beat 
 it to a powder, and afterwards fift it 
 through a common hair fieve, and it 
 will be fit for ufe. 
 
 Of 
 
go 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Of the Proportion of Mallets. 
 
 The beft wood for mallets is dry beech, 
 though feme have preferred other forts 
 of wood, and have likewife pretended 
 to determine their exadt weight, which 
 is not of much [Signification ; however, 
 for the better inftrudtion of thofe who 
 have not made a great progrefs in this 
 art, I fhall here give a good proportion 
 for mallets ; but at the fame time would 
 have every practitioner know, that if 
 he makes ufe of a common mallet, of 
 a moderate fize, in proportion to the 
 rocket, according to his judgment, and 
 if that rocket fucceeds, he may depend 
 on the reft, by uiing the fame mallet ; 
 yet it will be neceffary that cafes of dif- 
 ferent forts be drove with mallets of 
 different iizes. 
 
 The following proportion of the mal- 
 lets for rockets of any fize, from one 
 ounce to fix pound, may be obferved ; 
 but as rockets are feldon made iefs than 
 one ounce, or larger than fix pound, I 
 fhall leave the management of them to 
 the curious ; but all cafes under one 
 ounce, may be rammed with an ounce 
 
 rocket 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 91 
 
 rocket mallet. Your mallets will ftrike 
 more ' folid, by having their handles 
 turned out of the fame' piece as the 
 
 -A 
 
 head, and made in a cylindrical form : 
 let their dimexiftons be worked by the 
 diameters of the rockets : for example ; 
 let the thicknefs of the head be three 
 diameters, and its length four, and the 
 length of the handle five diameters, 
 whofe thicknefs mull; be in proportion 
 to the hand. 
 
 Of the Proportion of Sky Rockets, 
 with the Manner of heading 
 them. 
 
 Fig. 13. reprefen £s a rocket compleat 
 without its flick, whofe length from the 
 neck is five diameters one fixth 5 the 
 cafes fhould always be cut to this length 
 , after they are filled : M the head, 
 
 which is two diameters high, and one 
 diameter one fixth and a half in breadth; 
 N the cone or cap, whofe perpendicular 
 height mu ft be one diameter one third. 
 Fig. 1 4. is the collar to which the head 
 is fixed ; this is turned out of deal or 
 any light wood, and its exterior diame- 
 ter 
 
92 A Treatise on 7 
 
 ter muft be equal to the interior diame- 
 ter of the head ; one fixth will be fuf- 
 ficient for its thicknefs, and round the 
 outfide edge muft be a groove ; the inte- 
 rior diameter of the collar muft not be 
 quite fo wide as the exterior diameter 
 of the rocket ; when this is to be glued 
 on the rocket, you muft cut two or three 
 rounds of paper oft' the cafe, which will 
 make a fhoulder for it to reft upon. 
 Fig. 15, a former for the head ; two 
 or three rounds of paper well pafted 
 will be enough for the head, which, 
 when rolled, put the collar on that part 
 of the former marked O, which muft 
 fit the infide of it ; then with the pinch- 
 ing cord, pinch the bottom of the head 
 into the groove, and tie it with fmall 
 twine. Fig. j 6, reprefents a former for 
 the cone. To make the caps, cut your 
 paper in round pieces, equal in diame- 
 ter to twice the length of the cone you 
 intend to make ; which pieces being cut 
 into halves, will make two caps each, 
 without wafting any paper ; having 
 formed the caps, pafte over each of them 
 a thin white paper, which muft be a 
 little longer than the cone, fo as to pro- 
 ject about half an inch below the bottom; 
 
 this 
 

Artificial Fireworks. 93 
 
 this projection of paper, being notch’d 
 and pafted, ferves to faften the cap to the 
 head. 
 
 When you load the heads of your 
 rockets with ftars, rains, ferpents, crack- 
 ers, fcroles, or any thing elfe, according 
 to your' fancy ; remember always to put 
 one ladle-ful of meal powder, into each 
 head, which will be enough to burft the 
 head, and difperfe the ftars or whatever 
 is contained therein : when the heads 
 are loaded with any fort of cafes, let 
 their mouths be placed downwards 3 and 
 after the heads are filled, pafte on the 
 top of them a piece of paper, before 
 you put on the caps. As the fize of 
 ftars often differ, it would be needlefs to 
 give an exaCt number for each rocket, 
 but this rule may be obferved, that the 
 heads may be nearly filled 'with what- 
 ever they are loaded. 
 
 Of die Decorations for Sky 
 Rockets. 
 
 Sky rockets bearing the pre-eminence 
 of all fireworks, it will not be improper 
 to treat of their various kinds of deco- 
 ration, which are directed according to 
 
 fancy ; 
 
94 A Treatise on 
 
 fancy ; fome are headed with flats of 
 'different forts, fuch as tailed liars, bril- 
 liant flats, white flats, blue and yellow 
 liars, &c. fome with gold and filver rain; 
 others with ferpents, crackers, fire- 
 fcroles, marrons ; and fome with fmall 
 rockets, and many other devices, as the 
 maker pleafes. 
 
 Dimenfions and Poife of Rocket 
 Sticks. 
 
 weight 
 of tne 
 rocket 
 
 Length of 
 the ftick. 
 
 Thicknefs 
 at top. 
 
 Breadth at 
 top. 
 
 Square at 
 bottom. 
 
 Poize from 
 the point of 
 the cone. 
 
 lb. oz. 
 
 ft. 
 
 in. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 ‘Inch. 
 
 ft. 
 
 in. 
 
 6 o 
 
 : 14 
 
 0 
 
 
 1,85 
 
 o ,75 
 
 4 
 
 i ,5 
 
 4 c 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 1,25 
 
 1,40 
 
 0,625 
 
 3 
 
 9, 
 
 2 0 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 1,125 
 
 *, 
 
 0,525 
 
 2 
 
 9> 
 
 I 0 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 °’7 2 5 , 
 
 o,8o 
 
 o ,375 
 
 2 
 
 i. 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 o.5 
 
 0,70 
 
 0,25 
 
 1 
 
 10,5 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 0.3(750, 
 
 °>55 
 
 °*35 
 
 1 
 
 8,5 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 X 
 
 o,3 
 
 0,45 
 
 0,15 
 
 1 
 
 3, 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 0,25 
 
 °>3 5 
 
 0,10 
 
 I X 
 
 0, 
 
 I 
 
 T 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 0,125 
 
 0,20 
 
 0,16 
 
 8 
 
 0, 
 
 1 4 ' 
 
 I 
 
 
 0,X 1 
 
 0,15 
 
 0,5 
 
 5 
 
 0,5 
 
 The lafl column on the right in the 
 above table, expreffes the diflance from, 
 the top of the cone, where the flick, 
 when tied on, fhould ballance the rock- 
 et, 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 95 
 
 et, fo as to Hand in an equilibrium on 
 one’s finger or the edge of a knife. The 
 beft wood for the flicks is dry deal, made 
 after the following manner ; when you 
 have cut and planed the flicks according 
 to the dimenfions given in the table, cut 
 on one of the fiat tides at top, a groove 
 the length of the rocket, and as broad 
 as the flick will allow y then on the op- 
 polite flat fide, cut two notches for the 
 cord, which ties on the rocket, to lay 
 in ; one of thefe notches mu ft be near 
 the top of the flick, and the other fac- 
 ing the neck of the rockets ; the diflance 
 between thefe notches may eaiily be 
 known, for the top of the flick fhould 
 always touch the head of the rocket. 
 When your rockets and flicks are ready, 
 lay the rockets in the grooves in the 
 flicks and tie them on. Thofe who, 
 merely for curiofity, may chafe to make 
 rockets of different fizes, to what I have 
 exprefied in the table of dimenfions, may 
 find the length of their flicks, by mak- 
 ing them for rockets, from half an ounce 
 to one pound, iixty diameters of the 
 rocket long ; and for rockets above one 
 pound, fifty or fifty-two diameters will 
 be a good length 5 their thicknefs at top 
 
 may 
 
96 A Treatise on 
 
 may be about half a diameter, and thek 
 breadth a very little more ; their fquare 
 at bottom is generally equal to half the 
 thicknefs at top. But, although the di- 
 menfions of the flicks be very nicely 
 obferved, you mu A depend only on their 
 baliance : for, without a proper coun- 
 terpoife, your rockets, inflead of mount- 
 ing perpendicularly, will take an oblique 
 direction, and fall to the ground before 
 they are burnt out. 
 
 The . Method of Boring Rockets 
 which have been drove foiid. 
 
 Plate 2, Fig. 18, reprefents the plan 
 of an apparatus, or lath, for boring of 
 rockets $ A the large wheel which turns 
 the final! one' B, that works the ream- 
 mer C : thefe reammers are of different 
 iizes according to the rockets ; they 
 muft be of the fame diameter as the top 
 of the bore intended, and continue that 
 thicknefs a little longer than the depth 
 of the bore required, and their points 
 muft be like that of an auger ; the thick 
 end of each reammermuft be made fquare 
 and all of the fame fize, fo as to fit into 
 4 one 
 
Artificial Fireworks. gj 
 
 one focket, wherein they are faftened by 
 a fcrew D : E the guide for the ream- 
 mer, which is made to move backwards 
 and forwards ; fo that after you have 
 marked the reammer three diameters 
 and a half of the rocket from the point* 
 fet the guide* allowing for the thicknefs 
 of the fronts of the rocket boxes* and 
 the neck and mouth of the rocket* fo 
 that when the front of the large box is 
 clofe to the guide, the" reammer may not 
 go too far up the charge; F* boxes for 
 holding the rockets* which are made fo 
 as to fit one in another; their. fides muft 
 be equal in thicknefs to the difference 
 of the diameters of the rockets, and their 
 interior diameters equal to the exterior 
 diameters of the rockets. To prevent 
 the rockets turning round while boring* 
 a piece of wood muft be placed a-gamft 
 the end of the box in the inflde* and 
 preffed again ft the tail of the rocket $ 
 this will alfo hinder the reammer from 
 forcing the rocket backwards, G, a 
 rocket in the box, H* a box that flides 
 under the rocket boxes to receive the 
 borings from the rockets* which falls 
 through holes made on purpofe in the 
 boxes * thefe holes muft be juft under 
 H the 
 
g8 A Treatise on 
 
 the mouth of the rocket, one in each 
 box, and all to correfpond' with each 
 other. 
 
 Fig. 19, is a front view of the large 
 rocket box* I, an iron plate, in which 
 are holes of different fizes, through 
 which the reammer paffes ; this plate is 
 faftened with a fcrew in the center, fo 
 that when you change the reammer, you 
 turn the plate round, but always let the 
 hole you are going to ufe be at the bot- 
 tom : the fronts of the other boxes mull 
 have holes in them to correfpond with 
 them. in the plate. K, the lower part 
 of the large box, which is made to fit 
 the infide of the lathe, in order that all 
 the boxes may move quite fteady. 
 
 Fig. 20, is a perfpedtive view of the 
 lathe. L, the guide for the reammer, 
 which is fet by the fcrew at bottom. 
 
 Fig. 21, a view of the front of the 
 guide facing the reammer. M, an iron 
 plate, of the fame dimenfions as that on 
 the front of the box, and placed in the 
 fame diredlion, and alfo to turn on a 
 fcrew in the center. N, the rocket box, 
 which Hides backwards and forwards : 
 when you have fixed a rocket in the box, 
 pufh it forwards againfl the reammer ; 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 99 
 
 mid when you think the fcoop of the 
 reammer is -full* draw the box back, and 
 knock out the competition this you 
 muft do till the rocket is bored, or it 
 will be in danger of taking fire ; and if 
 you bore in a hurry, wet the end of the 
 reammer now and then with oil to keep 
 it cool. 
 
 Having bored a number of rockets, 
 you muft have taps of different forts ac- 
 cording to the rockets. Thefe taps are a 
 little longer than the bore, but when 
 you ufe them, mark them three diame- 
 ters and a half'from the point, allowing 
 for the thicknefs of the rocket’s neck ; 
 then, holding the rocket in one hand, you 
 tap it with the other. In order to ex- 
 plain thefe taps, I have reprefented one by 
 Fig. 22. They are made in the fame pro- 
 portion as the fixed piercers, and are 
 hollowed their whole length. 
 
 Of a Hand Machine ufed for bor- 
 ing of Rockets inftead of a Lathe. 
 
 Thofe fort of machines anfwer very 
 well, but not fo expeditious as the lathe, 
 nor are they fo expenfive to make ; they 
 FI 2 may 
 
IOO 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 may be worked by one man ; but the 
 lathe will require three. Fig. 23, re- 
 prefents the machine. O, the rocket 
 boxes, which are to be fixed and not 
 to Aide as thofe in the lathe. P Q, are 
 guides for the reammers, that are made 
 to Aide together, as the reammer moves 
 forward : the reammers for thefe fort of 
 machines muft be made of a proper 
 length, allowing for the thicknefs of the 
 front of the boxes, and the length of the 
 mouth and neck of the cafe : on the 
 fquare end of thefe reammers, muft be 
 a round flaoulder of iron, to turn againft 
 the outfide of the guide Q, by which 
 means the guides are forced forwards. 
 R, the ftock which turns the reammer, 
 and while turning muft be prefled to- 
 wards the rocket, by the body of the 
 man who works it; all the reammers 
 are to be made to fit one ftock. This 
 machine as well as the lathe is made by 
 the fcale in the fame plate. 
 
 The 
 
Artificial Fireworks, ioi 
 
 The Manner of making large 
 Gerbes. 
 
 ■ > 
 
 Fig. 24, rep relents a wooden former; 
 25, a gerbe compleat, with its foot or 
 ftand. The cafes for gerbes are made 
 very ftrong, on account of the ilrength 
 of the compolition ; which, when fired, 
 comes out with great velocity ; therefore, 
 to prevent their burning, the paper 
 fhculd be palled, and the cafes made as 
 thick at the top as at the bottom ; they 
 ought alfo to have very long necks, for 
 this reafon; firft, that the particles of 
 iron will have more time to be heated, 
 by meeting with greater refiftance in 
 getting out, than with a fhort neck, 
 which would be burnt too wide before 
 the charge be confumed, and fpoil the 
 effect : Secondly, that with long necks 
 the flars will be thrown to a great 
 height, and will not fall before they are 
 fpent, or fpread too much ; but, when 
 made to perfection, will rife and fpread 
 in fuch a manner as to form exactly a 
 wheat-fheaf. 
 
 H 3 
 
 In 
 
io2 A Treatise on 
 
 In the ramming of gerbes, there will 
 be no need of a mould, the cafes being 
 fufficiently throng to fupport themfelves > 
 but you are to be careful, before you be- 
 gin to ram, to have a piece of wood 
 made to fit in the neck ; for if this be 
 not done, the compofition will fall into 
 the neck, and leave a vacancy in the 
 cafe, which, as I faid before, will caufe 
 the cafe to burft as foon as the fire ar- 
 rives at the vacancy : you mufl likewife 
 obferve, that the firft ladle of charge, 
 or two, if you think proper, be of fome 
 weak compofition. When the cafe is 
 filled, take out the piece of wood, and 
 fill the neck with fome flow charge. 
 Gerbes are generally made about fix di- 
 ameters long, from the bottom to the 
 top of the neck ; their bore muft be one 
 fifth narrower at top than at bottom. 
 'The neck S is one Sixth diameter and 
 three fourths long. T, a wooden foot 
 or (land, on which the gerbe is fixed. 
 This may be made with a choak or cy- 
 linder, four or five inches long, to fit 
 the in fide of the cafe, or with a hole in 
 it to put in the gerbe 3 both thefe me- 
 thods will cnfwer the fame. Gerbes 
 produce a moft brilliant fire, and are very 
 
 beautiful 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 103 
 
 when a number of them are fixed in 
 the front of a building, or a collection 
 of fireworks. 
 
 N. B. Gerbes are made by their dia- 
 meters, and their cafes at bottom one 
 fourth thick. The method of finding the 
 interior diameter of a gerbe is thus: Sup- 
 pofing you would have the exterior dia- 
 meter of the cafe, when made, to be five 
 inches, then, by taking two fourths for 
 the fides of the cafe, there will remain 
 two inches and a half for the bore, 
 which will be a very good fize. Thefe 
 fort of gerbes ought to be rammed very 
 hard. 
 
 Of fmall Gerbes or White Foun- 
 tains. 
 
 Small gerbes may be made of four, 
 eight ounces, or one pound cafes, paft- 
 ed and made very ftrong, of what length 
 you pleafe ; but, before you fill them, 
 drive in dry clay one diameter of their 
 orifice high, and when you have filled 
 a cafe, bore a vent through the center 
 of the clay to the compofition ; the 
 common proportion will do for the vent, 
 which muft be primed with a flow 
 H 4 charge. 
 
304 A Treatise on 
 
 charge. Thefe fort of cafes without the 
 clay, may be filled with Chinefe fire. 
 
 To make Pafte-board and Paper 
 Mortars. 
 
 Fig* 26, a former, and 27, an elm 
 foot for the mortar ; 28, a mortar com- 
 pleat ; thefe mortars are beft when made 
 with pafte-board ; your pafte-board mu ft 
 be well pafted before you begin ; or, in- 
 ftead of pafte, you may ufe glue. For 
 a coehorn mortar, which is four inches 
 two fifths diameter, roll the pafte-board 
 on the former one fixth of its diameter 
 thick ; and, when dry, cut one end 
 fmooth and even, then nail and glue it 
 on the upper part of the foot ; when 
 done, cut oft* the pafte-board at top, al- 
 lowing for the length of the mortar two 
 diameters and a half from the mouth of 
 the powder chamber 5 then hind the 
 mortar round with a ftrong cord wetted 
 with glue. U, the bottom part of the 
 Foot, is one diameter two thirds broad, 
 and one diameter high; and that part 
 which goes into the mortar is two thirds 
 pf it’s diameter high. W, is a copper 
 4 chamber 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 105 
 
 chamber for powder, made in a conical 
 form, and is one third of the diameter 
 wide, and one and a half of its own di- 
 ameter long ; in the center of the bot- 
 tom of this chamber, make a fmall hole 
 a little way down the foot 5 this hole 
 muft be met by another of the fame fize 
 made in the fide of the foot, as is fhewn 
 in Fig. 28. If thefe holes are made 
 true, and a copper pipe fitted into both, 
 the mortar when loaded will prime itfelf, 
 for the powder will naturally fall to the 
 bottom of the firft hole ; then, by put- 
 ting a bit of quick-match in the fide 
 hole, your mortar will be ready to be 
 fired. 
 
 Mortars of five and a half, eight, and 
 ten inches diameter, may be made of 
 paper, or pafte-board, by the above me- 
 thod, and in the fame proportion ; but 
 if larger, it will be beft to have them- 
 made of brafs. N. B. The copper cham- 
 ber, muft have a fmall rim round its 
 edge with holes in it, for fcrews to make 
 it faft in the foot. 
 
 SECT. 
 
ic6 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 SECT, IV. 
 
 The Manner of loading Air Bal- 
 166ns, with the Number of Stars, 
 Serpents, Snakes, Rain-falls, &c. 
 contained in Shells of each Na- 
 ture, 
 
 A S balloons are held in great efteem, 
 by moft admirers of fire works, I 
 fhall here give a full defcription of them 
 in every particular, in fo clear a manner, 
 that a young practitioner may, by tak- 
 ing a little pains, be pretty certain of 
 fucceeding the firft trial. 
 
 When you fill your fhells, you mult 
 firft put in the ferpents, rains, ftars, &c. 
 or whatever they are compofed of ; then 
 the blowing powder ; but the fhells mu ft 
 not be quite filled ; all thofe things muft 
 be put in at the fuze hole ; but marrons, 
 
 being 
 

Artificial Fireworks. 107 
 
 being too large to go in at the fuze hole, 
 mud be put in before the infide ihell be 
 joined. When the fheils are loaded, 
 glue and drive in the fuzes very tight. 
 Of thefe fuzes we (hall fay more here- 
 after ; but fhall here give the diameter 
 of the fuze hole in balloons of each na- 
 ture, which are as follows. For a coe- 
 horn balloon, let the diameter of the 
 fuze hole be feven eighths of an inch. 
 For a royal balloon, which is near five 
 inches and a half diameter, make the 
 fuze hole one inch one eighth diameter. 
 For an eight inch balloon, one inch three 
 eighths : and for a ten inch balloon, one 
 inch live eighths. 
 
 Having proceeded thus far with the 
 directions of loading balloons, I fhall in 
 the fecond place give an account of the 
 quantities and number of each article, 
 proper for fheils of each nature; but it 
 is to be obferved, that air-balloons are 
 divided into four forts, viz. firft, illu- 
 minated balloons ; fecond, balloons of 
 ferpents ; third, balloons of reports, 
 marrons, and crackers ; and fourth, 
 compound balloons. 
 
 For 
 
ioS 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 For a Coehorn Balloon illuminated. 
 
 QZ. 
 
 Meal powder — — i_i 
 
 Corn powder • — — 04- 
 
 Powder for the mortar — 2 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition three 
 quarters of an inch ; one ounce drove 
 or roiled ftars, as many as will nearly 
 fdl the fhell. 
 
 For a Coehorn Balloon of Serpents. 
 
 oz. 
 
 Meal powder — — 1 4. 
 
 Corn powder — — 1 
 
 Powder for the mortar — 24 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition thir- 
 teen fixteenths of an inch ; half ounce 
 cafes drove three diameters and boun- 
 ced three diameters ; and half ounce'cafes 
 drove two diameters and bounced four j 
 of each an equal quantity, and as many 
 of them as will fit in ealily, placed head 
 to tail. 
 
 For 
 
Artificial Fireworks, 109 
 
 For a Coehorn Balloon of Crackers 
 and Reports. 
 
 oz. 
 
 Meal powder • — • — 1^. 
 
 Corn powder - — < — o^. 
 
 Powder for the mortar — - 2 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition three 
 quarters of an inch ; reports four, and 
 crackers of fix bounces, as many as will 
 fill the {hell. 
 
 For Compound Coehorn Balloons. 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 Meal powder ■ — . —14 
 
 Corn powder — 012 
 
 Powder for the mortar — 24 
 
 Length of the fuze compolition thir- 
 teen iixteenths of an inch ; half ounce 
 cafes drove three diameters and a half 
 and bounced two, fixteen. Half ounce 
 cafes drove four diameters and not 
 bounced, ten. Blue ftrung ftars, ten. 
 Rolled ftars as many as will compleat 
 the balloon* 
 
 For 
 
iio A Treatise on 
 
 For Royal Balloons illuminated, 
 
 oz. dr 0 
 
 Meal powder — — * i 8 
 
 Corn powder — - — 012 
 
 Powder for the mortar — 3 0 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition fif- 
 teen fixteenths of an inch ; two ounce 
 ftrung fears, thirty-four : Rolled ftars as 
 many as the fhell will contain, allow- 
 ing room for the fuze. 
 
 For Royal Balloons of Serpents. 
 
 oz. dn 
 
 Meal powder — 1 o 
 
 Corn powder — — 18 
 
 Powder for the mortar — 3 8 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition one 
 inch ; one ounce cafes drove three and a 
 half and four diameters, and bounced 
 two, of each an equal quantity, fuffici- 
 ent to load the fhell. 
 
 Royal 
 
Artificial Fireworks. hi 
 
 Royal Balloons of Crackers and 
 Marions. 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 Meal powder — i 8 
 
 Corn powder — * 14 
 
 Powder for firing the mortar 3 o 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition four- 
 teen fixteenths of an inch ; reports 
 twelve, and compleated with crackers 
 of eight bounces. 
 
 For Compound Royal Balloons. 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 Meal powder - — — 1 5 
 
 Corn powder — 1 6 
 
 Powder for the mortar — 312 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition one 
 inch; half ounce cafes drove and bounced 
 two diameters, eight. Two ounce cafes 
 filled three eighths of an inch with liar 
 compofition, and bounced two diameters, 
 eight. Silver rain-falls, ten. Two ounce 
 tailed liars, fixteen. Rolled brilliant 
 
 liars. 
 
ii2 A Treatise on 
 
 ftars, thirty. If this fhould not be fuf- 
 ficient to load the fhell* you may com^ 
 pleat it with gold rain falls. 
 
 For eight inch Balloons illu- 
 minated. 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 Meal powder — 2 8 
 
 Corn powder — — — 1 4 
 
 Powder for the mortar —— — • 9 o 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition one 
 inch one eighth ; two ounce drove ftars* 
 forty-eight. Four ounce cafes drove 
 with ftar compofition three eighths of 
 an inch and bounced three diameters* 
 twelve ; and the balloon compleated 
 with two ounce drove brilliant ftars. 
 
 For eight inch Balloons of Ser- 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 Meal powder - — 2 o 
 
 Com powder — — — 2 o 
 
 Powder for the mortar •* 9 8 
 
 pents, 
 
 Length 
 
Artificial Fireworks. ' 113 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition one 
 inch three fixteenths. Two ounce cafes 
 drove one diameter and a half, and 
 bounced two ; and one ounce cafes drove 
 two diameters, and bounced two and a 
 half; of each an equal quantity fuSci- 
 ent for the (hell. 
 
 N. B. The ftar compofition which is 
 drove in cafes that are bounced, mu ft 
 be managed thus ; fir ft the cafes mu ft 
 be pinched clofe at one end, then the 
 corn powder put in for a report, and the 
 cafe pinched again clofe to the powder, 
 only leaving a fmall vent for the ftar 
 compofition, which is drove at top, to 
 communicate to the powder at the 
 bounce end. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Balloons filled with crackers, reports, 
 and matrons, make no great fhow of 
 themfelves, nor are they very pleafing 
 to the eye, for they reprefen t nothing 
 more than a number of pale white flafhes, 
 followed by a variety of reports ; which 
 altogether make but a very indifferent 
 appearance when fired with illuminat- 
 ed balloons, which are fo beautiful and 
 \ brilliant. 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 114 
 
 brilliant, as to caft forth fuch luftre 
 that will dazzle the eyes of the fpedta- 
 tors for fome time ; on this confiderati- 
 011, I do not think it worth while load- 
 ing fhells of a large nature, with things 
 that afford fo little pleafure : but they 
 have a pretty good effedt in royal 
 fhells, when thrown among a number 
 of air works, fuch as pots des brins or 
 flights of rockets, in order to alarm 
 the people with a thundering in the air. 
 For they will not know from whence 
 the reports came, if fired exadtly at the 
 fame time with the other works, and 
 the fuze made to carry a fmall fire. But 
 if any one thinks proper to make large 
 balloons of this fort, it is only obferving 
 a proportion of the blowing and firing 
 powder, and the length of the fuze, for 
 fhells of the fame dimenfions as thofe 
 you intend to make. Thefe kind of 
 balloons are lighter than any other fort, 
 by reafon of the crackers being light 
 . of them felves, and not lying dole in 
 the fhells. It muff be obferved, when 
 you fire light balloons, not to put fo 
 much powder in the mortar as for heavy 
 ones. 
 
 Compound 
 
 i 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 n 5 
 
 Compound Eight-inch Balloons. 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 Meal powder — » 2 8 
 
 Corn powder — 1 12 
 
 Powder for the mortar — 94 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition one 
 eighth; four ounce cafes drove with 
 ftar compofition three eighths of an inch, 
 and bounced three diameters, fixteen. 
 Two ounce tailed ftars, fixteen. Two 
 ounce drove brilliant ftars, twelve. Silver 
 rain-falls, twenty. One ounce drove 
 blue ftars, twenty : and one ounce cafes 
 drove and bounced two diameters, as 
 many as will fill the fhell. 
 
 Another of Eight-inches.’ 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 Meal powder 28 
 
 Corn powder - — 1 12 
 
 Powder for the mortar —-94 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition one 
 inch one eighth ; crackers of fix reports, 
 ten. Gold rains, fourteen. Two ounce 
 I 2 cafes 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 i i 6 
 
 cafes drove with ftar compofition three 
 eighths of an inch, and bounced two 
 diameters, fixteen. Two ounce tailed 
 ftars, fixteen. Two ounce drove bril- 
 liant ftars, twelve. Silver rains, ten : 
 one ounce drove blue ftars, twenty : and 
 one ounce cafes drove with a brilliant 
 charge two diameters and bounced three, 
 as many as the ftiell will hold. 
 
 Another of Eight-inches. 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 Meal powder — — 2 12 
 
 Corn powder — — 20 
 
 Powder for the mortar - — 9 0 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition one 
 inch one fixteen th 5 crackers of fix re- 
 ports, ten. Gold rains, twenty. Two 
 ounce cafes drove with ftar compofition 
 half an inch, and bounced two diame- 
 ters fixteen. Two ounce drove brilliant 
 ftars, two ounce drove blue ftars, two 
 ounce drove coloured ftars, two ounce 
 drove tailed ftars, large ftrung ftars, and 
 rolled ftars, of each an equal quantity, 
 fufficient for the balloon. 
 
 For 
 
Artificial Fireworks. ny 
 
 For a compound Ten -inch Balloon. 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition fif- 
 teen fixteenths of an inch 3 one ounce 
 cafes drove and bounced three diameters, 
 fixteen. Crackers of eight reports, 
 twelve. Four ounce cafes drove half 
 an inch with liar compofition, and 
 bounced two diameters, fourteen. Two 
 ounce cafes drove with brilliant fire one 
 diameter and a quarter, and bounced two 
 diameters, fixteen. Two ounce drove 
 brilliant liars, thirty. T wo ounce drove 
 blue liars, thirty. Gold rains, twenty. 
 Silver rains, twenty : after all thefe are 
 put in, fill the remainder of the cafe 
 with tailed and rolled liars. 
 
 Meal powder — 
 
 Corn powder - — 
 
 Powder for the mortar 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 3 4 
 
 2 8 
 
 12 8 
 
 For 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 i i B 
 
 For a Ten-inch Balloon 
 Changes. 
 
 Meal powder — ~ 
 
 Corn powder — — — 
 
 Powder for the mortar — - ■ 
 
 of three 
 
 oz. dr. 
 
 3 ° 
 
 3 2 
 
 13. o 
 
 Length of the fuze compofition one 
 inch 5 the (hell muft be loaded with 
 two ounce cafes, drove with ftar com- 
 position a quarter of an inch, and on 
 that one diameter of gold fire, then 
 bounced three diameters; or with two 
 ounce cafes firft filled one diameter with 
 gold-fire, then a quarter of an inch with 
 ftar compofition, and on that one dia- 
 meter and a quarter of brilliant fire. 
 Thefe cafes muft be well fecured at top 
 of the charge, left they fhoiild take fire 
 at both ends, but their necks muft be 
 larger than the common proportion. 
 
 To make Balloon Fuzes. 
 
 Fuzes for air balloons are fornetimes 
 turned out of dry beech, with a cup at 
 
 top. 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 119 
 
 top, to hold the quick- match, as you 
 fee in Plate II. Fig. 28, but if made 
 with parted paper, they will do as well : 
 the diameter of the former for fuzqs for 
 coehorn balloons, muft be half an inch ; 
 for a royal fuze, five eighths of an inch ; 
 for an eight inch fuze, three quarters of 
 an inch ; and for a ten inch fuze, feven 
 eighths of an inch. Having rolled your 
 cafes, pinch and tie them almoft clofe at 
 one end; then drive them down, and 
 let them dry ; before you begin to fill 
 them, mark, on the outfide of the cafe, 
 the length of charge required, allowing 
 for the thicknefs of the bottom ; and 
 when you have rammed in the compofi- 
 tion, take two pieces of quick-match, 
 about fix inches long, and lay one end of 
 each on the charge, and then a little 
 meal powder, which ram down hard ; 
 the loofe ends of the match double up 
 into the top of the fuze, and cover it 
 with a paper cap to keep it dry. When 
 you put the rtiells in the mortars, uncap 
 the fuzes, and pul! out the loofe ends of 
 the match, and let them hang on the fides 
 of the balloons ; the ufe of the match 
 is, to receive the fire from the powder in 
 I 4 the 
 
120 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 the chamber of the mortar, in order to 
 light the fuze : the {hell being put in 
 the mortar with the fuze uppermoft, 
 and exactly in the center ; fprinkle over 
 it a little meal-powder, and it will be 
 ready to be fired. Fuzes made of wood 
 mu ft be longer than thofe of paper,, and 
 not bored quite through, but left folid 
 about half an inch at bottom ; and when 
 you life them, faw them off to a proper 
 length, meafuring the charge from the 
 cup at top. 
 
 Of Tourbiilons. 
 
 Having filled fome cafes within about 
 one diameter and a half, drive in a ladle 
 full of clay, then pinch their ends clofe, 
 and drive them down with a mallet ; 
 when done, find the center of gravity of 
 each cafe, where you nail and tie a flick 
 which fhould be half an inch broad at 
 the middle, and run a little narrower to 
 the ends thefe flicks mu ft have their 
 ends turned upwards, fo that the cafes 
 may turn horizontally on their centers : 
 at the oppofite Tides of the cafes at each 
 end, bore a hole clofe to the clay with 
 
 a eimblet. 
 
12 I 
 
 Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 a gimblet, the fize of the neck of a 
 common cafe of the fame nature ; from 
 thefe holes draw a line round the cafe, 
 and at the under part of the cafe bore a 
 hole, with the fame gimblet, within 
 half a diameter of each line towards 
 the center; then from one hole to the 
 other draw a rieht line. This line divide 
 into three equal parts, and at X and Y, 
 Fig. 29, Plate III. bore a hole, then 
 from thefe holes to the other two, lead 
 a quick-match, over which pafle a thin 
 paper. Fig. 30, reprefents a tour billon 
 as it fhould lay to be fired, with a lead- 
 er from one fide hole A, to the other 
 B. When you fire tourbillons, lay them 
 on a fmooth table, with their flicks 
 downwards, and bum the leader thro’ 
 the middle with a port fire. They 
 fhould fpin three or four feconds on the 
 table before they rife, which is about the 
 time the compofition will be burning, 
 from the fide holes to thofe at bottom. 
 
 To tourbillons may be fixed reports, 
 in this manner ; in the center of the 
 cafe at top, make a fmall hole, and in 
 the middle of the report make another ; 
 then, place them together, and tie on 
 the report, and with a Angle paper fe- 
 
 cure 
 
122 A Treatise on 
 
 core it from fire, this being done your 
 tourbillon is compleated. By this me- 
 thod you may fix on tourbillons, fmall 
 cones of ftars, rains, &c. but be care- 
 ful not to load them too much. One 
 eighth of an inch will be enough for 
 the thicknefs of the flicks, and their 
 length equal to that of the cafes. 
 
 The Manner of making Mortars, 
 for throwing Aigrettes and load- 
 ing and firing the fame. 
 
 Mortars ufed for throwing aigrettes are 
 generally made of pafte-board, of the 
 fame thicknefs as balloon mortars, and 
 two diameters and a half long in the 
 infide from the top of the foot ; the foot 
 muft be made of elm without a cham- 
 ber, but fiat at top, and in the fame pro- 
 portion as thofe for balloon mortars ; 
 thefe fort of mortars muft alfo be bound 
 round with cord as before mentioned ; 
 fometimes eight or nine of thefe fort of 
 mortars, of about three or four inches 
 diameter, are bound all together fo as 
 to appear but one j but when they are 
 made for this purpofe, the bottom of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 123 
 
 the foot muft be of the fame diameter 
 as the mortars ; and only half a diame- 
 ter high. Your mortars being bound 
 well together, fix them on a heavy fo- 
 lid block of wood : to load thefe mor- 
 tars, firft put on the infide bottom of 
 each, a piece of paper, and on it fpread 
 one ounce and a half of meal and com 
 powder mixed ; then tie your ferpents 
 up in parcels with quick-match, and 
 put them in the mortar with their mouths 
 downwards ; but take care that the par- 
 cels do not fit too tight in the mortars, 
 and that all the ferpents have been well 
 primed with powder, wetted with 
 fpirit of wine ; on the top of the fer- 
 pents in each mortar lay fome paper or 
 tow ; then carry a leader from one mor- 
 tar to the other all round, and then from 
 all the outfide mortars into that in the 
 middle ; thefe leaders muft be put be- 
 tween the cafes, and the fides of the 
 mortar down to the powder at bottom : 
 in the center of the middle mortar, fix a 
 fire-pump or brilliant fountain, which 
 muft be open at bottom, and long enough 
 to project out of the mouth of the mor- 
 tar ; then pafte paper on the tops of all 
 the mortars. 
 
 Mortars 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 124 
 
 Mortars thus prepared are called a 
 n eft of ferpents, as reprefented by Fig. 
 31. When you would fire thefe mor- 
 tars, light the fire-pump C, which 
 when con fumed will communicate to all 
 the mortars at once, by means of the 
 leaders. For mortars of fix, eight, or 
 ten inches diameter, the ferpents fhould 
 be made in one and two ounce cafes, fix 
 or feven inches long, and fired by a 
 leader, brought out of the mouth of 
 the mortar, and turned down the outfide, 
 and the end of it covered with paper, to 
 prevent the fparks of the other works 
 from fetting it on fire. For a fix inch 
 mortar, let the quantity of powder for 
 firing be two ounces ; for an eight inch, 
 two ounces and three Quarters ; and for 
 
 X 
 
 a ten inch, three ounces and three quar- 
 ters ; care muft be taken in thefe as well 
 as fmall mortars, not to put the ferpents 
 in too tight, for fear of burftirsg the 
 mortars. Thefe fort of mortars may be 
 loaded with ftars, crackers, &c. 
 
 If the mortars, when loaded, are to 
 be fent any diftance, or liable to be much 
 moved, the firing powder fhould be fe- 
 cured from getting amongft the ferpents, 
 which would endanger the mortars, as 
 
 well 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 125 
 
 well as hurt their performance ; to pre- 
 vent which, load your mortars after this 
 manner ; firft put in the firing powder 
 and fpread it equally , about ; then cut 
 a round piece of blue touch-paper, 
 equal to the exterior diameter of the 
 mortar, and draw/ on it a circle, equal 
 to the interior diameter of the mortar, 
 and notch it all round as far as that cir- 
 cle ; then pafle that part which is notch- 
 ed, and put it down the mortar clofe to 
 the powder, and flick the palled edge 
 to the mortar ; this will keep the pow- 
 der always fmooth at bottom, fo that 
 it may be moved or carried any where, 
 without receiving any damage. The 
 large fingle mortars are called pots des 
 aigrettes. 
 
 The Manner of making, loading, 
 and firing oi Pots des Brins. 
 
 Thefe pots. are made of pafle-bcard, 
 and mufl be rolled pretty thick * they 
 are ufually made three or four inches 
 diameter, and four diameters long, and 
 pinched with a neck at one end, like 
 common cafes $ a number of thefe are 
 
 placed 
 
126 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 placed on a plank in the following man- 
 mer : having fixed on a plank, two 
 rows of wooden pegs, cut, in the bot- 
 tom of the plank, a groove the whole 
 length under each row of pegs ; then, 
 through the centre of each peg, bore a 
 hole down to the groove at bottom, and 
 on every peg fix and glue a pot, whofe 
 mouth muft fit tight on the peg; thro’ 
 all the holes run a quick-match, one 
 end of which muft go into the pot, and 
 the other into the groove, which muft 
 have a match laid in it from end to end, 
 and covered with paper, fo that when 
 lighted at one end, it may difcharge the 
 whole almoft inftantaneoufly : in all the 
 pots put about one ounce of meal and 
 corn powder ; then in fome put ftars, 
 and others rains, fnakes, ferpents, crack- 
 ers, &c. when they are all loaded, pafte 
 paper over their mouths. Two or three 
 hundred of thefe pots being fired toge- 
 ther, make a very pretty fhow, by af- 
 fording fo great a variety of fires. Fig. 
 32, is a range of pots des brins, with 
 the leader A, by which they are fired. 
 
 Of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 127 
 
 Of Pots des Sauciffons. 
 
 Sauciffons are generally fired out of 
 large mortars without chambers, the 
 fame as thofe for aigrettes, only fome- 
 what ftronger : fauciflons are made of 
 
 O 
 
 one and two ounce cafes, five or fix 
 inches long, and choaked in the fame 
 manner as ferp.ents ; half the number 
 which the mortar contains, muft be 
 drove one diameter and a half with 
 compofition, and the other half two 
 diameters, fo that when fired they may 
 give two volleys of reports ; but if the 
 mortars be very ftrong, and will bear a 
 fufficient charge, to throw the fauciflons 
 very high, you may make three volleys 
 of reports, by dividing the number of 
 cafes into three parts, and making a dif- 
 ference in the height of the charge : 
 after they are filled, pinch and tie them 
 at top of the charge, almoft clofe; only 
 leaving a fmall vent to communicate the 
 fire to the upper part of the cafe, which 
 muft be filled with corn powder very 
 near the top ; then pinch the end quite 
 clofe, and tie it ; after this is done, bind 
 the cafe very tight with waxed pack-* 
 
 thread, 
 
328 * A Treatise on 
 
 thread, from the choak at top of the 
 compofition, to the end of the cafes 
 this will make the cafe very flrong in 
 that part, and caufe the report to be 
 very loud : fauciffons fhould be rolled a 
 little thicker of paper than the common 
 proportion. When they are to be put 
 in the mortar, they mu ft be primed in 
 their mouths, and fired by a cafe of 
 brilliant fire, fixed in their center. 
 
 The charge for thefe fort of mortars 
 fhould be one fixth, or one eighth, more 
 than for pots des aigrettes of the fame 
 diameter. 
 
 To fix one Rocket on the Top of 
 another. 
 
 » 
 
 When fky rockets are thus managed, 
 they are called towering rockets, on 
 account of their mounting fo very high. 
 Towering rockets are made after this 
 manner ; fix on a pound rocket a head 
 without a collar ; then take a four ounce 
 rocket, which may be headed or bounc- 
 ed, and rub the mouth of it with meal 
 powder wetted with fpirit of wine, when 
 done put it in the head of the large rocket 
 
 with 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 129 
 
 with its mouth downwards ; but before 
 you put it in, flick a bit quick-match in 
 the hole in the day of the pound rock- 
 et, which match fhould belong enough 
 to go a little way up the bore of the 
 fmall rocket, in order to fire it, when 
 the large one is burnt out; the four 
 ounce rocket being too fmall to fill the 
 head of the other, roll round it as much 
 tow as will make it fland upright in the 
 center of the head : the rocket being 
 thus fixed, pafce a Angle paper round the 
 opening of the top of the head of the 
 large rocket. The large rocket muft 
 have only half a diameter of charge 
 rammed above the piercer, for if filled 
 to the ufual height, it would turn be- 
 fore the fmall one takes fire, and en- 
 tirely deftroy the intended effed: ; when 
 one rocket is headed with another, there 
 will be no occafion for any blowing pow- 
 der ; for the force with which it lets off, 
 will be fufficient to d if n gage it from the 
 head ,of the firft fired rocket,, The 
 flicks for thefe fort of rockets, muft be 
 a little longer than for thofe headed with 
 ftars, rains, &c. 
 
 Of 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 Of Caduceus Rockets. 
 
 C&duceus rockets in rifing form two 
 fpiral lines, or double worm, by reafon 
 of their being placed obliquely, one op- 
 polite the other ; and their counterpoife 
 in their center, which caufes them to 
 rife in a vertical diredion. Rockets for 
 this purpofe, mud have their ends choak- 
 ed clofe, without either head or bounce ; 
 for a weight at top, would be a great 
 obfcrudion to their mounting ; though 
 I have known them feme times to be 
 bounced, but then they did not rife fo 
 high as thofe that were not, nor do any 
 Caduceous rockets afcend fo high as 
 Angle, ones ; becaufe of their ferpentine 
 motion, and like wife the refiflance of 
 air, which is much greater than two 
 rockets of the fame lize would meet 
 with, if fired fingly. 
 
 By Fig. 33. you fee the method of 
 fixing thefe rockets : the flicks for this 
 purpofe, mull have all their fides equal, 
 which fides fhould be equal to the 
 breadth of a flick, proper for a fky 
 rocket of the fame weight as thofe you 
 intend to ufe, and to taper downwards 
 
 as 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 131 
 
 as ufual, long enough to ballance them, 
 one length of a rocket, from the crofs 
 flick ; which mu ft be placed from the 
 large ftick, fix diameters of one of the 
 rockets, and its length feven diameters fo 
 that each rocket when tied on, may form 
 with the large ftick an angle of fixty de- 
 grees. In tying on the rockets, place 
 their heads on the oppofite fides of the 
 crofs ftick; and their ends on the oppofite 
 fides of the long ftick, then carry a leader 
 from the mouth of one, into that of the 
 other. When thefe rockets are to be 
 fired, fufpend them between two hooks 
 or nails, then bum the leader through 
 the middle, and both will take fire at the 
 fame time. Rockets of one pound, are 
 a good fize, for this ufe. 
 
 Of Honorary Rockets. 
 
 Honorary rockets are the fame as iky 
 rockets, except that they carry no head 
 nor report, but are clofed at top, on 
 which is fixed a cone, then on the cafe, 
 clofe to the top of the ftick, you tie a 
 two ounce cafe, about five or fix inches 
 long, filled with a ftrong charge, and 
 pinched clofe at both ends; then in the 
 K 2 reverfe 
 
132 A Treatise om 
 
 reverfe fides at each end, bore a hole* 
 in the fame manner as in Tourbillons > 
 from each hole, carry a leader, into the 
 top of the rocket. When the rocket is 
 fired, and arrived to its proper height, 
 it will give fire to the cafe at top, which 
 will caufe both rocket and flick, to fpin 
 very faft, in their return, and reprefent 
 a worm of fire, defcending to the 
 ground. 
 
 There is another method of placing 
 the fmall cafe, which is by letting the 
 flick rife a little above the top of the 
 rocket, and tying the cafe to it, fo as to 
 reft on the rocket: thefe fort of rockets 
 have no cones. 
 
 There is alfo a third method, by 
 which thefe kind of rockets are manag- 
 ed, which is thus : In the top of the 
 rocket fix a piece of wood, in which 
 drive a fmall iron fpindle, then make a 
 hole in the middle of the fmall cafe, 
 through which put the fpindle ; then 
 fix on the top of it a nut, to keep the 
 cafe from falling off ; when this is done, 
 the cafe will turn very faft, without the 
 rocket : but this method does not anfwer 
 fo well, as cither of the former. 
 
 Fig. 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 133 
 
 Fsg. 34. is a honorary rocket corn- 
 pleat. The heft fized rockets for this 
 purpofe are thofe of one pound. 
 
 To divide the Tail of a Sky 
 Rocket, fo as to form an Arch 
 when afcending. 
 
 Having fome rockets made* and head- 
 ed according to fancy, and tied on their 
 flicks ; get fome fheet tin, and cut it 
 into round pieces, about three or four 
 inches diameter, then on the flick of 
 each rocket, under the mouth of the 
 cafe, fix one of thefe pieces of tin ; fix- 
 teen inches from the rockets neck, and 
 fupport it by a wooden bracket, as ftrong 
 as pofiible : the ufe of this, is, that when 
 the rocket is afcending, the fire v/ill play 
 with great force on the tin, which will 
 divide the tail in fuch a manner, that 
 it will form an arch, as it mounts, (and 
 will have a very good effedl if well ma- 
 naged) if there be a fliort piece of port- 
 fire, of a ftrong charge, tied to the end of 
 the flick, it will make a great addition; 
 but this muft be lighted, before you 
 fire the rocket. 
 
 K 3 
 
 To 
 
i34 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 To make feveral Sky Rockets, 
 rife together, in the fame direc- 
 tion, and equally diftant from 
 each other. 
 
 Take fix or any number of fky rock- 
 ets, of what fize you pleafe ; then cut 
 fome ftrong pack-thread, into pieces of 
 three or four yards long, and tie each 
 end of thefe pieces to a rocket in this 
 manner. Having tied one end of your 
 pack-thread, round the body, of one 
 rocket, and the other end to another ; 
 take a fecond piece of pack-thread and 
 make one end of it fail to one of the 
 rockets already tied, and the other end 
 to a third rocket, fo that all the rockets 
 except the two outfide ones will be faf- 
 tened to two pieces of pack-thread; 
 the length of thread, from one rocket 
 to the other, may be what the maker 
 pleafes ; but the rockets muft be all of 
 a fize, and their heads filled with the 
 fame weight of ftars, rains, &c. 
 
 Having thus done, fix in the mouth 
 of each rocket, a leader of the fame 
 length ; and, when you are going to 
 
 fire 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 135 
 
 fire them, hang them almoft clofe to- 
 gether, then tie the ends of the leaders 
 together, and prime them • this prime 
 being fired, all the rockets will mount 
 at the fame time, and divide themfelves 
 as far as the firings will allow; which 
 divifion they will keep, provided they 
 are all rammed alike, and well made. 
 Thefe fort of rockets, are called by fome, 
 chained-rockets. 
 
 Of Signal Skv Rockets. 
 
 Signal-rockets are made of feveral 
 forts, according to the different fignals 
 intended to be given : but in Artificial 
 Fireworks, two forts are only made 
 ufe of, which are one with reports, and 
 the other without any thing, except the 
 charge ; but thofe for the ufe of the 
 Navy and Army, are headed with ftars, 
 ferpents, &c. — — Rockets which are 
 to be bounced, muft have their cafes 
 made one and a half or two diameters 
 longer, than the common proportion, 
 and after they are filled, drive in a dou- 
 ble quantity of clay, then bounce and 
 pinch them, after the ufual manner, and 
 fix on each a cap. 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 136 
 
 Signal iky rockets without bounces, 
 are nothing more than common iky 
 rockets, clofed and caped : rockets of 
 this fort are very light, therefore do not 
 require fuch heavy flicks as thofe with 
 loaded heads, for which reafon, you 
 may cut one length of the rocket, off* 
 the flick, or elfe make them thinner. 
 
 Signal rockets with reports, are fome- 
 times fired in final! flights, and often 
 both thefe and thofe without reports, 
 are ufed, for a fignal, to begin firing a 
 colledion of works ; and occafionally, 
 for many other purpofes. 
 
 How to fix two or more Sky Rock- 
 ets on one ftick. 
 
 Two, three, or fix iky rockets, fixed 
 on one flick, and fired together, make 
 a grand and beautiful appearance ; for 
 the tails of all will feem but as one of 
 an immenfe fize, and the breaking of fo 
 many heads at once, will refemble the 
 burfling of an air balloon ; but the ma- 
 nagement of this device, requires a 
 ikilful hand ; therefore for the encou- 
 ragement of thofe who are fond of cu- 
 rious performances, I fhall give fuch in- 
 
 ftrudions. 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 137 
 
 ftruftions, that, if well obferved, even 
 by thofe who have not made a great pro- 
 grefs in this art, there will be no doubt, 
 of the rockets having the defined effect. 
 
 Rockets for this purpofe, muft be 
 ^iade with the greateft exa&nefs, all 
 rammed by the fame hand, in the fame 
 mould, and out of the one proportion 
 of compofition; and after they are filled 
 and headed, muft all be of the fame 
 weight ; the ftick muft alfo be well 
 made, (and proportioned) according to 
 the following directions : firft fuppofing 
 your rockets to be half pounders, 
 whofe fticks are fix feet fix inches long, 
 then if two, three, or fix of thefe are 
 to be fixed on one ftick, let the length 
 of it, be nine feet nine inches, then cut 
 the top of it, into as many fides, as there 
 are rockets, and let the length of each 
 fide be equal to the length of one 
 of the rockets without its head; and in 
 each fide, cut a groove (as ufual,) then 
 from the grooves, plane it round, down 
 to the bottom, where its thicknefs muft 
 be equal to half the top of the round 
 part. As the thicknefs of thefe fort of 
 fticks, cannot be exactly afcertained, I 
 ihall give a rule which generally anfwers, 
 for any number of rockets above two: 
 
138 A Treatise on 
 
 the rule is this ; that the flick at top, 
 muft be thick enough when the grooves 
 are cut, for all the rockets to lay, with- 
 out prefling each other, though as near 
 together as poflible. 
 
 When only two rockets, are to be^ 
 fixed on one flick, let the length of the 
 flick be according to the laft given pro- 
 portion, but fliaped after the common 
 method, and the breadth and thicknefs, 
 double the dimenfions, given in the ta- 
 ble page, 94. The point of poife, 
 muft be in the ufual place, (let the num- 
 ber of rockets be what they will : if 
 
 flicks made by the above directions, 
 fhould be too heavy, plane them thin- 
 ner ; and if too light, make them thick- 
 er $ but always make them of the fame 
 length. 
 
 When more than two rockets, are 
 tied on one flick, there will be feme 
 danger, of their flying up without the 
 flick, unlefs the following precaution 
 be taken, for cafes being placed on all 
 fides, there can be no notches, for the 
 cord which ties on the rockets, to lay 
 in ; therefore inftead of notches, drive a 
 fmall nail, in each fide of the flick, be- 
 tween the necks of the cafes ; and let the 
 cord which goes round their necks, be 
 
 brought 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 139 
 
 brought clofe under the nails; by this 
 means, the rockets will be as fecure, 
 as when tied on fingly. Your rockets 
 being thus fixed, carry a quick-match 
 without a pipe, from the mouth of one 
 rocket to the other; this match being 
 lighted will give lire to all the rockets 
 at once. 
 
 Notwithftanding the directions al- 
 ready given, may be fufficient, for the 
 management of thofe fort of rockets; I 
 fhail here add an improvment, of my 
 own, on a very efiential part of this de- 
 vice, which is, that of hanging the 
 rockets, to be fired ; for before I hit 
 upon the following method, many of my 
 efiays, proved unfuccefsful ; but to pre- 
 vent fuch perplexities, inftead of the old 
 and common manner of hanging them on 
 nails or hooks, make ufe of this con- 
 trivance, have a ring made of ftrong 
 iron wire, large enough for the flick to 
 go in, as far as the mouths of the rock- 
 ets, then let this ring be fupported by a 
 final! iron, at fome diltance, from the 
 poft or Hand, to w'hich it is fixed; then 
 have another ring, fit to receive and 
 guide the fm all end of the flick ; rock- 
 ets thus fufpended w r ill have nothing to 
 obfiruCt their fire; but when they are 
 
140 A Treatise on 
 
 hung on nails or hooks, in fuch a man- 
 ner, that fome of their mouths, are 
 againft or upon a rail, there can be no 
 certainty of their rifing, in a vertical 
 direction. 
 
 Of Sky Rockets without flicks. 
 
 To fire rockets without fticks, you 
 muft have a ftand made in this manner; 
 get a block of wood, one foot diameter 
 or there abouts, and make the bottom 
 of it flat, fo that it may ftand fteady ; 
 in the center of the top of this block, 
 draw a circle two inches and a half dia- 
 meter, and divide the circumference of 
 it into three equal parts; then take three 
 pieces of thick iron wire, each about 
 three feet in length, and drive them into 
 the block, one at each point made on 
 the circle ; when thefe wires, are drove 
 in, deep enough to hold them faft, and 
 upright, fo that the diftance from one to 
 the other, be the fame at top, as at bot- 
 tom, the ftand is compleat. 
 
 The ftand being thus made, prepare 
 your rockets after the following method ; 
 take fome common Iky rockets, of any 
 fize, and head them as you pleafe, then 
 
 get 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 141 
 
 get fome balls of lead, and tie to each a 
 fmall wire, two, or two feet and a half 
 long, and the other end of each wire, 
 tie to the neck of a rocket; thefe balls 
 anfwerthe purpofe of flicks, when made 
 of a proper weight, which is about 
 two thirds the weight of the rocket ; but 
 when they are of a proper fize, they 
 will ballance the rocket in the fame man- 
 ner as a flick, at the ufual point of poize. 
 To fire thefe fort of rockets, hang them, 
 one at a time, between the tops of the 
 wires, letting their heads reft on the 
 points of the wires, and the balls hang 
 down between them ; if the wires 
 fhould. be too wide, for the rockets, 
 prefs them together, till they fit, and if 
 too clofe, force them open: the wires 
 for this purpofe, muft be foftened, fo 
 as not to have any fpring, or they will not 
 keep their pofition, when preffed clofe 
 or opened. 
 
 Of Rain* falls for Sky Rockets, 
 Double and Single. 
 
 Gold and filver rain compofition, are 
 drove in cafes, that are pinched quite 
 clofe at one end; if you roll them dry, 
 
 four 
 
142 A Treatise on 
 
 four or five rounds of paper will be 
 ftrong enough, but if the are parted, 
 three rounds will do, and the thin fort 
 of cartridge paper is beft for thofe fmall 
 cafes 5 which in rolling you muft not 
 turn down the infide edge, as in other 
 cafes, for a double edge would be too 
 thick for fo fmall a bore ; the moulds 
 for rain falls, fhould be made of brafs, 
 and turned very fmooth in the infide ; or 
 the cafes, which are fo very thin, would 
 tear in coming out, for the charge muft 
 he drove in tight ; and the better the cafe 
 fits the mould, the more driving it will 
 bare. Thefe moulds have no nipple, but 
 inftead of which they are made flat; as 
 it would be very tedious and trouble- 
 fome, to (hake the compofition out of 
 fuch fmall ladles, as are ufed for thefe 
 cafes ; it will be neceffary to have a fun- 
 nel made of thin tin, to fit on the top 
 of the cafe, by the help of which you 
 may fill them very faft; for fingle rain 
 falls for four ounce rockets, let the dia- 
 meter of the former be two fifteenths 
 of an inch, and the length of the cafe 
 two inches ; for eight ounce rockets, 
 four fifteenths, and two diameters of 
 the rocket long ; for one pound rocket 
 five fifteenths, and two diameters of the 
 
 rocket 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 143 
 
 rocket long; for two pound rockets, 
 five fixteenths, and three inches a half 
 long ; for four pound rockets, fix fix- 
 teenths, and four inches and a half long; 
 and for fix pounders, feven fixteenths 
 diameter, and five inches long. 
 
 Of double rain falls, there are two 
 forts ; as for example, fome appear firft 
 like a ftar, and then as rain ; and fome 
 appear firft as rain and then like a ftar : 
 when you would have ftars firft; you 
 muft fill the cafes within half an inch 
 of the top, with rain compofition, and 
 the remainder with ftar compofition; 
 but when you intend the rain fhould be 
 firft, drive the cafe half an inch with 
 ftar compofition, and the reft with rain. 
 By this method, may be made many 
 changes of fire; for in large rockets, 
 you may make them firft burn as ftars, 
 then rain, and then again as ftars, or 
 they may firft fhew rain, then ftars, and 
 afterwards finifti with a report, but 
 when they are thus managed, cut open 
 the firft rammed end, after they are filled 
 and bounced, at which place prime 
 them ; the ftar compofition for this pur- 
 pofe muft be a little ftronger than for 
 rolled ftars. 
 
 Of 
 
144 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Of Strung Stars. 
 
 Firft take fome thin paper, and cut it 
 into pieces of an inch and a half fquare,or 
 therabouts, then on each piece lay as much 
 dry ftar compolition as you think the 
 paper will eafily contain ; then twift up 
 the paper as tight as you can ,* when done, 
 rub fome paft on your hands, and roll 
 the ftars between them, then fet them 
 to dry ; your ftars being thus made, get 
 fome flax or fine tow, and roll a little of 
 it over each ftar, then pafte your hands 
 and roll the ftars as before, and fet them 
 again to dry ; when they are quite dry, 
 with a piercer, make a hole through the 
 middle of each, into which run a cotton 
 quick-match, long enough to hold, ten 
 or twelve ftars, at three or four inches 
 from one another : but any number of 
 ftars may be ftrung together by joining 
 the match. 
 
 Of Tailed Stars. 
 
 Thofe fort of ftars are called tailed 
 ftars, becaufe there are a great number 
 of fparks iffue from them, which re- 
 4 prefent 
 
Artificial Fireworks/ 145 
 
 prefent a tail like that of a comet; of 
 thofe ftars there are two forts, which 
 are rolled, and drove ; when they are 
 rolled they muft be moiftened, with a 
 liquor made of half a pint of fpirit of 
 wine, and half a gil of thin fize, of this 
 as much as will wet the compofition 
 enough, to make it roll eafy ; when they 
 are rolled, fift meal powder over them, 
 and fet them to dry. 
 
 When tailed ftars are drove, the 
 compofition muft be moiftened with {pi- 
 nt of wine only, and not made fo wet 
 as for rolling ; one and two ounce cafes 
 rolled dry, are beft for this purpofe; 
 and when they are filled, unroll the cafe 
 within- three or four rounds of the charge, 
 and all that you unroll cut off, then pafte 
 down the loofe edge ; two or three days 
 after the cafes are filled, cut them in 
 pieces five or fix eighths of an inch in 
 length, then melt fome wax, and dip 
 one end of each piece into it, fo as to 
 cover the compofition; the other end 
 muft be rubbed with meal powder wetted 
 with fpirit of wine. 
 
 h 
 
 Of 
 
146 A Treatise cm 
 
 Of Drove Stars. 
 
 Cafes for drove ftars, are rolled with 
 pafte, but are made very thin of paper ; 
 before you begin to fill them, damp the 
 compofition, with fpirit of wine that 
 has had fome camphor diffolved in it; 
 you may ram them indifferently hard, 
 fo that you do not break, or fack the 
 cafe, and to prevent which they fhould 
 fit tight, in the mould : they are drove in 
 cafes of feveral fizes, from eight drams 
 to four ounces ; when they are filled in 
 half ounce cafes, cut them in pieces, of 
 three quarters of an inch in length ; if 
 one ounce cafes, cut them in pieces of 
 one inch ; if two ounce cafes, cut them 
 in pieces of one inch and a quarter in 
 length, and if four ounce cafes, cut 
 them in pieces one inch and a half in 
 length ; having cut your ftars of a pro» 
 per iize, prime them at both ends, with 
 wet meal powder ; ftars of this fort are 
 feldom put in rockets, they being chiefly 
 intended for air balloons, and drove in 
 cafes, to prevent the compofition from 
 being broke by the force of the blowing 
 
 powder in the fhelL 
 
 * 
 
 Of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 147 
 
 Of Rolled Stars. 
 
 Rolled ftars are commonly made a- 
 bout the fize of a mufket ball, though 
 they are rolled of feveral fizes, from the 
 bignefs of a piftol ball, to one inch dia- 
 meter ; and fometimes they are made 
 very fmall, but then they are called 
 fparks ; great care muft be taken in ma- 
 king of lbars, firft, that the feveral ingre- 
 dients be reduced to a fine powder ; fe- 
 condly, that the compofition be well 
 worked and mixed together. Before you 
 begin to roll, take about a pound of 
 compofition, and wet it with the follow- 
 ing liquid, enough to make it ftick to- 
 gether and roll eafy ; fpirit of wine, one 
 quart, in which diffolve a quarter of an 
 ounce of ifinglafs ; if a great quantity of 
 compofition be wetted at once, the fpirit, 
 will evaporate, and leave it dry, before 
 you can roll it into ftars ; having rolled 
 up one proportion, fhake the ftars in 
 meal powder, and fet them to dry, 
 which they will do in three or four days. 
 But if you fhould want them for imme- 
 diate ufe, dry them in an earthen pan 
 over a flow heat, or, in an oven : it being 
 L 2 very 
 
148 A Treatise on 
 
 very difficult to make the ftars all of an 
 equal fize, when the compolition is ta- 
 ken up promifcuoufly with the fingers ; 
 therefore I (hall here fet down a me- 
 thod by which you may make them very 
 ex aft, which is thus : When the mixture 
 is moiftened properly, roll it on a flat 
 fmooth {tone, and cut it into fquare 
 pieces, making each fquare, large e- 
 nough for the ftars you intend ; there is 
 another method ufed by fome to make 
 ftars, which is by rolling the compofi- 
 tion, in long pieces, and then cutting 
 off the ftar, lo that each ftar will be of 
 a cylindrical form ; but this method is 
 not fo good as the former, for to make 
 the compofition roll this way, it muff 
 be made very wet, which makes the 
 ftars heavy as well as weaken them. 
 All ftars muft be kept as much from 
 air, as poffible, other wife they will grow 
 weak and bad. 
 
 Of Scrolls for Sky Rockets. 
 
 Cafes for fcrolls, fhould be made four 
 or five inches in length, and their inte- 
 rior diameter three eighths of an inch; 
 one end of thefe cafes muft be pinched 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 149 
 
 quite clofe, before you begin to fill, and 
 and when filled, clofe the other end, 
 then in the oppofite fides make a fmall 
 hole at each end, to the compofition, in 
 the fame manner as in Tourbillons ; and 
 prime them with wet meal powder : you 
 may put in the head of a rocket, as ma- 
 ny of thefe cafes as it will contain; thefe 
 cales being fired turn very quick in the 
 air, and form a fcroll or fpiral line. 
 They are generally filled with a ftrong 
 charge, as that of ferpents, or brilli- 
 ant fire. 
 
 Of Swarmers or fmall Rockets. 
 
 Rockets which go under the deno- 
 mination of fwarmers, are thoie from 
 two ounces downards. Thefe fmall rock- 
 ets are fired fometimes, in flights, and 
 in large water- works, &c. Swarmers of 
 one and two ounces, are bored, and made 
 in the fame manner as large rockets, ex- 
 cept when headed, their heads muft be 
 put on without a collar; the number of 
 ftrokes, for driving one ounce rockets, 
 muft be eight; and for two ounce rock- 
 ets, twelve. 
 
 L 3 
 
 All 
 
150 A Treatise on 
 
 All rockets under one ounce, are not 
 bored, but mud be filled to the ufual 
 height, with compofition, which is ge- 
 nerally compofed, of fine meal prowder 
 four ounces, and charcoal or fteel duft 
 two drams ; the number of ftrokes for 
 ramming thefe fmall fwarmers, is not 
 very material, fo as they are rammed 
 true, and moderately hard. The necks 
 of unbored rockets, mu ft be in the fame 
 proportion, as in common cafes. 
 
 Of the caufe of Iky Rockets rifing. 
 
 Havingpromi- 
 fed in the fecond 
 fedion, to prove 
 that the effed of 
 fky rockets, and 
 proportion of 
 their charge, de- 
 pends on the fize 
 of the cavity in 
 the compofition ; 
 I fhall here en- 
 deavour to give 
 ga mathematical 
 demonftration 
 thereof. 
 
 Let 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 151 
 
 Let ABC be the hollow cone for the 
 fire, AYCZB, the fuperficies of that 
 cone, all the lines OZ at ri?ht anp-les 
 with BC, all the lines O Y at right an- 
 gles with AC : now all the angles ZO Y 
 being towards R, whether the angles ZOY 
 are obtufe or acute, but the more acute 
 the better. The rays of fire ZO and 
 Y O iffuing from the fides of the cone 
 BC and AC, and continually acting 
 with the greater force one upon another 
 at O, forcing the whole BCA upward 
 from the point R ; and the wider the 
 cone is, (fo as not to exceed one third at 
 bottom, and one fixth at top, of the ex- 
 terior diameter of the rocket,) the great- 
 er velocity will the rocket rife with. 
 
 Of Stands for Sky Rockets. 
 
 Care mu ft be taken, in placing the 
 rockets, when they are to be fired, in 
 order to give them a vertical direction at 
 their firft fetting out; which may be 
 managed thus. Have two rails of wood, 
 of any length, fupported, at each end, by 
 a perpendicular leg, fo that the rails be 
 horizontal, and let the diftance from one 
 to the other, be almoft equal to the 
 L 4 length 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 152 
 
 length of the flicks of the rockets, in- 
 tended to be fired ; then in the front of 
 the top rail, drive fquare hooks at eight 
 inches diflance from one another, with 
 their points turning fideways, fo that 
 when the rockets are hung on them, the 
 points will be before the flicks, and keep 
 them from falling, or being blown off by 
 the wind ; in the front of the rail at bot- 
 tom, muft be flaples, drove perpendicu- 
 lar under the hooks at top; through 
 thefe flaples, put the fmall ends of the 
 rocket flicks. Rockets are fired by ap- 
 plying a lighted port fire, to their 
 mouths. 
 
 N. B. When fky rockets are made to 
 perfection, and fired, they will ftand 
 two or three feconds on the hook before 
 they rife, and then mount up brifkly, 
 with a fteady motion, carrying a large 
 tail from the ground all the way up, 
 and juft as they turn, break and difperfe 
 the ftars. 
 
 Of Griandole Cbefts, lor flights 
 of Rockets. 
 
 Griandole chefts, are generally compo- 
 fed of four fides, of equal dimenfions, 
 
 but 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 153 
 
 but may be made of any diameter, ac- 
 cording to the number of rockets, de- 
 figned to be fired ; its height mud be in 
 proportion to the rockets, but muff al- 
 ways be a little higher than the rockets, 
 with their flicks; when the fides are 
 joined, fix in the top, as far down the 
 chefl as the length of one of the rockets 
 with its cap on. In this top, make as 
 many fquare or round holes, to recieve 
 the rocket flicks, as you intend to have 
 rockets, but let the diflance between 
 them, be fufficient for the rockets to 
 Hand without touching one another; 
 then from one hole to another, cut a 
 groove, large enough for a quick-match 
 to lay in : the top being thus fixed, put 
 in the bottom, at about one foot and a 
 half diflance from the bottom of the 
 chefl ; in this bottom mud be as many 
 holes, as in the top, and all to correspond, 
 but thefe holes need not be fo large, as 
 thofe in the top. 
 
 To prepare your chefl, you mud lay 
 a quick-match, in all the grooves, from 
 hole to hole ; then take fome fky rockets, 
 and mb them in the mouth, with wet 
 meal powder, and put a bit of match up 
 the cavity of each, which match, mud 
 be lone enoueh, to hane, a little below 
 
154 A Treatise on 
 
 the mouth of the rocket ; your rockets 
 and cheft being prepared, according to 
 the above directions, put the flicks of 
 the rockets, through the holes in the 
 top and bottom of the cheft, fo that 
 their mouths may reft on the quick- 
 match in the grooves ; by which all the 
 rockets, will be fired at once ; for by gi- 
 ving fire to any part of the match, it will 
 communicate to all the rockets, in an 
 inftant. As it would be rather trouble- 
 fome, to direCt the flicks from the top, 
 to the proper holes in the bottom, it will 
 be neceffary to have a fmall door in one 
 of the fides, which w'hen opened, you 
 rnay fee how to place the flicks. Flights 
 of rockets, being feldom fired at the 
 beginning of any fireworks, for which 
 reafon, they are in danger of being fired, 
 by the fparks from wheels, &c. There- 
 fore to preferve them, a cover fhould be 
 made to fit on the cheft, and the door 
 in the fide kept fhut. 
 
 Of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 *55 
 
 Of Serpents or Snakes for Pots des 
 Aigrettes, Small Mortars, Sky- 
 Rockets, &c. 
 
 Serpents for this ufe, are made from 
 two inches and and an half, to feven in- 
 ches in length, and their formers from 
 three fixteenths, to five eights of an inch 
 diameter, but the diameter of the cafes, 
 inuft always be equal to two diameters 
 of the former ; thev are rolled and choa- 
 ked like other cafes, and filled with 
 compofition from five eights of an inch, 
 to one inch and an half high, according 
 to the fize of the mortars, or rockets, 
 they are defigned for, and the remaind- 
 er of the cafes, bounced with corn- 
 powder, and afterwards their ends 
 pinched and tied clofe : before they are 
 ufed their mouths muft be primed with 
 wet meal-powder. 
 
 Of Leaders, or Pipes of Com- 
 munication. 
 
 The belt paper for leaders, is a large 
 fort of white paper, called Elephant, 
 
 which 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 i 5 6 
 
 which you cut into long flips, two or 
 three inches broad, fo that they may go 
 three or four times round the former, 
 (but not more) for when they are very 
 thick, they are too ftrong for the paper 
 which faftens them to the works, and 
 will fometimes fly off*, without leading 
 the fire : the formers for thefe leaders, 
 are made from two, to fix fixteenths of 
 an inch diameter, but four fixteenths is 
 the fize generally made ufe of ; the for- 
 mers are made of fmooth brafs wire ; 
 when you ufe them, mb them over with 
 greafe, . or keep them wet with pafle, to 
 prevent their flicking to the paper, 
 which mull be palled all over; in rol- 
 ling of pipes, make ufe of a rolling 
 board, but ufe it lightly ; having rolled a 
 pipe, draw out the former with one 
 hand, holding the pipe, as light as pofli- 
 ble with the other, for if it prefs againftr 
 the former, it will flick and tear 
 the paper. 
 
 N. B. Make your leaders of different 
 lengths, or in cloathing of works, you 
 will cut a great many to wafle, Lead- 
 ers for marron Batteries mu ft be made 
 of ftrong cartrige paper. 
 
 SECT. 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 157 
 
 SECT. V. 
 
 Of Aquatick Fireworks. 
 
 L L works that fhew themfelves 
 
 in the water, are much admi- 
 
 red by moft people who are fond of fire- 
 works, particularly water rockets ; but 
 as thefe feem of a very extraordinary na- 
 ture to thofe who are acquainted with 
 this art, I fhall endeavour to explain 
 the method of making them, in as full 
 and eafy a manner as pofiible, as well as 
 other devices for the water. 
 
 Of Water Rockets. 
 
 Water rockets may be made from 
 four ounces, to two pound, but if larger 
 they are too heavy, fo that it will be 
 
 difficult 
 
i £8 A Treatise on 
 
 difficult to make them keep above wa- 
 ter* without a cork float, which mu ft be 
 tied to the neck of the cafe, but the 
 rockets will not dive fo well with, as 
 without floats. 
 
 Cafes for water rockets, are made in 
 the fame manner and proportion as fky 
 rockets, only a little thicker of paper; 
 when you fill thefe rockets which are 
 drove folid, put in firft, one ladle full of 
 .flow fire, then two of the proper charge, 
 and on that one or two ladles of finking 
 charge, then the proper charge, then the 
 linking charge again, and fo on, till you 
 have filled the cafe within three diame- 
 ters ; then drive on the compofltion, one 
 ladle full of clay, through which make a 
 fmall hole to the charge, then fill the 
 cafe, within half a diameter with corn 
 powder, on which turn down two or 
 three rounds of the cafe in the infide, 
 then pinch and tie the end very tight; 
 having filled your rockets, (according to 
 the above directions) dip their ends in 
 in melted rofin, or fealing wax, or elfe 
 fecure them well with greafe. When 
 you fire thefe rockets, throw in fix, or 
 eight at a time ; but if you would have 
 them all link, or fwim, at the fame 
 time, vou mufi drive them with an e- 
 
 qual 
 
 4 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 159 
 
 qual quantity of compofition, and fire 
 them all together. 
 
 To make Pipes of Communicati- 
 on, which may be ufed under 
 Water. 
 
 Pipes for this purpofe, muft be a lit- 
 tle thicker of paper, than thofe for land 
 works; having rolled a fufficient num- 
 ber of pipes, and kept them till tho- 
 roughly dry, wafh them over with dry- 
 ing oil, and fet them to dry ; but when 
 you oil them, leave about an inch and 
 a half, at each end dry, for joints; for 
 if they were oiled all over, when you 
 come to join them, the pafte would not 
 flick, where the paper is greafy; after 
 the leaders are joined, and the pafte dry, 
 oil the joints. Thefe fort of pipes will 
 lay many hours under water, without re- 
 ceiving any damage. 
 
 Of Horizontal Wheels for the 
 
 Water. 
 
 Firft get a large wooden bowl with- 
 out a handle, then have an odtogon wheel 
 
 made 
 
160 A Treatise on 
 
 made of a flat board, eighteen inches di- 
 ameter, fo that the length of each fide 
 will be near feven inches ; in all the fides 
 cut a groove for the cafes to lie in, this 
 wheel being made, nail it on the top of 
 the bowl, then take eight four ounce ca- 
 fes, filled with a proper charge, each a- 
 bout fix inches in length. Now to 
 cloath the wheel with thefe cafes, get 
 fome whitifh-brown paper, and cut it 
 into flips, four or five inches broad, and 
 feven or eight long, thefe flips being part- 
 ed all over on one fide, take one of the 
 cafes, and roll one of the flips of paper, 
 about an inch and a half on its end, fo 
 that there will remain about two inches 
 and a half of the paper hollow from the 
 end of the cafe, this cafe tie on one of 
 the fides of the wheel, near the corners 
 of which, muft be holes bored, through 
 which you put the pack-thread to tie 
 the cafes ; having tied on the firft cafe at 
 the neck and end, put a little meal-pow- 
 der in the hollow paper, then parte a flip 
 of paper on the end of another cafe, the 
 head of which put into the hollow pa- 
 per on the firft, allowing a fufticient dif- 
 tance from the tail of one, to the head of 
 the other, for the parted paper, to bend 
 without tearing ; the fecond cafe tie on 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 161 
 
 as you did the firft, and fo on with the 
 reft, except the laft, which rnuft be do- 
 fed at the end, uniefs it is to communi- 
 cate to any thing on top of the wheel; 
 fuch as fire-pumps or brilliant fires, fix- 
 ed in holes, cut in the wheel, and fired 
 by the lafh or fecond cafe, as the fancy 
 directs : fix, eight, or any number may 
 be placed on the top of the wheel, fo that 
 they are not too heavy for the bowl. 
 
 Before you tie on the cafes cut the up- 
 per part of all their ends, except the 
 lafi:, a little (helving, that the fire from 
 one, may play over the other, without 
 being obftruded by the cafe. Wheel 
 cafes, have no clap drove in their ends 
 nor pinched, but are always left open, 
 only the laft, or thofe which are not to 
 lead fire, which muff be well fecured. 
 
 Of Mines for the Water. 
 
 For thefefort of mines you muff have 
 a bowl, with a wheel on it, made in the 
 fame manner, as the water wheel, only 
 in the middle of the wheel rnuft be a 
 hole, of the fame diameter you defign to 
 have the mine ; thofe mines are nothing 
 more than a tin pot, with a ftrong bot- 
 M tom. 
 
i6a A Treatise on 
 
 tom, and a little more than two diame- 
 ters in length; your mine muft be fixed 
 in the hole in the wheel, with its bot- 
 tom refting on the bowl ; then loaded 
 with ferpents, crackers, ftars, fmall wa- 
 ter rockets, &c. In the fame manner 
 as pots des aigrettes, but in their center, 
 fix a cafe of Chinefe fire, or a fmall 
 gerbe, which muft be lighted at the 
 beginning of the laft cafe on the wheel. 
 Thefe fort of wheels are to be cloathed 
 as ufuah 
 
 Of Fire Globes for the Water. 
 
 Bowls for water globes, muft be very 
 large, and the wheels on them of a de- 
 cagon form, on each fide of which nail 
 a piece of wood four inches long, and on 
 the outfide of each piece cut a groove, 
 wide enough to receive about one fourth 
 of the thicknefs of a four ounce cafe; 
 thefe pieces of wood muft be nailed, in 
 the middle of each face of the wheel, 
 and fixed in an oblique direction, fo that 
 the fire from the cafes may incline up- 
 wards ; the wheel being thus prepared, 
 tie in each groove a four ounce cafe, fill’d 
 with a grey charge, then carry a leader 
 
 from 
 
Artificial Fireworks 163 
 
 from the tail of one cafe to the mouth 
 of the other. 
 
 Globes for thefe wheels, are made 
 of two tin hoops, with their edges out- 
 wards, fixed one within the other, at 
 right angles. The diameter of thefe hoops 
 mu ft be fomewhat lefs than that of the 
 wheel. Having made a globe, drive in the 
 center of a wheel, an iron fpindle, 
 which muft ftand perpendicular, and its 
 length, four or fix inches more than the 
 diameter of the globe. 
 
 This fpindle ferves for an axis, on 
 which the globe is fixed, which, when 
 done, muft ftand four or fix inches from 
 the wheel ; round one fide of each hoop, 
 muft be foldered, little bits of tin, two 
 inches and a half diftance from each 0- 
 ther, which pieces muft be two inches 
 in length each, and only faftened at one 
 end, the other ends being left loofe, to 
 turn round the fmall port fires and hold 
 them on : thefe port fires muft be made 
 of fuch a length, as will laft out the ca- 
 fes on the wheel. You are to obferve 
 that there need not be any port fires, at 
 the bottom of the globe within four in- 
 ches of the fpindle, for if there were, 
 they would have no effeeft, but only 
 burn the wheel 5 all the port fires, muft 
 M2' be 
 
164 A Treatise on 
 
 be placed perpendicular from the center 
 ter of the globe, with their mouths out- 
 wards ; and muft all be cloathed with 
 leaders, fo as all to take fire with the fe- 
 cond cafe of the wheel ; which cafes 
 muft burn two at a time, one oppofite 
 the other. When two cafes of a wheel 
 begin together, two will end together; 
 therefore the two oppofite end cafes, muft 
 have their ends pinched and fecured 
 from fire. The method of firing wheels 
 of this fort, is, by carrying a leader from 
 the mouth, of one of the firft cafes, to 
 that of the other, which leader being 
 burnt through the middle, will give fire 
 to both at the fame time. 
 
 Of Odoriferous Water Balloons. 
 
 Thefe fort of Balloons, are made in 
 the fame manner, as air Balloons, but 
 very thin of paper, and in diameter one 
 inch and three quarters, with a vent of 
 half an inch diameter. The {hells being 
 made, and quite dry, fill them with any 
 of the following compositions, which 
 muft be rammed in tight : thefe fort of 
 Balloons, muft be fired at the vent, and 
 put into a bowl of v^ater. Odoriferous 
 works, are generally fired in rooms. 
 
 Com- 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 165 
 Compofition I. 
 
 Salt petre two ounces, flower of ful- 
 phur one ounce, camphor half an ounce, 
 yellow-amber half an ounce, charcoal- 
 duft, three quarters of an ounce, fl wer 
 of benjamin, or afla odorata half an 
 ounce, all powdered very fine 5 and mix- 
 ed well together* 
 
 ! 
 
 Compofition II. 
 
 Salt petre twelve ounces, meal pow- 
 der three ounces, frankincenfeone ounce, 
 myrrh half an ounce, camphor half an 
 ounce, charcoal three ounces, all moifl> 
 ened with the oil of fpike. 
 
 Compofition III. 
 
 Salt petre two ounces, fulphur half 
 an ounce, antimony half an ounce, am- 
 ber half an ounce, cedar rafpings a quar- 
 ter of an ounce, all mixed with the oil of 
 rofes, and a few drops of bergamot. 
 
 M 3 
 
 Com- 
 
i66 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Conipolition IV. 
 
 Salt petre four ounces, fulphur one 
 ounce, faw-duft of juniper half an ounce, 
 faw-duft of cyprefs one ounce, camphor 
 a quarter of an ounce, myrrh two drams, 
 dryed rofemary a quarter of an ounce, 
 cortex-elaterii half an ounce, all moift- 
 ened a little with the oil of rofes. 
 
 N. B. "Water rockets, may be made 
 with any of the above compofitions, 
 with a little alteration, to make them 
 weaker, or ftronger, according to the 
 fize of the cafes. 
 
 Of Water Balloons. 
 
 Having made feme thin paper fhells, 
 of what diameter you pleafe, fill fome 
 with the competition for water balloons, 
 and fome after this manner. Having 
 made the vent of the fhells pretty large, 
 fill them almoft full with water rockets, 
 marrons, fquibs, &c. Then put in fome 
 blowing powder, fufficient to burft the 
 fhells, and afterwards fix in the vent a 
 water rocket, long enough to reach the 
 bottom of the fhell, and its neck to pro- 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 167 
 
 jedl a little out of the vent; this rocket 
 mu ft be open at the end, in order to 
 fire the powder in the (hell, which will 
 burft the fhell, and difperfe the fmall 
 rockets, &c. in the water. When you 
 have ’well fecured the large rocket, in the 
 vent of the fhell ; take a cork float, with 
 a hole in its middle, which fit over the 
 head of the rocket, and faften it to the 
 fhell : this float, muft be large enough 
 to keep the balloon above water. 
 
 Of water Squibs. 
 
 Water fquibs, are generally made of 
 one ounce ferpent cafes* feven or eight 
 inches long, filled two thirds with 
 charge, and the remainder bounced ; 
 the common method of firing them, is 
 thus : Take a water wheel, with a tin 
 mortar in its center, which load with 
 fquibs, after the ufual method, but the 
 powder in the mortar, muft be no more 
 than will juft throw the fquibs out, (ea- 
 fily into the water), you may place the 
 cafes on the wheel, either obliquely, or 
 horizontally ; and on the top of the 
 wheel, round the mortar, fix fix cafes of 
 brilliant fire, perpendicular to the v/heel ; 
 
 M 4 thefc 
 
168 A Treatise on 
 
 thefe cafes, muil be fired, at the begin- 
 ning of the laft cafe of the wheel, and 
 the mortar, at the conclufion of the fame. 
 
 To reprefent a fea fight with fiiiall 
 fhips, and to prepare a fire {Lip 
 for the fame. 
 
 Having procured four, or five, fmall 
 (hips, of two, or three feet in lenghth, 
 (or as many as you deiign to fight) make 
 a number of fmall reports, which are to 
 ferve for guns. Of thefe, range as many 
 as you pleafe, on each fide of the upper 
 decks ; then at the head and ftern of each 
 ihip, fix a two ounce cafe, eight inches 
 long, filled with a flow port-fire receipt, 
 but take care to place it, in fuch a man- 
 ner, that the fire may fall in the water, 
 and not burn the rigging ; in thefe cafes, 
 bore holes at unequal diftances, from 
 one another, but make as many in each 
 cafe, as half the number of reports, fo 
 that one cafe may fire the guns, on one 
 fide, and the other thofe on the oppofite. 
 The method of firing theguns,is, by car- 
 rying a leader, from the holes in the ca- 
 fes, to the reports on the decks ; you 
 4 EUllft 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 169 
 
 muft make thefe leaders very fmall, and 
 be careful in calculating the burning 
 of the flow fire, in the regulating cafes, 
 that more than two guns, be not fired at 
 a time. When you \vould have a b road- 
 fid e given, let a leader be carried to a 
 cracker, placed on the outfide of the 
 fhip, which cracker muft be tied loofe, 
 or the reports will be too flow ; in all 
 the fhips put artificial guns, at the 
 port holes. 
 
 Having filled, and bored holes, in two 
 port fires, for regulating the guns, in 
 one fli ip ; make all the reft exactly the 
 fame ; then when you begin the engage- 
 ment, light one fhip fir ft, and fet it a 
 failing, and fo on with the reft, fending 
 them out fingly, which will make them 
 fire regularly, at different times, with- 
 out confufion, for the time between the 
 firing of each gun, will be equal to that 
 pf lighting the flow fires. 
 
 The fire fhip, may be of any fize, and 
 need not be very good, for it is always 
 loft in the action. To prepare a fhip for 
 this purpofe, make a port fire equal in 
 fize, with them in the other fhips, and 
 place it at the ftern ; in every port, place 
 a large port fire, filled with a very ftrong 
 competition, and painted in imitation of 
 
 a gun. 
 
A Tr E AT'I'S E ON 
 
 17O 
 
 a gun, and let them all be fired at once 
 by a leader from the flow fire, within two, 
 or three diameters of its bottom ; all a- 
 long both fides, on the top of the upper 
 deck, lay ftar com poll ti on about half an 
 inch in thicknefs, and one in breadth, 
 which mud be wetted with thin fize, 
 then primed with meal powder, and fe- 
 cured from fire, by pafting paper over it ; 
 in the place where you lay this compo- 
 fition, drive fome little tacks with flat 
 heads, in order to hold it faft to the 
 deck, this muft be fired juft after the 
 fham guns, and when burning will (hew 
 a flame all round the fhip ; at the head 
 take up the decks, and put in a tin mor- 
 tar loaded with crackers, which mortar 
 muft be fired by a pipe, from the end of 
 the flow fire; the firing of this mortar 
 will fink the fhip, and make a pretty 
 conclufion. The regulating port fire of 
 this fhip, muft be lighted at the fame 
 time, with the firft fighting fhip. 
 
 Having prepared all the fhips for fight- 
 ing ; we (ball next proceed with the ma- 
 nagement of them, when on the water. 
 At one end of the pond, juft under the 
 furface of the water, fix tw r o running 
 blocks, at what diftance you chufe the 
 
 • fhips 
 
Artificial Fireworks. lyi 
 
 fhips fhould fight ; and at the other end 
 of the pond, oppofite to each of thefe 
 blocks, under the water, fix a double 
 block ; then on the land, by each of the 
 double blocks, place two fmall wind- 
 lafs’s ; round one of them, turn one end 
 of a fmall cord, and the other end, put 
 through one of the blocks; then carry it 
 through the fingle one, at the oppofite 
 end of the pond, and bring it back 
 through the double block, again, and, 
 round the other windlafs ; to this cord, 
 near the double block, tie as many fmall 
 firings, as half the number of the fhips, 
 at what diflance you think proper, but 
 thefe firings, mu ft not be more than 
 two feet in length each ; the loofe end 
 of each of thefe cords, make fail, to a 
 fhip, juft under her bow-fprit; but if 
 tied to the keel, or too near the water, 
 it will overfet the fhip. Half the fhips, 
 being thus prepared, near the other 
 double block, fix two more windlafs’s, 
 to which fallen a cord, and to it tie the 
 other half of the fhips, as before diredt- 
 ed : when you fire the fhips, pull in the 
 cord, with one of the windlafs’s, in or- 
 der to get all the fhips together; and 
 when you have fet fire to the firft, turn 
 that windlafs, which draws them out, 
 
 and 
 
ij 2 A Treatise on 
 
 and fo on with the reft, till they are all 
 out, in the middle of the pond ; then by 
 turning the other windlafs, you will 
 draw them back again, by which me- 
 thod you may make them change fides, 
 and tack about, backwards and forwards, 
 at pleafure. For the fire-fhip, fix the 
 blocks and windlafs’s, betwixt the others, 
 fo that when ftie fails out, fhe will be 
 between the other fhips :• you mult not 
 let this fhip, advance, till the guns, at 
 her ports take fire. 
 
 To fire Sky Rockets under water. 
 
 To fire Iky rockets, under water, you 
 muft have ftands made as ufual, only the 
 rails muft be placed fiat, inftead of edge 
 ways, and have holes in them for the 
 rocket fticks to go through ; for if they 
 were hung upon hoops, the motion of 
 the W'ater, would throw them off; 
 the ftands being made, if the pond is 
 deep enough, fink them at the tides, fo 
 deep, that when the rockets are in, their 
 heads, may juft appear above the furface 
 of the water ; to the mouth of each rock- 
 et, fix a leader, which put through the 
 hole with the ftick ; then a little above 
 
 the 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 173 
 
 the water, muft be a board, fupported 
 by the ftand, and placed along one fide 
 of the rockets, then the ends of the lea- 
 ders, are turned up through holes made 
 in this board, exadly oppofite the rock- 
 ets. By this means, you may fire “them 
 fingly, or all at once. Rockets may be 
 fired by this method, in the middle of a 
 pond, by a Neptune, a fwan, a wa- 
 ter wheel, or any thing elfe you 
 chafe. 
 
 To reprefent Neptune in his 
 Chariot. 
 
 In order to reprefent this, to perfec- 
 tion, you muft have a Neptune made 
 (of wood, or bafket work), as big as 
 life, fixed on a float, large enough to 
 bear his weight ; on which muft be two 
 horfes heads, and necks, fo as to feem 
 fwiming, as they are fhown by Fig. 35, 
 For the wheels of the chariot, there 
 muft be two vertical wheels, of black 
 fire, and on Neptune’s head a horizontal 
 wheel, of brilliant fire, with all its cafes 
 to play upwards. When this wheel is 
 made, cover it with paper, or, pafte 
 board, cut and painted like Neptune’s 
 
 coro- 
 
174 A Treatise on 
 
 coronet; then let the trident be made 
 without prongs, but inftead of them* 
 fix three cafes of a weak grey charge, 
 and on each horfe’s head, put an eight 
 ounce cafe of brilliant fire, and on the 
 mouth of each, fix a fhort cafe of the 
 fame diameter, filled with the white 
 flame receipt, enough to laflr out all the 
 cafes on the wheels ; thefe fhort cafes 
 mu ft be open at bottom, that they may 
 light the brilliant fires; for the horfes 
 eyes, put final! port fires, and in each 
 noftril, put a fmall cafe filled half with 
 grey charge, and the reft with port fire 
 compofition. 
 
 If Neptune is to give fire, to any build- 
 ing on the water ; at his firft fetting out, 
 the wheels of the chariot, and that on 
 his head, together with the white flames 
 on the horfes head, and the port fires in 
 their eyes and noftrils, muft all be light- 
 ed at once ; then from the bottom of the 
 white flames, carry a leader, to the tri- 
 dent. As Neptune is to advance by the 
 help of a block and cord, you muft ma- 
 nage it fo as not to let him turn about, 
 till the brilliant fires on the horfes, and 
 the trident, begins, for it is by the fire 
 from the horfes, (which plays aim oft 
 upright) that the building, or work, is 
 
 lighted? 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 175 
 
 lighted; which muft be thus prepared. 
 From the mouth of the cafe, which is to 
 be firft fired, hang fome loofe quick 
 match, to receive the fire from thehor- 
 fes. When Neptune, is only to be fhewrx 
 by himfelf, without fetting fire to any o- 
 ther works; let the white flames on the 
 horfes, be very fhort, and not to laft 
 longer than one cafe of each wheel, 
 and let two cafes of each wheel burn at 
 a time. 
 
 To reprefent Swans and Ducks in 
 the water. 
 
 If you would have the fwans, or 
 ducks, difcharge rockets into the water, 
 they muft be made hollow, and of pa- 
 per, and filled with fmall water rockets, 
 with fome blowing powder, to throw 
 them out; but if this is not done, they 
 may be made of wood, which will laft 
 many times. Having made and painted 
 fome fwans, fix them on floats, then in 
 the places where their eyes Ihould be, 
 bore holes, two inches deep, inclining 
 downwards, and wide enough to receive 
 a fmall port fire ; the port fire cafes for 
 
176 A Treatise on 
 
 this purpofe, mu ft be made of brafs, two 
 inches in length and filled with a flow 
 bright charge ; in the middle of one of 
 thefe cafes* make a little hole, then put 
 the port fire, in the eye hole of the fwan, 
 leaving about half an inch to projedt 
 out, and in the other eye put another 
 port fire, with a hole made in it; then in 
 the neck of the fwan, within two inches 
 of one of the eyes, bore a hole flant- 
 ways, to meet that in the port fire ; in 
 this hole put a leader, and carry it to a 
 water rocket, that muft be fixed under 
 the tail with its mouth upwards ; on 
 the top of the head, place two one ounce 
 cafes, four inches in length each, drove 
 with brilliant fire; one of thefe cafes 
 muft incline forwards, and the other 
 backwards ; thefe muft be lighted at the 
 fame time as the water rocket; to do 
 which, bore a hole between them, in 
 the top of the fwans head, down to 
 the hole in the port fire, to which carry 
 a leader ; if the fwan be filled with 
 rockets, they muft be fired, by a pipe, 
 from the end of the water rocket under 
 the tail. When you fet the fwan a 
 fwiming light the two eyes. 
 
 Of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 177 
 
 Of fire Fountains for the Water. 
 
 To make a fire fountain* you muft 
 firft have a float made of wood, three 
 feet diameter, then in the middie of it, 
 fix a round perpendicular poft, four feet 
 in height, and two inches diameter; 
 round this poft, fix three circular 
 wheels, made of thin wood, without a- 
 ny fpokes. The larged: of thefe wheels 
 muft be placed, within two, or three in- 
 ches of the float, and muft be nearly of 
 the fame diameter. The fecond wheel 
 muft be two foot tw r o inches diameter, 
 and fixed at two feet diftance from 
 the firft wheel. The third wheel muft 
 be one foot four inches diameter, and 
 fixed within fix inches of the top of the 
 poft : the wheels being fixed, take eigh- 
 teen four, or eight ounce cafes, of brilli- 
 ant fire, and place them round the 
 firft wheel, with their mouths out- 
 wards, and inclining downwards ; on 
 the fecond wheel place, thirteen cafes 
 of the fame fort, and in the fame man- 
 ner, as thofe on the firft wheel ; on 
 the third wheel, place eight more of 
 this fort of cafes, in the fame manner 
 
 N as 
 
1 78 A Treatise on 
 
 as before, and on the top of the port, 
 fix a gerbe, then cloath all the cafes, 
 with leaders, fo that both they and the 
 gerbe ; may take fire at the fame 
 time. Before you fire this work, try 
 it in the water, to fee if the float be 
 properly made, fo as to keep the foun- 
 tain upright. 
 
 SECT. 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 3 79 
 
 SECT. VI. 
 
 To make Crackers. 
 
 C UT fome cartridge paper, into 
 pieces, three inches and a half 
 broad, and one foot long 3 one edge of 
 each of thefe pieces, fold down length- 
 wife about three quarters of an inch 
 broad ; then fold the double edge down 
 a quarter of an inch, and turn the Angle 
 edge back half over the double fold ; then 
 open it, and lay all along the channel 
 which is formed, by the folding of the 
 paper, fome meal powder, then fold it 
 over and over, till all the paper is dou- 
 bled up, rubbing it down every turn; 
 this being done, bend it backwards and 
 forwards, two inches and a half, or 
 thereabouts, at a time, as often as the pa- 
 per will allow ; then hold all thefe folds 
 N 2 flat 
 
i8o A Treatise on 
 
 flat and clofe, and with a fmall pinching 
 cord, give one turn round the middle of 
 the cracker, and pinch it clofe, then bind 
 it with pack-thread, as tight as you can 
 then in the place where it was pinched, 
 prime one end of it, and cap it with 
 touch paper. When thefe crackers are 
 fired they will give a report, at every 
 turn of the paper : if you would have a 
 great number of bounces, you mud cut 
 the paper longer, or join them after they 
 are made ; but if they are made very 
 long before they are pinched, you mud 
 have a piece of wood, with a groove in 
 it, deep enough to let in half the crack- 
 er, this will hold it Straight, while it is 
 pinching. Fig. 36. reprefents a cracker 
 compleat. 
 
 Of Single Reports. 
 
 Cafes for reports are generally rolled 
 on one and two ounce formers, and are 
 feldom made larger, but on particular oc- 
 casions ; they are made from two, to four 
 inches long, and very thick of paper; 
 having rolled a cafe, pinch one end quite 
 clofe, and drive it down, then fill the 
 cafe with corn powder, only leaving 
 
 room 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 181 
 
 room to pinch it at top, but before you 
 pinch it, put in a piece of paper at top 
 of the powder : Reports are fired, by a 
 vent, bored in the middle, or at one 
 end, juft as required, 
 
 Of Marrons. 
 
 Formers for marrons, are from three 
 quarters of an inch, to one and a half 
 diameter ; cut the paper for the cafes, 
 twice the diameter of the former broad, 
 and long enough to go three times 
 round ; when you have rolled a cafe, 
 pafte down the edge, and tie one end 
 clofe, then with the former drive it 
 down to take away the wrinkles and 
 make it fiat at bottom, then fill the cafe 
 with corn powder one diameter and a 
 quarter high, and fold down the reft of 
 the cafe tight on the powder ; the mat- 
 ron being thus made, wax feme ftrong 
 pack-thread, with fhoemakers wax; this 
 thread wind up in a ball, then unwind 
 two, or three yards of it, and that part 
 which is near the ball, make faft to a 
 hook; then take a rnarron, and ftand as 
 far from the hook as the pack-thread 
 will reach, and wind it lengthwife round 
 N 3 the 
 
i8a A Treati.se on 
 
 marron, as clofe as you can, till it will 
 hold no more that way ; then turn it, 
 and wind the pack-thread on the fhort 
 v/ay, then length wife again, and fo on 
 till the paper is all covered ; then make 
 faft the end of the pack-thread, and beat 
 down both ends of the marron, to 
 bring it in fhape. The method of fi- 
 ring matrons, is by making a hole at 
 one end with an awl and putting in a 
 piece of quick-match, then take a piece 
 of ftrong paper, in which wrap up the 
 marron, with two leaders, which muffc 
 be put down to the vent, and the paper 
 tied tight round them with fmall twine ; 
 thefe leaders are bent on each fide, and 
 their loofe ends tied to other marrons, 
 and are nailed in the middle to the rail 
 of the ftand, as may be feen by Fig. 37. 
 The ufe of winding the pack-thread in 
 a ball, is, that you may let it out as 
 you want it, according to the quantity, 
 the marron may require ; and that it may 
 not be tied in knots, which would fpoil 
 the marron. 
 
 Of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 183 
 
 Of Marron Batteries. 
 
 Thofe batteries, if well managed, will 
 keep time to a march, or a flow piece of 
 muifick. Marron batteries are made of 
 feveral ftands, with a number of crofs 
 rails, for the marrons, which are regula- 
 ted by leaders, by cutting them of diffe- 
 rent lengths, and nailing them tight, or 
 loofe, according to the time of the mu- 
 fick. In marron batteries you mu ft ufe 
 the large and fmall fort of marrons, and 
 the nails for the pipes, muft have flat 
 heads. 
 
 Of Line Rockets. 
 
 Line rockets are made and drove in 
 the fame manner as fky rockets, but 
 have no heads, and the cafes muft be cut 
 clofe to the clay ; they are fometmies 
 made with fix, or feven changes, but in 
 general not more than four, or five ; the 
 method of managing thofe rockets, is as 
 follows ; firft have a piece of light wood, 
 the length of one of the rockets, tur- 
 ned round about two inches and a half 
 diameter, with a hole through the mid- 
 N 4 die 
 
184 A Treatise on 
 
 die lengthwife, large enough for the 
 line to go eafily through 3 if you defign 
 four changes, have four grooves cut in 
 the fwivel, one oppofite the other, to lay 
 the rockets in. 
 
 The mouths of the rockets being rub- 
 bed with wet meal powder, lay them in 
 the grooves, head to tail, and tie them 
 faft 3 from the tail of the firft rocket, 
 carry a leader to the mouth of the fecond, 
 and from the fecond to the third, and fo 
 on to as many as there are on the fwivel, 
 making every leader very fecure, but in 
 fixing .thefe pipes take care, that the 
 quick-match does not enter the bores of 
 the rockets 3 the rockets being fixed on 
 the fwivel, and ready to be fired, have a 
 line of ahundred yards in length, ftretch- 
 ed and fixed up tight, at any height 
 from the ground, but be fure to place it 
 horizontal 3 this length of line will do 
 for rockets of half a pound, but if larger, 
 the line muft be longer, before you put 
 up the line, put one end of it through 
 the fwivel, and when you fire the line 
 rocket, let the mouth of that rocket 
 which you fire firft, face that end of the 
 line where you ftand, then the firft rock- 
 et will carry the reft to the other end of 
 the line, and the fecond will bring them 
 
 back 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 185 
 
 back again, and fo they will run out and 
 in according to the number of rockets : 
 at each end of the line, there muft be a 
 piece of flat wood, for the rocket to 
 ftrike againft, or its force would cut the 
 line. Let the line be well foaped, and 
 the hole in the fwivel very fmooth. 
 
 Of the different Decorations for 
 Line Rockets. 
 
 To line rockets may be fixed many 
 forts of things, fuch as flying dragons, 
 mercuries, fhips, &c. Or they may be 
 made to run on the line like a wheel, 
 which is done in this manner ; have a 
 fiat fwivel, made very exact, and on it, 
 tie two rockets obliquely, one on each 
 fide, which will make it turn round all 
 the way it goes, and form a circle of 
 fire ; the charge for thefe rockets, fhould 
 be a little weaker than common ; if you 
 would Anew two dragons fighting, get 
 two fwivels made fquare, and on each 
 tie three rockets together, on the under 
 fide ; then have two flying dragons made 
 of tin, and fix one of them on the top 
 of each fwivel, fo as to ftand upright ; in 
 the mouth of each dragon put a fmall 
 
1 86 A Treatise on 
 
 cafe of common fire, and another at the 
 end of the tail; you may put two or 
 three port fires of a ftrong charge, on one 
 fide of their bodies, in order to (hew 
 them. This being done put them on the 
 line, one at each end; but let there be a 
 fwivel in the middle, of the line, to keep 
 the dragons from linking together ; be- 
 fore you fire the rockets light the cafes 
 on the dragons, and if care be taken in 
 firing both at the fame time, they will 
 meet in the middle of the line, and feem 
 to fight. Then they will run back, and 
 return again, with great violence, which 
 will have a very pleating effect. The line 
 for thefe rockets mull be very long, or 
 they will ftrike too hard together. 
 
 Of Chinefe Flyers. 
 
 Cafes for flyers, may be made of dif- 
 ferent fizes, from one to eight ounces ; 
 they mull be made thick of paper, and 
 eight interior diameters long; they are 
 rolled in the fame manner as tourbiilons, 
 with a ftraight palled edge, and pinched 
 clofe. at one end ; the method of filling 
 them is thus ; the cafe being put in a 
 mould, whofe cylinder, or foot, mull be 
 
 flat 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 187 
 
 flat at top, without a nipple ; fill it with- 
 in half a diameter of the middle, then 
 ram in half a diameter of clay, and on 
 that as much compofition as before, on 
 which drive half a diameter of clay, 
 then pinch the cafe clofe, and drive it 
 down flat; after this is done, bore a hole, 
 exactly through the center of the clay in 
 the middle, then in the oppoiite fides at 
 both ends make a vent, and in that fide 
 you intend to fire firfi: make a fmall hole 
 to the compofition near the clay in the 
 middle, from which carry a quick match 
 covered with a Angle paper, to the vent 
 at the other end ; then when the charge 
 is burnt on one fide, it will, by means 
 of the quick match communicate to the 
 charge in the other, (which may be of a 
 different fort) .The flyers being thus made, 
 put an iron pin, that muft be fixed in 
 the work on which they are to be fired, 
 and on which they are to run ; through 
 the hole in the middle, on the end of 
 this pin, muff: be a nut to keep the flyer 
 from running off. If you would have 
 them turn back again after they are 
 burnt; make both the vents at the ends 
 on the fame fide, which will alter its 
 courfe, the contrary way. 
 
 Of 
 
1 88 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Of Table Rockets. 
 
 Table rockets are defigned merely to 
 fhew the truth of driving, and the judg- 
 ment of a fireworker, they having no o- 
 ther effed, when fired, than fpinning 
 round in the fame place, where they be- 
 gin ; till they are burnt out, and fhewing 
 nothing more than an horizontal circle 
 of fire. 
 
 The method of making thefe fort of 
 rockets, is as follows : Have a cone turn- 
 ed out of hard wood, two inches and a 
 half diameter, and as much in height ; 
 round the bafe of it draw a line, on this 
 line fix four fpokes, two inches in length 
 each, fo as to ftand one oppofite the o- 
 ther; then fill four nine inch one pound 
 cafes, with any ftrong compofition, 
 within two inches of the top, thefe ca- 
 fes are made like tourbillons, and mu ft 
 be rammed with the greateft ex- 
 adnefs. 
 
 Your rockets being filled, fix their 
 open ends on the fhort fpokes, then in 
 the fide of each cafe bore a hole near 
 the clay $ all thefe holes, or vents, muff 
 be made in fuch a manner, that the fire 
 
 of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 189 
 
 of each cafe may adt the fame way; 
 from thefe vents carry leaders to the 
 top of the cone, and tie them together. 
 When you would fire the rockets fet 
 them on a fmooth table, and light the 
 leaders in the middle, and all the cafes 
 will fire together (See fig. 38.) and 
 fpin on the point of the cone. 
 
 Thefe rockets may be made to rife 
 like tourbiilons, by making the cafes 
 Ihorter, and boring four holes in the 
 under fide of each at equal diflances 
 from one another : this being done they 
 are called double tourbiilons. 
 
 Note, all the vents in the under fide 
 of the cafes muft be lighted at once ; 
 and the iharp point of the cone cut off, 
 at which place make it lphericah 
 
 To make Wheels and other Works 
 incombuftible. 
 
 It being neceffary, when your works 
 are new, to paint them of fome dark co- 
 lour; therefore, if inftead of which, you 
 make ufe of the following compofition, 
 it will give them a good colour, and in a 
 great meafure prevent their taking fire 
 fo foon, as if painted. Take brick-duft. 
 
iqo A Treatise on 
 
 7 
 
 coal afhes, and iron filings, of each an e~ 
 qual quantity, and mix them together, 
 with a double fize, made hot. With this 
 wafh over your works, and when dry 
 wa£h them over again ; this will preferve 
 the wood greatly againft fire. Let the 
 brick-duft, and afhes, be beat to a fine 
 powder. 
 
 Of Single Vertical Wheels. 
 
 o 
 
 There are different forts of vertical 
 wheels, fome having their fells of a cir- 
 cular form, others of an hexagon, odta- 
 gon, or decagon form, or any number of 
 fides, according to the length of the ca- 
 fes, you defign for the wheel : your 
 fpokes being fixed in the nave, nail flips 
 of tin, with their edges turned up, fo 
 as to form grooves for the cafes to ly 
 in, from the end of one fpoke to an- 
 other; then tie your cafes in the grooves, 
 head to tail, in the fame manner as thofe 
 on the horizontal water wheel, fo that 
 the cafes fuccefiively taking fire from 
 one another, will keep the wheel in aa 
 equal rotation. Two of thefe wheels are 
 very often fired together, one on each 
 fide of a building, and both lighted at 
 
 2 
 
Artificial Fireworks, iqx 
 
 the fame time, and all the cafes filled 
 alike, to make them keep time toge- 
 ther, which they will do if made by 
 the following directions. In all the cafes 
 of both wheels, except the fird, on each 
 wheel, drive two, or three ladles full of 
 flow fire, in any part of the cafes, but 
 be carefull to ram the fame quantity in 
 each cafe, and in the end of one of the 
 cafes, on each wheel, you may ram one 
 ladle full of dead fire compolition, 
 which muft be very lightly drove ; you 
 may alfo make many changes of fire, by 
 this method. 
 
 Let the hole in the nave of the wheel 
 be lined with brafs, and made to turn on 
 a fmooth iron fpindle. On the end of this 
 fpindle let there be a nut, to fcrew off 
 and on; when you have put the wheel 
 on the fpindle, fcrew on the nut, which 
 will keep the wheel from flying off. 
 Let the mouth of the fird cafe be a 
 little raifed. See fig. 39. Vertical wheels 
 are made from ten inches to three feet 
 diameter, and the iize of the cafes mud 
 differ accordingly; four ounce cafes, 
 will do for wheels, of fourteen, or fix- 
 teen inches diameter, which is the pro- 
 portion generally ufed. The bed wood 
 for wheels of all forts, is a light, and 
 dry beech. Of 
 
192 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Of Horizontal Wheels. 
 
 Horizontal wheels are beft when 
 their fells are made circular 3 in the 
 middle of the top of the nave, muft be 
 a pintle, turned out of the fame piece as 
 the nave, two inches long, and equal in 
 diameter to the bore of one of the cafes 
 of the wheel ; there muft be a hole bo- 
 red up the center of the nave, within 
 half an inch of the top of the pintle; 
 the wheel being made, nail at the end 
 of each fpoke (of which there fihould be 
 fix or eight) a piece of wood, with a 
 groove cut in it to receive the cafe. Thefe 
 pieces fix in fuch a manner, that half 
 the cafes may incline upwards, and half 
 downwards, and that when they are tied 
 on, their heads and tails may come very 
 near together 3 from the tail of one cafe, 
 to the mouth of the other carry a leader, 
 which fecure with palled paper. Befides 
 thefe pipes, it will be neceffary, to put a 
 little meal powder infide the pafted pa- 
 per, in order to blow off the pipe, that 
 there may be no obftrudlion to the fire, 
 from the cafes. By means of thefe pipes, 
 the cafes, will fucceflively take, burn- 
 ing 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 193 
 
 ing one upwards, and the other down- 
 wards. On the pintle, fix a cafe of the 
 fame fort as thofe on the wheel; this 
 cafe muft be fired by a leader, from the 
 mouth of the laft cafe on the wheel, 
 which cafe muft play downwards : in- 
 ftead of a common cafe in the middle, 
 you may put a cafe of Chinefe fire, long 
 enough, to burn as long as two or three 
 of the cafes on the wheel. 
 
 Horizontal wheels are often fired two 
 at a time, and made to keep time, like 
 vertical wheels, only they are made 
 without any flow or dead fire ; ten or 
 twelve inches will be enough for the di- 
 ameter of wheels, with fix fpokes. Fig. 
 40. reprefents a wheel on fire, with the 
 hrft cafe burning. 
 
 Of fpirali Wheels. 
 
 Spirali wheels are nothing more than 
 double horizontal wheels, and are thus 
 made : The nave muft be about fix inches 
 long, and fomewhat thicker than the An- 
 gle fort; inftead of the pintle at top, 
 there muft be a hole for the cafe to be 
 fixed in; there muft alfo be two fets 
 of fpokes, one fet near the top of the 
 O nave. 
 
194 A Treatise on 
 
 nave, and the other near the bottom. At 
 the end of each fpoke cut a groove, 
 wherein you tie the cafes, there being no 
 feh ; the fpokes fhould not be more than 
 three inches and a half in length each 
 from the nave, fo that the wheel may 
 not be more than eight or nine inches 
 diameter ; the cafes are placed in fuch a 
 manner, that thole at top play down, and 
 thofe at bottom to play up, but let the 
 third or fourth cafe play horizontally. 
 The cafe in the middle may begin with 
 any of the others, you pleafe; fix fpokes 
 will be enough for each fet, fo that the 
 wheel may con fill: of twelve cafes, be- 
 fides that on the top : the cafes for thefe 
 fort of wheels need not be more than fix 
 inches in length each. 
 
 Of Plural Wheels. 
 
 Plural wheels are made to turn hori- 
 zontally, and to confift of three fets of 
 fpokes, placed in the following manner, 
 fix at top, fix at bottom, and four in the 
 middle, which mu ft be a little fhorter 
 than the reft; let the diameter of the 
 wheel be ten inches ; the cafes mu ft be 
 tied on-the ends of the fpokes, in grooves 
 
 cut 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 195 
 
 cut on purpofe, or in pieces of wood, 
 nailed on the ends of the fpokes, with 
 grooves cut in them as ufual; in cloath- 
 ing thefe wheels, make the upper fet of 
 cafes play obliquely downwards, and 
 them at bottom obliquely upwards, and 
 them in the middle horizontally. In 
 placing the leaders, you muft order it fo 
 that the cafes may burn thus. viz. firft 
 up, then down, then horizontal, and fo 
 on with the reft, but another change 
 may be made, by driving in the end of 
 the eighth cafe, two, or three ladles full 
 of flow fire, to burn till the wheel has 
 flopped its courfe ; then let the other ca- 
 fes be fixed the contrary way, which will 
 make the wheel run back again : for the 
 cafe at top, you may put a fmall gerbe ; 
 and let the cafes on the fpokes be fhort, 
 and filled with a ftrong brilliant charge. 
 
 Of the Illuminated Spiral Wheel. 
 
 Firft have a circular horizontal wheel 
 made two feet diameter, with a hols 
 quite through the nave; then take three 
 thin pieces of deal, three feet in length 
 each, and three quarters of an inch in 
 breadth each; one end of each of thefe 
 O 2 pieces, 
 
jg 6 A Treatise on 
 
 pieces, nail to the fell of the wheel, at 
 an equal diftance from one another, and 
 the other ends nail to a block with a 
 hole in its bottom, which mu ft be per- 
 pendicular, with that in the block of the 
 wheel, but not fo large. The wheel be- 
 ing thus made, have a hoop planed down 
 very thin and flat, then nail one end of 
 it to the fell of the wheel, and wind it 
 round the three flicks in a fpiral line, 
 from the wheel to the block at top ; on 
 the top of this block fix a cafe of Chi- 
 nefe fire ; on the wheel you may place 
 any number of cafes, which mu ft incline 
 downwards and burn two at a time. If 
 the wheel fhould confift of ten cafes, you 
 may let the illuminations and Chinefe 
 fire begin with the fecond cafes; the 
 fpindle for this wheel muft be a little 
 longer than the cone, and made very 
 fmooth at top, on which the upper 
 block is to turn, and the whole weight 
 of the wheel to reft, fee fig. 41. 
 
 Of the Double Spiral Wheel. 
 
 For this wheel, the block, or nave, 
 muft be as long as the height of the 
 worms, or fpiral lines, but muft be made 
 
 very 
 
Artificial Fireworks, igy 
 
 very thin, and as light as poflible. In 
 this block mud be fixed feveral fpokes, 
 which mu ft diminifh in length, from the 
 wheel to the top, fo as not to exceed the 
 furfaceof a cone of the fame height. To 
 the ends of thefe fpokes nail the worms, 
 which muft crofs each other feveral 
 times; thefe worms cloath with illumi- 
 nations, the fame as thofe on the fingle 
 wheels, but the horizontal wheel, you 
 may cloath as you like. At top of the 
 worm, place a cafe of fpur-fire, or an 
 amber light, fee fig. 42. This figure is 
 fihewn without leaders, to prevent a con- 
 fufion of lines. 
 
 Of Balloon Wheels. 
 
 Balloon wheels are made to turn ho- 
 rizontally, they muft be made two feet 
 diameter, without any fpokes, and very 
 ftrong, with any number of fides. On 
 the top of a wheel range and fix tin 
 pots, three inches diameter and feven 
 inches in height each, as many of thefe 
 as there are cafes on the wheel ; near the 
 bottom of each pot, make a fmall vent, 
 into each of thefe vents carry a leader 
 from the tail of each cafe ; fome of the 
 O 3 F ts 
 
198 A Treatise on 
 
 pots load with ftars, and fome with fer- 
 pents, crackers, &c. As the wheels 
 turn, the pots will fucceffively be fired, 
 and throw into the air a great variety of 
 fires. 
 
 Of Fruiloni Wheels. 
 
 Firft have a nave made nine inches in 
 length, and three in diameter, near the 
 bottom of this nave fix eight fpokes, 
 with a hole in the end of each large e~ 
 nough to receive a two, or four ounce 
 cafe. Each of thefe fpokes may be four- 
 teen inches in length from the block ; 
 near the top of this block, fix eight 
 more, of the fame fort of fpokes, exadt- 
 ly over the others, but not fo long by 
 two inches ; as this wheel is to run hori- 
 zontally, all the cafes in the fpokes, at 
 top, muft play obliquely upwards, and 
 all them in the fpokes at bottom oblique- 
 ly downwards. This being done, have a 
 fmall horizontal wheel made with eight 
 fpokes, each five inches in length from 
 the block ; on the top of this wheel, 
 place a cafe of brilliant fire ; all the ca- 
 fes on this wheel mud: play in an oblique 
 direction downwards, and burn two at a 
 
 time. 
 
Artificial Fireworks, 199 
 
 time, and thofe on the large wheel, four 
 at a time, that is, two of thofe in the top 
 fet of fpokes, and two of them in the 
 bottom fet of fpokes. 
 
 The four firft cafes on the large 
 wheel, and the two firft on the fmall 
 wheel, muft be fired at the fame time, 
 and the brilliant fire at top, at the be- 
 ginning of the laft cafes. The cafes of- 
 the whe Is may be filled with a grey 
 charge ; when thefe wheels are com- 
 pleated, you mud: have a ftrong iron 
 ipindle, made four feet fix in length, 
 and fixed perpendicular on the top of a 
 ftand ; on this put the large wheel, 
 whofe nave muft have a hole quite 
 through from the bottom to the top. 
 This hole muft be large enough to turn 
 eafy round the bottom of the fpindle, 
 at which place there mull: be a fhoul- 
 der, to keep the wheel from touching 
 the ftand; at the top of the fpindle, put 
 the fmall wheel, and join it to a large 
 one with a leader, in order to fire them 
 them both together. 
 
 O 4 
 
 Of 
 
200 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Of Port fires for Illuminations. 
 
 Thefe fort of port fires, have their ca- 
 fes made very thin of paper, and rolled 
 on formers, from two to five eighths of 
 an inch diameter, and are made from 
 two, to fix inches in length ; they are 
 pinched clofe at one end, and left open 
 at the other ; when you fill tliem, put 
 in but a little compofition at a time, 
 and ram it in lightly, fo as not to break 
 the cafe. Three or four rounds of paper, 
 with the laft round pafted, will be ftrong 
 enough for thefe fort of cafes. 
 
 Of Common port fires. 
 
 Common port fires are intended pur- 
 pofely to fire the works, their fire being 
 very flow, and the heat of the flame fo 
 intenfe, that, if applyed to rockets, lea- 
 ders, &c, it will fire them immediately. 
 Port fires may be made of any length, 
 but are feldom made more than twenty 
 one inches in length ; the interior dia- 
 meter of port fire moulds, fhould be ten 
 fixteenths of an inch, and the diameter 
 of the former, half an inch. The cafes 
 2 muft 
 
201 
 
 Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 rnuft be rolled wet with pafte, and one 
 end of them pinched, or folded down. 
 The moulds fhould be made of brafs, 
 and to take in two pieces lengthwife ; 
 then when the cafe is in the two fides, 
 they are held together by brafs rings, or 
 hoops, which are made to fit over the 
 outfide. The bore of the mould muft 
 not be made quite through, fo that there 
 will be no occafion for a foot. Thofe 
 port fires when ufed, are held in copper 
 fockets, fixed on the end of a long 
 flick ; thefe fockets are made like port 
 crayons, only with a fcrew, inftead of a 
 ring. 
 
 Of Cafcades of Fire. 
 
 Cafcades are made of any fize, but 
 one made according to the dimenfions 
 of that fhewn in plate 4. fig. 43. will 
 be large enough for eight ounce cafes. 
 Let the diftance from A to B, be three 
 feet ; from B to C, two feet fix inches ; 
 and from C D, two feet; and let the 
 crofs piece, at A, be four feet in length; 
 then from each end of this piece, draw 
 a line to D ; then make the other crofs 
 pieces of fuch a length as to come 
 
 within 
 
202 A Treatise on 
 
 within thofe lines. The top piece D, 
 may be of any length fo as to hold the 
 cafes, at a little diftance from one ano- 
 ther > all the crofs pieces are fixed hori- 
 zontally, and fupported by brackets ; the 
 bottom crofs piece fhould be about one 
 foot fix inches broad in the middle, the 
 fecond one foot, the third nine inches, 
 and the top piece four inches * the cafes 
 may be made of any length, but muft 
 be filled with a brilliant charge ; on the 
 edges of the crofs pieces muft be nailed 
 bits of wood, with a groove cut in 
 each piece, large enough, for a cafe 
 to lie in. Thefe bits of wood' are fixed 
 fo as to incline downwards, and that 
 the fire from one teer of cafes may play 
 over the other ; all the cafes being tied 
 faft on, carry leaders from one to the 
 other, and let there be a pipe, hang 
 from the mouth of one of the cafes, 
 covered at the end with a fingle paper, 
 which you burn to fire the cafcade. 
 
 Of the Fire-Tree. 
 
 To make a fire-tree, as fhewn by fig. 
 44. you muft firft have a piece of wood 
 fix feet in length, and three inches 
 
 fquare. 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 203 
 
 fquare, then at E, nine inches from the 
 top, make a hole in the front, and in 
 each fide, or inftead of holes you may 
 fix fhort pegs, to fit the infide of the 
 cafes. At F, nine inches from E, fix 
 three more pegs ; at G, one foot nine 
 inches from F, fix three pegs; at H, 
 nine inches from G, fix three pegs, in- 
 clining downwards, but all the other 
 pegs, muft incline upwards, in order 
 that the cafes may have the fame in- 
 clination as you fee in the figure ; then 
 at top place a four inch mortar, loaded 
 with ftars, rains, or crackers. In the 
 middle of this mortar, place a cafe filled 
 with any fort of charge, but let it be 
 fired with the other cafes : a brilliant 
 charge will do for all the cafes, but the 
 mortar may be made of any diameter, 
 and the tree of any fize, and on it any 
 number of cafes, provided they are pla- 
 ced in the manner defcribed. 
 
 Of Chinefe Fountains. 
 
 To make a Chinefe fountain, you 
 muft have a perpendicular piece of 
 wood, feven feet in length, and two 
 inches and a half fquare. Sixteen inches 
 
 from 
 
204 A Treatise on 
 
 from the top ; fix on the front, a crofs 
 piece, one inch thick, and two and a 
 half broad, with the broad fide up- 
 wards ; below this, fix three more pie- 
 ces, of the fame width and thicknefs, at 
 fixteen inches diftance from each other ; 
 let the bottom rail be five feet in 
 length, and the others of fuch a length, 
 as to allow the fire pumps to ftand in 
 the middle of the intervals of each o- 
 ther. The pyramid being thus made, 
 fix in the holes made in the bottom 
 rail, five fire pumps, at equal diftan- 
 ces ; on the fecond rail place four 
 pumps ; on the third, three ; on the 
 fourth, two; and on the top of the 
 poll:, one; but place them all to in- 
 cline a little forwards, that when they 
 throw out the ftars, they may not ftrike 
 againft the crofs rails; having fixed 
 your fire pumps, cloath them with lead- 
 ers, fo that they may all be fired to- 
 gether. fee fig. 45. 
 
 Of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 205 
 
 Of Illuminated Globes with Hori- 
 zontal Wheels. 
 
 The hoops for thefe fort of globes, 
 may be made of wood, tin, or iron 
 wire, about two feet diameter; for 
 a fingle globe take two hoops, and 
 fallen them together, one within the 
 other at right angles ; then have a ho- 
 rizontal wheel made, whofe diameter 
 mull be a little wider than the globe, 
 and its nave fix inches long, on the 
 top of which the globe is fixed, fo as to 
 Hand three or four inches from the 
 wheel; on this wheel you may put 
 any number of cafes, fill’d with what 
 charge you like, but let two of them 
 burn at a time ; they may be placed 
 
 horizontally or to incline downwards 
 * 
 
 juft as you chufe. Now when the 
 wheel is cloathed, fix on the hoops 
 as many illuminations as will ftand 
 within two inches and a half of one 
 another ; thefe you fatten on the 
 hoops, with fmall iron binding wire, 
 and when they are all on, put on 
 your pipes of communication, which 
 muft be fo managed, as to light 
 
 them 
 
206 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 them all with the fecond or third 
 cafe on the wheel ; the fpindle on 
 which the globe is to run muft go 
 through the block of the wheel, 
 up to the infide of the top af the 
 globe, where muft be fix’d a bit of 
 brafs or iron, with a hole in it to 
 receive the point of the fpindle, 
 on which the whole weight of the 
 wheel is to bear, as is fhewn by 
 fig. 46. which reprefents a globe on 
 its fpindle. By this method may be 
 made a crown, which is done by 
 having . the hoops bent in the form 
 of a crown. Sometimes globes and 
 crowns, are ordered fo as to ftand 
 ftill, and the wheel only to turn 
 round; but when you would have the 
 globe or crown to ftand ftill, and the 
 wheel to run by itfelf, the block of 
 the wheel muft not be fo long, nor 
 the fpindle any longer than to juft 
 raife the globe a little above the 
 wheel; and the wheel cafes, and the 
 illumination muft begin together. 
 
 Of 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 
 
 Of the Dodecaedron. 
 
 This piece is called a dodecaedron, 
 becaufe it nearly reprefents a twelve Ti- 
 ded figure, and is made thus. Firft have 
 a ball turned out of fome hard wood, 
 fourteen inches diameter, when done, 
 divide its furface into fourteen equal 
 parts, from which bore holes, one inch 
 and a half diameter, perpendicular to 
 the center, fo that they may all meet 
 exadtiy in the middle ; then let there 
 be turned in the infide of each hole a 
 female fcrew, and to all the holes but 
 one, muft be made a round fpoke, five 
 feet in length, with four inches of the 
 fcrew at one end, to fit the holes ; 
 then in the fcrew end of all the fpokes, 
 bore a hole, five inches up, which 
 muft be bored llanting, fo as to come 
 out at one fide, a little above the 
 fcrew; from which cut a (mail groove 
 along the fpoke, within fix inches of 
 the other end, where you make ano- 
 ther hole through to the other fide of 
 the fpoke; in this end fix a fpindle, on 
 which put a fmall wheel, of three, or 
 four fides, each fide fix or feven inches 
 
 in 
 
208 A Treatise on 
 
 in length ; thefe fides muft have grooves 
 cut in them large enough to receive a 
 two or four ounce cafe ; when thefe 
 wheels are cloathed, put them on the 
 fpindles, and at the end of each fpindle* 
 put a nut to keep the wheel from falling 
 off ; the wheels being thus fixed, carry a 
 pipe from the mouth of the firft cafe on 
 each wheel, through the hole in the fide 
 of the fpoke, and from thence along the 
 groove and through the other hole, fo 
 as to hang out at the fcrew end, about an 
 inch. The fpokes being all prepared in 
 this manner, you muft have a poft, on 
 which you intend to fire the work, with 
 an iron fcrew in the top of it, to fit one 
 of the holes, in the ball ; on this fcrew 
 fix the ball, then in the top hole of the 
 ball, put a little meal powder, and fome 
 loofe quick match ; then fcrew in all the 
 fpokes, and in one fide of the ball bore a 
 hole, in which put a leader, and fecure 
 it at the end, and your work will be 
 ready to be fired. By this leader the 
 powder and match in the center is fired, 
 which will light the match at the ends 
 of the fpokes, all at once, whereby all 
 the wheels will be lighted at one and the 
 fame time; there may be an addition to 
 this piece, by fixing a fmall globe, on 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 209 
 
 each wheel, or one on the top wheel on- 
 ly. A grey charge will be proper for 
 the wheel cafes. 
 
 Of the Yew Tree of Brilliant Fire. 
 
 A yew tree of fire is reprefented by 
 fig. 4 7. as it appears when burning; 
 firft, let A be an upright piece of wood, 
 four feet in length, two inches broad 
 and one thick ; at top of this piece, on 
 the flat fide, fix a hoop, fourteen inches 
 diameter, and round its edge and front 
 place illuminations, and in the center a 
 five pointed ftar ; then at E, which is 
 one foot and a half from the edge of the 
 hoop, place two cafes of brilliant fire, 
 one on each fide ; thefe cafes fhould be 
 one foot in length each; below thefe, 
 fix two more cafes of the fame fize, and 
 at fuch a diftance that their mouths 
 may almoft meet them at top ; then, 
 clofe to the ends of thefe cafes, fix two 
 more of the fame fort of cafes ; thefe 
 mu ft ftand parallel to them at E. The 
 cafes being thus fixed, cloath them with 
 leaders ; fo that they, with the illumi- 
 nations and ftar at top, may all take fire 
 together. 
 
 P 
 
 Of 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 2io 
 
 Of Stars with Points for Regulated 
 Pieces, &c. 
 
 i 
 
 Thefe fort of ftars are made of dif- 
 ferent fizes, according to the work for 
 which they are intended ; they are made 
 with cafes, from one ounce to one 
 pound, but in general are made with 
 four ounce cafes, four or five inches in 
 length ; the cafes muft be rolled with 
 pafte, and twice as thick of paper as a 
 rocket of the fame bore. Having roll- 
 ed a cafe, pinch one end of it quite 
 clofe, then drive in half a diameter of 
 clay, and when the cafe is dry, fill it 
 with compofition, two or three inches, 
 according to the length of the cafes, 
 with which it is to burn ; at top of the 
 charge drive fome clay ; for, as the ends 
 of thefe cafes are feldom punched, they 
 would be liable to take fire. Having 
 filled a cafe, divide the circumference of 
 it at the pinched end clofe to the clay 
 into five equal parts; then bore five 
 holes with a gimblet about the fize of 
 the neck of a common four ounce cafe 
 into the compofition ; from one hole to 
 the other, carry a quick match, and 
 
 fecure 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 2ir 
 
 fecure it with paper ; this paper muft 
 be put on in the manner of that on the 
 ends of wheel cafes, fo that the hollow 
 part, which projects from the end of the 
 cafe, may ferve to receive a leader from 
 any other work, in order to give fire to 
 the points of the ftar. Thefe fort of 
 ftars may be made with any number of 
 points. 
 
 Of the Fixed Sun with a Tranf- 
 parent Face. 
 
 To make a fun of the beft fort, there 
 ftiould be two rows of cafes, as in fig. 
 48, which will fhew a double glory, 
 and make the rays ftrong and full ; the 
 frame or fun wheel, muft be made after 
 the following manner ; have a circular 
 flat nave made very ftrong, twelve 
 inches diameter ; to this fix fix ftrong 
 flat fpokes. A, B, C, D, E, F. On the 
 front of thefe fix a circular fell, five feet 
 diameter. Within which fix another 
 fell, the length of one of the fun cafes 
 lefs in diameter j within this fix a third 
 fell, whofe diameter muft be lefs than 
 the fecond, by the length of one cafe 
 and one third ; the wheel being made, 
 P 2 divide 
 
2i z A Treatise on 
 
 divide the fells into as many equal parts 
 as you would have cafes (which may be 
 done from twenty four, to forty four ;) 
 at each divilion, fix a flat iron ftaple ; 
 thefe ftaples muft be made to fit the 
 cafes, fo as to hold them faft on the 
 wheel ; let the ftaples be fo placed, that 
 one row of cafes may lay in the middle 
 of the intervals of the other. 
 
 In the center of the block of the 
 fun, drive a fpindle, on which put a 
 fmall hexagon wheel, whofe cafes muft 
 be filled with the fame charge, as the cafes 
 of the fun ; two cafes of this wheel muft 
 burn at a time, and begin with them on 
 the fells ; having fixed on all the cafes, 
 carry pipes of communication from one 
 to the other, as you fee in the figure, 
 and from one fide of the fun to the 
 wheel in the middle, and from thence 
 to the other fide of the fun. Thefe 
 leaders will hold the wheel fteady while 
 the fun is fixing up, and will alfo be a 
 fure method of lighting both cafes of 
 the wheel together. A fun thus made is 
 called a brilliant fun, becaufe the wood 
 work is entirely covered with fire from 
 the wheel in the middle, fo that there 
 appears nothing but fparks of brilliant 
 fire ; but if you would have a trans- 
 parent 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 213 
 
 parent face in the center, you mu ft have 
 one made of pafte board, of any fize; 
 the method of making a face is, by 
 cutting out the eyes, nofe, and mouth, 
 for the fparks of the wheel to appear 
 through; but, inftead of this fort of 
 face, you may have one painted on oil- 
 ed paper, or Perfian fiik, ftrained tight 
 on a hoop, which hoop muft be fup- 
 ported by three or four pieces of wire, 
 at fix inches diftance from the wheel in 
 the center, fo that the light of it may illu- 
 minate the face ; by this method you may 
 have in the front of a fun Vivat rex, 
 cut in pafte board, or Apollo painted on 
 filk, but for a fmall colle&ion of fire- 
 works, a fun with a Angle glory, and a 
 wheel in front, will be moft fuitable. 
 Half pound cafes, filled ten inches with 
 compofition, will be a good fize for a 
 fun of five feet diameter ; but if larger, 
 the cafes muft be greater in proportion. 
 
214 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 Of three Vertical Wheels Illumi- 
 nated, which turn on their 
 own Naves upon a Horizontal 
 Table. 
 
 A plan of this is fhewn by fig. 49. 
 Let D be a deal table three feet fix 
 inches diameter ; this table muft be fix- 
 ed horizontally on the top of a poft; on 
 the top of this port muft be a perpen- 
 dicular iron fpindle, which muft come 
 through the center of the table ; then 
 let A, B, C, be three fpokes joined to a 
 triangular flat piece of wood, in the 
 middle of which make a hole to fit eafily 
 over the fpindle ; let E, F, G, be pieces 
 of wood, four or five inches in length 
 each, and two inches fquare, fixed on 
 the under fides of the fpokes ; in thefe 
 pieces make holes lengthwife to receive 
 the thin part of the blocks of the 
 wheels, which when in, are prevented 
 from coming out by a fmall iron pin 
 being run through the end of each ; 
 K, L, M, are three vertical odtagon 
 wheels, eighteen inches diameter each ; 
 the blocks of thefe wheels muft be long 
 
 enough 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 215 
 
 enough for three or four inches to reft 
 on the table, round which part drive a 
 number of fharp points of wire, which 
 muft not project out of the blocks more 
 than one fixteenth of an inch ; the ufe 
 of thefe points is, that when the blocks 
 run round, they will ftick in the table, 
 and help the wheels forward ; if the 
 naves be made of ftrong wood, one inch 
 will be enough for the diameter of the 
 thin part, which fhould be made to 
 turn ealy in the holes in the pieces 
 E, F, G. On the front of the wheels, 
 make four or five circles of ftrong wire, 
 or flat hoops, and tie on them as many 
 illuminations as they will hold at two 
 inches from one another ; inftead of cir- 
 cles, you may make fpiral lines cloathed 
 with illuminations at the fame diftance 
 from one another, as thofe on the hoops; 
 when illuminations are fixed on a fpiral 
 line in the front of a wheel, they muft 
 be placed a little on the flant, the con- 
 trary way that the wheel runs : the cafes 
 for thefe wheels may be filled with any 
 coloured charge, but muft burn only one 
 at a time. 
 
 The wheels being thus prepared, you 
 muft have a globe, crown, or fpiral 
 wheel, to put on the fpindle in the mid- 
 P 4 die 
 
2x6 A Treatise on 
 
 die of the table ; this fpindle fhould be 
 juft long enough to raife the wheel of 
 the globe, crown, or fpiral wheel, fo 
 high that its fire may play over the three 
 vertical wheels ; by this means, their 
 fires will not be confufed, nor will the 
 wheels receive any damage from the 
 fire of each other; in cloathing this 
 work, let the leaders be fo managed, 
 that all the wheels may light together, 
 and the illuminations after two cafes of 
 each wheel are burnt. 
 
 Of the Illuminated Chandelier. 
 
 Illuminated works are much admired 
 by the Italians, and indeed are a great 
 addition to a colle&ion of works ; for in 
 a grand exhibition an illuminated piece 
 fhould be fired after every two, or three 
 wheels, or fixed pieces of common and 
 brilliant fires, and likewife illuminated 
 works may be made cheap, quick, and 
 eafy. 
 
 To make an illuminated chandelier, 
 you mu ft firft have one made of thin 
 wood ; fee fig. 50. The chandelier be- 
 ing made, bore in the front of the 
 branches, and in the body, and alfo in 
 
Artificial Fireworks, 217 
 
 the crown at top, as many holes for 
 illuminations as they will contain, at 
 three inches diftance from each other; 
 in thefe holes put illuminations filled 
 with white, blue, or brilliant charge; 
 having fixed in the port fires, cloath 
 them with leaders fo that the chandelier 
 and crown may light together. The 
 fmall circles on this figure reprefent the 
 mouths of the illuminations, which muft 
 project ftraight from the front. 
 
 Of the Illuminated Yew Tree. 
 
 Firft have a tree made of wood, fucb 
 as is {hewn by fig. 51. The middle 
 piece or ftem, on which the branches 
 are fixed, muft be eight feet fix inches 
 in height; at the bottom of this piece 
 draw a line, at right angles, two feet fix 
 inches in length at each fide ; then from 
 L, which is one foot fix inches from 
 the bottom, draw a line on each fide to 
 C and D ; thefe lines will give the 
 length of the two firft branches. Then 
 put on the two top branches parallel to 
 them at bottom ; let the length of each 
 of thefe branches be one foot from the 
 ftem ; from the ends of thefe two 
 
 branches. 
 
218 A Treatise on 
 
 branches, draw aline to C and D ; then 
 fix on five more branches at an equal 
 diftance from each other, and their 
 length will be determined by the lines 
 A C and E D ; when the branches are 
 fixed, place illuminating port fires on 
 the top of each, as many as you chufe : 
 behind the top cf the Hem faften a 
 gerbe, or white fountain, which muft 
 be fired at the beginning of the illumi- 
 nations on the tree. 
 
 Of Flaming Stars with Brilliant 
 Wheels. 
 
 To make a flaming ftar, you muft firft 
 have made a circular piece of ftrong 
 wood, about one inch thick and two 
 feet diameter ; round this block fix 
 eight points, two feet fix inches in 
 length each ; four of thefe points muft 
 be ftraight, and four flaming; thefe 
 points being joined on very ftrong and 
 even with the furface of the block, nail 
 tin or pafte board on their edges, from 
 the block to the end of each, where 
 they muft be joined ; this tin muft pro- 
 ject in front eight inches, and be joined 
 where they meet at the block ; round 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 219 
 
 the front of the block fix four pieces of 
 thick iron wire, eight inches in length 
 each, equally diftant from each other; 
 this being done, cut a piece of pafte 
 board round two feet diameter, and 
 draw on it a ftar, as may be feen in 
 fig. 52. This ftar cut out, and on the 
 back of it pafte oiled paper, then paint 
 each point half red, and half yellow, 
 length wife; but the body of the ftar 
 muft be left open, wherein muft run a 
 brilliant wheel, which is made as fol- 
 lows : Have a light block turned nine 
 inches long; at each end of it, fix fix 
 fpokes, at the end of each fpoke put a 
 two ounce cafe of brilliant fire ; the 
 length of thefe cafes muft be in propor- 
 tion to the wheel* and the diameter of 
 the wheel when the cafes are on muft 
 be a little lefs than the diameter of the 
 body of the frnall ftar ; the cafes on the 
 fpokes in front muft have their mouths 
 incline outwards, and them on the in- 
 fide fpokes muft be placed fo as to form 
 a vertical circle of fire. When you 
 place your leaders, carry the tirft pipe 
 from the tail of one of the cafes in front 
 to the mouth of one of the infide cafes, 
 and from the tail of that to another in 
 front, and fo on to all the cafes ; your 
 
 wheel 
 
220 A Treatise on 
 
 wheel being made, put it on a fpindle, 
 exactly in the center of the ftar ; this 
 fpindle muft have a fhoulder at bottom, 
 to keep the wheel at a little diftance 
 from the block. This wheel muft be 
 kept on the fpindle by a nut at the end ; 
 having fixed on the wheel, faften the 
 tranfparent ftar to the four pieces of 
 wire 5 then when you fire the wheel, 
 you will firft fee nothing more than a 
 common horizontal wheel; but when 
 the firft cafe is burnt out, it will fire 
 one of the vertical cafes, which will 
 fhew the tranfparent ftar, and fill the 
 large flames and points with fire ; then 
 it will again appear like a common 
 wheel, and fo on for twelve changes. 
 
 Of Touch Paper for Capping of 
 Serpents, Crackers, &c. 
 
 Diftolve, in fome fpirits of wine or 
 vinegar, a little fait petre, then take 
 fome purple or blue paper, and wet it 
 with the above liquor, and when dry it 
 will be fit for ufe ; when you pafte this 
 paper, on any of your works, take care 
 that the pafte does not touch that part 
 which is to burn. The method of ufing 
 
 this 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 221 
 
 this paper is by cutting it into flips, long 
 enough to go once round the mouth 
 of a ferpent, cracker, &c. When you 
 parte on thefe flips, leave a little above 
 the mouth of the cafe not parted; then 
 prime the cafe with meal powder, and 
 twift the paper to a point. 
 
 Of a Proje&ed Regulated Piece of 
 Nine Mutations. 
 
 A regulated piece, if well executed, 
 is as curious a work as any in fireworks; 
 for it confirts of fixed and moveable 
 pieces on one fpindle, reprefenting vari- 
 ous forts of figures, which take fire fuc- 
 ceflively one from another, without any 
 affiftance after lighting the firft muta- 
 tion ; but, for the better explanation of 
 this piece, I fhall give a full defcription 
 of the method of communicating the 
 fire from one mutation to the other, 
 with a figure of each as they ftand on 
 the fpindle. Regulated pieces are made 
 of many forts, and of any number of 
 mutations, from two to nine, which is 
 the greateft number I ever knew a piece 
 to confift of, except one of my own 
 making, which was compofed of fifteen 
 2 mutations, 
 
222 A Treatise on 
 
 mutations, all different fires, and figures. 
 But, as an explanation of fo large a 
 piece, would be very difficult, to com- 
 prehend, I fhall omit it, leaving fo many 
 changes to thofe who have made a 
 great progrefs in this art, and only 
 teach the manner of making a piece of 
 nine mutations, as fhewn in Plate V, 
 fig. 53. As it will be neceffary that 
 every mutation fhould be feparately ex- 
 plained, ^ I will firft give the name of 
 each, with the colour of fire, and fize 
 of the .cafe belonging to it : after which 
 fhall proceed, with the proportion of 
 each mutation, together with the nature 
 of the fpindle, and manner of placing 
 the leaders 
 
 Firft Mutation 
 
 Is a hexagon vertical wheel, illumi- 
 nated in front with fmall port fires tied 
 on the fpokes ; this wheel mu ft be 
 cloathed with two ounce cafes, filled 
 with black charge ; the length of thefe 
 cafes, are determined by the fize of the 
 wheel, but muft burn fingly. 
 
 Second 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 223 
 
 Second Mutation 
 
 Is a fixed piece called a golden glory, 
 by reafon of the cafes being filled with 
 fpur-fire$ the cafes muft fland perpen- 
 dicular to the block on which they are 
 fixed, fo that, when they are burning, 
 they may reprefent a glory of fire ; this 
 mutation is generally compofed of five, 
 or feven two ounce cafes. 
 
 Third Mutation 
 
 Is moveable, and is nothing more 
 then an odtagon vertical wheel, cloathed 
 with four ounce cafes, filled with bril- 
 liant charge ; two of thefe cafes muft 
 burn at a time : in this wheel you may 
 make changes of fire. 
 
 Fourth Mutation 
 
 Is a fixed fun of brilliant fire, confift- 
 ing of twelve four ounce cafes ; the necks 
 of thefe cafes muft be a little larger than 
 thofe of four ounce wheel cafes ; in this 
 mutation may be made a change of fire. 
 
224 A Treatise on 
 
 by filling the cafes half with brilliant 
 charge and half with grey. 
 
 Fifth Mutation 
 
 Is a fixed piece called the porcupine’s 
 quills ; this piece confifts of twelve 
 fpokes, ftanding perpendicular to the 
 block in which they are fixed; on each 
 of thefe fpokes, near the end, muft be 
 placed a four ounce cafe of brilliant fire ; 
 all thefe cafes muft incline either to the 
 right or left, fo that they may all play 
 one way. 
 
 Sixth Mutation 
 
 Is a ftanding piece called the crofs 
 fire. This mutation confifts of eight 
 fpokes fixed in a block ; near the end of 
 each of thofe fpokes, muft be tied two 
 four ounce cafes of white charge, one 
 acrofs the other, fo that the fires from 
 the cafes on one fpoke, may interfedt 
 the fire from cafes on the other. 
 
 Seventh Mutation 
 
 Is a fixed wheel, with two circular 
 fells, on which are placed fixteen eight 
 
 ounce 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 225 
 
 ounce cafes of brilliant fire, in the form 
 of a ftar : this piece is called a fixed ftar 
 of wild fire. 
 
 Eighth Mutation. 
 
 This is a beautiful piece, called a bril- 
 liant ftar piece, it confifts of fix fpokes, 
 which are ftrengthened by two fells of 
 a hexagon form at fome diftance from 
 each other ; at the end of each fpoke, 
 in the front, is fixed a brilliant ftar of 
 five points ; and on each fide of' every 
 ftar is placed a four ounce cafe of black 
 or grey charge ; thefe cafes muft be 
 placed with their mouths fide ways, fo 
 that their fires may crofs each other. 
 
 Ninth Mutation 
 
 Is a wheel piece ; this is compofed of 
 fix long fpokes, with a hexagon vertical 
 wheel at the end of each; thefe wheels 
 run on fpindles in the front of the 
 fpokes all the wheels are lighted to- 
 gether : two ounce cafes will do for 
 thefe wheels, and may be filled with any 
 coloured charge. 
 
 Q 
 
 After 
 
226 A Treatise on 
 
 After having fpoke of the feveral parts 
 of the regulated piece, each by their 
 proper names and colour of fire, I (hall 
 next proceed with the proportion of 
 every mutation, together with the me- 
 thod of conveying the fire from one to 
 the other, and the diftance they ftand 
 one from the other on the fpindle. 
 
 Firft Mutation 
 
 Mull be a hexagon vertical wheel, 
 fourteen inches diameter ; on one fide 
 of the block, whofe diameter is two 
 inches and a quarter, is fixed a tin bar- 
 rel A, fee fig. 53, N°. 1 5 this barrel 
 mufl be a little lefs in diameter than the 
 nave ; let the length of the barrel and 
 block be fix inches. Having fixed the 
 cafes on the wheel, carry a leader from 
 the tail of the laft cafe into the tin bar- 
 rel through a hole made on purpofe two 
 inches from the block ; at the end of 
 this leader let there be about an inch 
 or two of loofe match, but take care to 
 well fecure the hole wherein the pipe 
 is put, to prevent any fparks failing in, 
 which would light the fecond mutation 
 before its time, and confufe the whole 
 piece. 
 
 Second 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 227 
 
 Second Mutation 
 
 Is thus made. Have a nave turned two 
 inches and a half diameter, and three 
 long* then let half an inch of that end 
 which faces the firft wheel be turned 
 fo as to fit eafy into the tin barrel of 
 the firft mutation, which muft turn 
 round it without touching; on the other 
 end of the block, fix a tin barrel B, 
 N°. 2, this barrel muft be fix inches in 
 length, and only half an inch of it to 
 fit on the block. Round the nave fix 
 five fpokes, one inch and a half in length 
 each ; the diameter of the fpokes muft 
 be equal to a two ounce former ; on 
 thefe fpokes put five feven inch two 
 ounce cafes of fpur fire, and carry leaders 
 from the mouth of one to the other, 
 that they may all light together ; then 
 from the mouth of one of the cafes, 
 carry a leader, through a hole bored 
 flantways in the nave, from between 
 the fpokes, to the front of the block 
 near the fpindle hole ; the end of this 
 leader muft project out of the hole into 
 the barrel of the firft mutation, fo that 
 when the pipe which comes from the end 
 of the laft cafe on the firft wheel flafhes, 
 QjJ « 
 
228 A Treatise on 
 
 it may take fire and light the fecond 
 mutation. To communicate the fire to 
 the third mutation bore a hole near the 
 bottom of one of the five cafes, to the 
 compofition, and from thence carry a 
 leader into a hole made in the middle of 
 the barrel B; this hole mu ft be covered 
 with pafted paper. 
 
 Third Mutation 
 
 May be either an odagon or hexagon 
 wheel, twenty inches diameter ; let the 
 nave be three inches and a quarter dia- 
 meter, and three and a half in length * 
 one inch and a half of the front of the 
 nave mu ft be made to fit in the barrel B. 
 On the other end ©f the block fix a tin 
 barrel C, N°. 3 5 this barrel muft be fix 
 inches and a half in length, one inch of 
 which muft fit over the block. The 
 cafes of this wheel muft burn two at a 
 time ; and from the mouths of the two 
 firft cafes carry a leader, through holes 
 in the nave into the barrel of the fecond 
 mutation, after the ufual manner ; but 
 befides thefe leaders let there be a pipe 
 go acrofs the wheel from one firft cafe 
 to the other, then from the tail of one 
 of the laft cafes, carry a pipe into a hole 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 229 
 
 in the middle of the barrel C ; at the 
 end of this pipe, let there hang fome 
 loofe quick match. 
 
 Fourth and Fifth Mutation. 
 
 We fhall here fpeak of thofe two mu- 
 tations under one head, as their naves 
 are made of one piece, which from E 
 to F is fourteen inches; B, a block four 
 inches diameter, with ten or twelve 
 fhort fpokes, on which are fixed eleven 
 inch eight ounce cafes; let the front 
 of this block be made to fit eafy in the 
 barrel C, and cloath the cafes fo that 
 they may all light together ; and let a 
 pipe be carried through a hole in the 
 block into the barrel C, in order to re- 
 ceive the fire from the leader brought 
 from the laft cafe on the wheel. G, the 
 nave of the fifth mutation, whcfe dia- 
 meter mud be four inches and a half ; 
 in this nave fix ten or twelve fpokes 
 one foot and a half in length each ; theie 
 fpokes mufi: Hand feven inches diftance 
 from the fpokes of the fourth mutation; 
 and at the end of each fpoke tie a four 
 ounce cafe, as fhewn by N°. 5; all thefe 
 cafes are to be lighted together, by a 
 leader brought from the end of one of 
 0.3 the 
 
230 A Treatise on 
 
 the cafes on N°. 4. Let F and H be 
 of the fame piece of wood as E and G ; 
 but as much thinner as poflible, in order 
 to make the work light. 
 
 Sixth and Seventh Mutation. 
 
 The blocks of thefe two mutations, 
 are turned out of one piece of wood, 
 whofe length from F to P is fifteen 
 inches. L a block five inches diameter, 
 in which are fixed eight fpokes, each 
 two feet four inches in length ; at the 
 end of each fpoke tie two four ounce 
 cafes as fhewn by N°. 6 ; all thefe cafes 
 muft be fired at the fame time, by a 
 pipe brought from the end of one of the 
 cafes on the fifth mutation. Let the 
 diftance between the fpokes at L and 
 thofe in the fifth mutation be feven 
 inches. M, the nave of the feventh 
 mutation, whofe diameter muff be five 
 inches and a half ; in this nave fix eight 
 fpokes, and on the front of them two 
 circular fells, one of four feet eight 
 diameter, and one of three feet eleven 
 inches diameter ; on thefe fells, tie fix- 
 teen eight ounce or pound cafes, in the 
 fame manner as reprefented by N°. 7, 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 231 
 
 and carry leaders from one to the other, 
 fo that they may be all fired together ; 
 this mutation muft be fired by a leader 
 brought from the tail of one of the cafes 
 on the fixth mutation. 
 
 Eighth and Ninth Mutation. 
 
 The blocks of thefe may be turned 
 out of one piece, whofe length from P 
 to D muft be twelve inches. O, the 
 block of the eighth mutation, which 
 muft be fix inches diameter, and in it 
 fixed fix fpokes, each three feet in 
 length ; thefe fpokes muft be ftrength- 
 ened by a hexagon fell within three or 
 four inches of the ends of the fpokes ; 
 clofe to the end of each fpoke, in the 
 front, fix a five-pointed brilliant ftar ; 
 then feven inches below each ftar tie 
 two ten inch eight ounce cafes, fo that 
 the upper ends of the cafes may reft on 
 the fells, and their ends on the fpokes ; 
 each of thefe cafes muft be placed par- 
 allel to the oppofite fell, fee N°. 8. 
 NNN, &c. are the cafes, and kkk, &c. 
 the ftars. 
 
 The ninth mutation muft be thus 
 made ; let D be a block feven inches 
 diameter ; in this block muft be fcrewed 
 CL 4 
 
232 A Treatise on 
 
 fix fpokes, fix feet in length each, with 
 holes and grooves in them for leaders, 
 in the fame manner as thofe in the 
 dodecaedron 5 at the end of each fpoke, 
 in the front, fix a fpindle for a hexagon 
 vertical wheel, ten inches diameter, as 
 fhewn by N°. 9. When thefe wheels 
 are on, carry a leader from each into 
 the block, fo that they may all meet 
 together ; then lead a pipe from the end 
 of one of the cafes of the eighth muta- 
 tion, through a hole bored in the block 
 D, to meet the leaders from the vertical 
 wheels, fo that they may all be fired 
 together. 
 
 The fpindles for large pieces are re- 
 quired to be made very ftrong, and as 
 exadt as poffible; for a piece of nine 
 mutations, let the fpindle be at the 
 large end one inch diameter, and con- 
 tinue that thicknefs as far as the feventh 
 mutation, and from thence to the fifth 3 
 let its diameter be three quarters of an 
 inch ; from the fifth to the fourth, five 
 eighths of an inch ; from the fourth to 
 the fecond, half an inch ; and from the 
 fecond to the end, three eighths of an 
 inch : at the fmall end mu ft be a nut 
 to keep on the fir ft wheel, and at the 
 thick end muft be a large nut, as fhewn 
 
 by 
 
Artificial Fireworks, 233 
 
 by the figure, fo that the fcrew part of 
 the fpindle being put through a poll, 
 and a nut fcrewed on tight, the fpindle 
 will be held fail and fteady; but you 
 are to obferve, that that part of the 
 fpindle, on which the moveable pieces 
 are to run, be made long enough for the 
 wheels to run eafy without flicking; 
 the fixed pieces being made on different 
 blocks, the leaders inufl be joined, after 
 they are fixed on the fpindle. The beft 
 method of preventing the fixed muta- 
 tions from moving on the fpindle, is, 
 to make that part of the fpindle which 
 goes through them fquare ; but as it 
 would be difficult to make fquare holes 
 through fuch long blocks as are fome- 
 times required, it will be beft to make 
 them in the following manner; which 
 is, to bore a round hole a little larger 
 than the diameter of the fpindle, and 
 at each end of the block over the hole, 
 fallen a piece of brafs with a fquare 
 hole in it to fit the fpindle. 
 
 To 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 2 34 
 
 To make a Horizontal Wheel 
 change to a Vertical Wheel with 
 a Sun in Front. 
 
 The fudden change of this piece is 
 very pleating, and gives great furprize 
 to thofe who are not acquainted with 
 the contrivance. A wheel for this pur- 
 pofe fhould be about three feet dia- 
 meter, and its fell circular, on which 
 tie fixteen half pound cafes filled with 
 brilliant charge; two of thefe cafes 
 mu ft burn at a time, and on each end 
 of the nave muft be a tin barrel of the 
 fame conftruclion as thofe on the regu- 
 lated piece ; the wheel being compleat- 
 ed, prepare the poft or ftand after the 
 following manner : firft have a ftand 
 made of any height, about three or four 
 inches fquare, then faw off from the 
 top, a piece two feet in length ; this 
 piece join again at the place where it 
 was cut, with a hinge on one fide, fo 
 that it may lift up and down in the 
 front of the ftand, then fix on the top 
 of the bottom part of the ftand, on each 
 fide a bracket ; thefe brackets muft pro- 
 ject at right angles with the ftand, one 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 235 
 
 foot from the front, for the ftiort piece 
 to reft on ; but thefe brackets muft be 
 placed a little above the joint of the poft, 
 fo that when the upper ftand falls, it 
 may lay between them at right angles 
 with the bottom ftand, which may be 
 done by fixing a piece of wood, one 
 foot in length, between the brackets and 
 even with the top of the bottom ftand ; 
 then, as the brackets rife above the bot- 
 tom ftand, they will form a channel for 
 the fhort poft to lay in, and at the fame 
 time keep it fteady without {training 
 the hinge : on the fide of the (hort poft 
 oppofite the hinge, nail a piece or wood ; 
 this piece muft be of fuch a length, 
 that, when the poft is perpendicular, it 
 may reach about one foot and a half 
 down the long poft, to which being 
 tied, it will hold the fhort ftand upright; 
 the ftand being thus prepared, in the 
 top of it fix a fpindle ten inches in 
 length ; on this fpindle put the wheel, 
 then fix on a brilliant fun with a fingle 
 glory; the diameter of this fun muft 
 be fix inches lefs than that of the wheel. 
 When you fire this piece, light the 
 wheel firft, and let it run horizontally 
 till four cafes are confumed ; then from 
 the end of the fourth cafe carry a leader 
 
 into 
 
236 A Treatise on 
 
 into the ten barrel that turns over the 
 end of the ftand ; this leader muft be 
 met by another brought through the 
 top of the poft, from a cafe filled with 
 a ftrong port-fire charge, and tied to 
 the bottom poft, with its mouth facing 
 the pack-thread which holds up the 
 ftand, fo that when this cafe is lighted, 
 it will burn the pack-thread, and let the 
 wheel fall forward, by which means it 
 will become vertical ; then from the 
 laft cafe of the wheel, carry a leader 
 into the barrel next the fun, which will 
 begin as foon as the wheel is burnt out. 
 
 Of the grand Volute illuminated 
 
 with a projected Wheel in 
 Front. 
 
 Firft have two hoops made of ftrong 
 iron v/ire, one of fix feet diameter, and 
 one of four feet two inches ; thefe hoops 
 muft be joined to fcroles A, A, A, &c. as 
 fhewn by fig. 54. Thefe fcroles muft 
 be made of the fame fort of wire as the 
 hoops ; on thefe fcroles, tie with iron 
 binding wire as many illuminating port 
 fires as they will hold, at two inches 
 diftance from each other; thefe port 
 2 fires 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 237 
 
 fires cloath with leaders, fo that they 
 may all take fire together ; then let C be 
 a circular wheel of four fpokes, three 
 feet fix inches diameter, and on its fell 
 tie as many four ounce cafes head to 
 tail, as will compleat the circle, only 
 allowing a fufficient diftance between 
 the cafes, that the fire may pafs free, 
 which may be done by cutting the 
 upper part of the end of each cafe a lit- 
 tle fhelving : on each fpoke fix a four 
 ounce cafe about three inches from the 
 fell of the wheel ; thefe cafes are to burn 
 one at a time, and the firft of them to 
 begin with thofe on the fell, of which 
 four are to bum at a time, fo that the 
 wheel will laft no longer than one fourth 
 of the cafes on the fell, which in num- 
 ber fhould be fixteen or twenty ; on the 
 front of the wheel form a fpiral line, 
 with ftrong wire, on which tie port fires, 
 placing them on a flant, with their 
 mouths to face the fame way as the 
 cafes on the wheel ; all thefe port fires 
 muft be fired with the fecond cafes of 
 wheel. Let D, D, D, &c. be fpokes of 
 wood, all made to fcrew into a block in 
 the center j each of thefe fpokes may be 
 in length about four feet fix inches ; in 
 the top of each fix a fpindle* and on each 
 
 fpindle 
 
238 A Treatise on 
 
 fpindle put a fpirali wheel of eight fpokes, 
 fuch as are reprefented by E, E, E, &c. 
 The blocks of thefe wheels mu ft have 
 a hole at top for the center cafes, and 
 the fpindle mu ft have nuts fcrewed on 
 their ends, which nuts fhould fit in the 
 holes at top of the blocks, fo that all 
 the wheels, muft be put on before you 
 fix in the center cafes : as fome of thefe 
 wheels by reafon of their fituation will 
 not bear on the nut, it will be neceftary 
 to have fmooth fhoulders made on the 
 fpindles for the blocks to run on ; the 
 cafes of thefe wheels are to burn double, 
 and the method of firing them is, by 
 carrying a leader from each down the 
 fpokes into the block in the center, in 
 the fame manner as thofe in the dode- 
 caedron, but the center cafe of each 
 wheel, muft begin with the two laft 
 cafes as ufual ; it is to be obferved, that 
 the large circular wheel in front muft 
 have a tin barrel on its block, into which 
 a pipe muft be carried, from one of the 
 fecond cafes on the wheel ; this pipe 
 being met by another from the large 
 block, in which the eight fpokes are 
 fcrewed, will fire all the fpirali wheels 
 and the illuminating port fires at the 
 fame time. The cafes of the proje&ed 
 
 wheel. 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 239 
 
 wheel may be filled with a white 
 charge, and thofe of the fpirali wheels, 
 with a grey. 
 
 Of the Moon and Seven Stars. 
 
 Let fig. 55, be a fmooth circular 
 board, fix feet diameter ; out of the 
 middle of it cut a circular piece twelve 
 or fourteen inches diameter, and over 
 the vacancy put white Perfian filk, on 
 which paint a moon’s face, then let 
 I, I, I, &c. be liars each four or five 
 inches diameter, cut out with five 
 points, and covered with oiled filk : on 
 the front of the large circular board, 
 draw a feven-pointed liar, as large as the 
 circle will allow; then on the lines 
 which form this liar, bore holes, where- 
 in fix pointed liars. When this piece 
 is to be. fired, it mud be fixed upon the 
 front of a pod, on a fpindle, with a 
 wheel of brilliant fire behind the face 
 of the moon ; fo .that while the wheel 
 burns, the moon and ftars will appear 
 tranfparent, and when the wheel has 
 burnt out, they will difappear, and the 
 large liar in front, which is formed of 
 pointed ftars, will begin, being lighted 
 
240 A Treatise on 
 
 by a pipe of communication from the 
 laft cafe of the vertical wheel, behind 
 the moon ; this pipe of communication 
 muft be managed in the fame manner as 
 thofe in regulated pieces. 
 
 # 
 
 Of the Double Cone Wheel illu- 
 minated. 
 
 This piece is reprefented by fig 56. 
 Let A, be a ftrong decagon wheel, two 
 feet fix inches diameter $ then on each 
 fide of it fix a cone B and C ; thefe cones 
 are to confift of a number of hoops, 
 fupported by three or four pieces of 
 wood, in the manner of the fpiral 
 wheels ; let the height of each cone be 
 three feet fix inches, and on all the 
 hoops tie port fires horizontally, with 
 their mouths outwards, and cloath the 
 wheel with eight ounce cafes, all to 
 play horizontally, two at a time : the 
 cones may be fired with the firft or 
 fecond cafes* The fpindle for this piece 
 muft go through both the cones, and 
 rife three feet above the point of the 
 cone at top, fo that its length will be 
 ten feet four inches from the top of the 
 poll H, in which it is fixed, allowing 
 
 four 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 241 
 
 four inches for the thicknefs of the 
 block of the wheel ; the whole weight 
 of the wheel and cones muft bear on a 
 {boulder in the fpindie, on which the 
 block of the wheel muft turn; near the 
 top of the fpindie, muft be a hole in the 
 front, into which fcrew a fmali fpindie, 
 after the cones are on ; then on this 
 fmali fpindie fix a fun D, compofed of 
 fixteen nine inch four ounce cafes of 
 brilliant fire, which cafes muft not be 
 placed on a fell, but only ftuck into a 
 block of fix inches diameter; then in 
 the front of this fun muft be a circular 
 vertical wheel, fixteen inches diameter ; 
 on the front of this wheel form with 
 iron wire a fpiral line, and cloath it 
 with illuminations, after the ufual me- 
 thod ; as this wheel is not to be fired 
 till the cones are burnt out, the method 
 of firing it is as follows ; let the hole in 
 the block, at the top of the uppermoft 
 cone, be a little larger than the fpindie 
 which paffes through it ; then from the 
 firft cafe of the vertical wheel before the 
 fun, carry a leader down the fide of the 
 fpindie to the top of the block of the 
 horizontal wheel, on which muft be a 
 tin barrel ; then this leader, being met 
 by another brought from the end q £ the 
 
 R laft 
 
242 A Treatise on 
 
 laft: cafe of the horizontal wheel, will 
 give fire to the vertical wheel, as foon 
 as the cones are extinguifhed ; but the 
 fun D muff not be fired, till the verti- 
 cal wheel is quite burnt out. 
 
 Of Fire Pumps. 
 
 Cafes for fire pumps, are made in the 
 fame manner as thofe for tourbillons, 
 only they are parted inftead of being 
 rolled dry. Having rolled and dryed your 
 cafes, fill them in the following manner : 
 firft put in a little meal powder, and 
 then a ftar, on which ram lightly a ladle 
 or two of compofition, then a little meal 
 powder, and on that a ftar, then again 
 compofition, and fo on till you have 
 filled the cafe. Stars for fire pumps 
 fhould not be round, but muft be made 
 either fquare, or flat and circular, with 
 a hole through the middle ; the quan- 
 tity of powder for throwing the ftars 
 muft increafe as you come near the top 
 of the cafe, for if much powder be put 
 at the bottom, it will burft the cafe. 
 The ftars muft differ in fize, in this 
 manner ; let the ftar which you put in 
 firft, be about one fourth lefs than the bore 
 
 of 
 
Artificial Fireworks, 243 
 
 of the cafe, but let the next ftar be a 
 little larger, and the third ftar a little 
 larger than the fecond, and fo on ; let 
 them increafe in diameter, till within 
 two of the top of the cafe, which two 
 mu ft fit in tight. As the loading of fire 
 pumps 'is fomewhat difficult, it will be 
 neceffary to make two or three trials, 
 before you depend on their perform- 
 ance ; when you fill a number of pumps, 
 take care not to put in each an equal 
 quantity of charge between the ftars, fo 
 that when they are fired they may not 
 throw up too many ftars together. 
 Cafes for fire pumps fhould be made 
 very ftrong, and rolled on four or eight 
 ounce formers, ten or twelve inches in 
 length each. 
 
 Of the Vertical Scrole Wheel. 
 
 This wheel may be made of any dia- 
 meter, but mu ft be conftruded as fhewn 
 by fig. 57, to do which proceed thus; 
 have a block made of a moderate fize, 
 into which fix four flat fpokes, and on 
 them fix a flat circular fell of wood ; 
 round the front of this fell place port- 
 fires 5 then on the front of the fpokes 
 R 2 form 
 
44- A Treatise on 
 
 form a fcrole, either with a hoop or 
 ftrong iron wire ; on this fcrole tie cafes 
 of brilliant fire, in proportion to the 
 wheel, head to tail, as in the figure ; 
 when you fire this wheel, light the firft 
 cafe near the fell ; then, as the cafes fire 
 fucceiTively, you will fee the circle of 
 fire gradually diminifh ; but whether the 
 illuminations on the fell begin with the 
 fcrole or not, is immaterial, that being 
 left intirely to the maker. 
 
 N. B. This wheel may be put in the 
 front of a regulated piece, or fired by 
 itfelf, occafionally. 
 
 Of Pin Wheels. 
 
 Fir ft roll fome paper pipes, about 
 fourteen inches in length each ; thefe 
 pipes mu ft not he made thick of paper, 
 two or three rounds of elephant paper 
 being fufficient s when your pipes are 
 thoroughly dryed, you muft have made 
 a tin tube, twelve inches in length, to 
 fit eafy into the pipes ; at one end of this 
 tube fix a frnall conical cup, which be- 
 ing done, it is called a funnel, then bend 
 one end of one of the pipes, and put the 
 funnel in at the other, as far as it will 
 
 reach. 
 
afSr • . ■ 
 

Artificial Fireworks. 245 
 
 reach, and fill the cup with compofition; 
 then draw out the funnel by a little at 
 a time, fhaking it up and down, and it 
 will fill the pipe as it comes out; hav- 
 ing filled fome pipes, have made fome 
 fmall blocks, about an inch diameter, 
 and half an inch in thicknels ; round one 
 of thefe blocks wind and pafte a pipe, 
 and to the end of this pipe join another, 
 which muft: be done by twifting the end 
 of one pipe to a point, and putting it 
 into the end of the other, with a little 
 pafte ; in this manner join four or five 
 pipes, winding them one upon the other, 
 fo as to form a fpiral line; having 
 wound on your pipes, pafte two flips 
 of paper acrofs them, to hold them to- 
 gether ; befides thefe flips of paper, the 
 pipes muft be pafted together. 
 
 There is another method of making 
 thefe wheels, called the French method; 
 which is, by winding on the pipes with- 
 out pafte, and flicking them together 
 with fealing wax, at every half turn ; fo 
 that when they are fired, the end will 
 fall loofe every time the fire pafies the 
 wax, by which means the circle of fire 
 will be confiderably increafed. The 
 formers for thefe pipes are made from 
 one and a half to four fixteenths of an 
 R 3 inch 
 
246 A Treatise on 
 
 inch diameter, and the compofition for 
 them as follows; meal powder eight 
 ounces, fait petre two ounces, and ful- 
 phur one ; among thefe ingredients, 
 may be mixed a little fteel-filings, or 
 the duft of caft-iron ; this compofition 
 fhould be very dry, and not made too 
 fine, or it will flick in the funnel. Thefe 
 wheels may be fired on a large pin* and 
 held in the hand with fafety. 
 
 Of Fire Globes. 
 
 There are two forts of fire globes, 
 one with projected cafes, and the other 
 with the cafes concealed in the follow- 
 ing manner; have a globe made of 
 wood, of any diameter you chufe, and 
 divide the fur face of it into fourteen 
 equal parts, and at each divifion bore a 
 hole perpendicular to the center; thefe 
 holes muff be in proportion to the cafes 
 intended to be 11 fed ; in every hole, ex- 
 cept one, put a cafe filled with brilliant, 
 or any other charge, and let the mouths 
 of the cafes be even with the furface of 
 the globe; then cut in the globe a groove, 
 from the mouth of one cafe to the other, 
 for leaders, which muft be carried from 
 
 cafe 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 247 
 
 cafe to cafe, fo that they may all be 
 fired together; this being done, cover 
 the globe with a fingle paper, and paint 
 it. Thefe fort of globes may be ufed 
 to ornament a building. 
 
 Fire-globes with projected cafes are 
 made thus ; your globe being made with 
 fourteen holes bored in it as ufual, fix 
 in every hole, except one, a cafe, and let 
 each cafe project from the globe two 
 thirds of its length ; then cloath all the 
 cafes with leaders, fo that they may ail 
 take fire at the fame time. Fire-globes 
 are fupported by a pintle, made to fit 
 the hole in which there is no cafe. 
 
 To thread and join Leaders, with 
 the method of placing them on 
 different Works. 
 
 Joining and placing of Leaders is a 
 very effential part of fireworks, as it is 
 on the leaders, that the performance of 
 all complex works depend ; for which 
 reafon I (hall endeavour here to explain 
 the method of conducting pipes of com- 
 munication, in as plain a manner as 
 poffible. Your works being ready to be 
 cloath ed, proceed thus j cut your pipes 
 R 4 of 
 
24B A Treatise on 
 
 of a fufficient length to reach from one 
 cafe to the other, then put in the quick 
 match, which mud always be made to 
 go in very eafy ; when the match is in, 
 cut it off within about an inch of the 
 end of the pipe, and let it project as 
 much at the other end ; then fallen the 
 pipe to the mouth of each cafe with a 
 pin, and put the loofe ends of the 
 match into the mouths of the cafes, 
 with a little meal powder ; this being 
 done to all the cafes, pafte over the 
 mouth of each tv/o or three bits of 
 paper ; the preceding method is ufed 
 for large cafes, and the following for 
 fmall cafes and illuminations ; firft 
 thread a long pipe, then lay it on the 
 tops of the cafes, and cut a bit off the 
 under fide, exadfcly over the mouth of 
 each cafe, fo that the match may ap- 
 pear $ then pin the pipe to every other 
 cafe, but before you put on the pipes, 
 put a little meal powder in the mouth 
 of each cafe ; if the cafes thus cloathed 
 be port-fires on illuminated works, 
 cover the mouth of each cafe with a 
 fingle paper ; but if they are choaked 
 cafes, fituated fo that a number of fparks 
 from other works may fail on them be- 
 fore they are fired, fecure them with 
 
 three 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 249 
 
 three or four papers, which mu ft be 
 pafted on very fmooth, that there may 
 be no creafes for the fparks to lodge in, 
 which often fet fire to the works before 
 their time ; avoid, as much as pofiible, 
 placing the leaders too near together, or 
 one acrofs the other fo as to touch, as it 
 fometimes happens that the flafh of one 
 will fire the other ; therefore if your 
 works fhould be fo formed, that the 
 leaders muft crofs or touch, be fure to 
 make them very ftrong, and fecure 
 them well at the joints and at every 
 opening. 
 
 When a great length of pipe is re- 
 quired, it muft be made by joining 
 feveral pipes together, in this manner ; 
 having put on one length of match as 
 many pipes as it will hold, pafte paper 
 over every joint ; but if a ftill greater 
 length be required, more pipes muft be 
 joined, by cutting off about an inch of 
 one fide of each pipe near the end, and 
 laying the quick match together, and 
 tieing them faft with fmall twine j after 
 which, cover the joining with pafted 
 paper. 
 
 The 
 
250 
 
 A Treatise on 
 
 The manner of placing Fireworks 
 to be exhibited, with the order 
 of Firing. 
 
 Nothing adds more to the appearance 
 of fireworks, than the placing them pro- 
 perly ; though the manner of placing 
 them chiefly depends on the judgment 
 of the maker. I fhall give fuch rules 
 here, as have been generally obferved ; 
 for example, whether your works are 
 to be fired on a building, or on ftands ; 
 if they are a double fet, place one 
 wheel of a fort on each fide of the build- 
 ing, and next to each of them towards 
 the center, place a fixed piece, then 
 wheels, and fo on, leaving a fufficient 
 diftance between them, for the fire to 
 play from one without burning the 
 other 5 having fixed fome of your works 
 thus in front, place the reft behind 
 them, in the center of their intervals ; 
 the large ft piece, which is generally a 
 regulated or tranfparent piece, muft be 
 placed in the center of the building, 
 and behind it a fun, which muft always 
 ft and above all the other works : a little 
 Z before 
 
Artificial Fireworks. 251 
 
 before the building or ftands place your 
 large gerbes, and at the back of the 
 works, fix your marron batteries, pots 
 des aigrettes, pots des brins, pots des 
 faucifions, air balloons, and flights of 
 rockets ; the rocket ftands may be fixed 
 behind or any where elfe, fo as not to 
 be in the way of the works. 
 
 Single collections are fired on ftands, 
 which ftands are made in the fame 'man- 
 ner as theodolite ftands, only the top 
 part muft be long or fhort occafionally ; 
 thefe fort of ftands may be fixed up 
 very foon without much trouble. Hav- 
 ing given fufficient inftrudtions for 
 placing of fireworks, I (hall proceed with 
 the manner of firing them. 
 
 Order 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 252 
 
 Order of Firing. 
 
 1. Two fignal rockets* 
 
 2. Six fky rockets, 
 
 3. Two honorary rockets, 
 
 4. Four caduceus rockets, 
 
 5. Two vertical wheels illuminated, 
 
 6. Two lpiral wheels illuminated, 
 
 7. Two tranfparent ftars, 
 
 8. A line rocket of five changes, 
 
 9. Four tourbillons, 
 
 10. Two horizontal wheels, 
 
 11. Two air balloons illuminated, 
 
 12. Two Chinefe fountains, 
 
 13. Two regulating pieces of four 
 
 mutations each, 
 
 14. Two pots des aigrettes, 
 
 15. Three large gerbes, 
 
 16. A flight of rockets, 
 
 17. Two balloon wheels, 
 
 18. Two cafcades of brilliant fire, 
 
 19. Twelve Iky rockets, 
 
 20. Two illuminated yew-trees, 
 
 21. Two air balloons of ferpents, 
 
 and two compound, 
 
 22. Four tourbillons, 
 
 23. Two 
 
Artificial Fire-Works* 253 
 
 23 Two Fruiloni Wheels 
 
 24 Two Illuminated Globes with Horizontal Wheels 
 
 2 5 One Pot des Saucifions 
 
 26 Two Plural Wheels 
 
 27 A Matron Battery 
 
 28 Two Chandeliers Illuminated 
 
 29 A Range of Pots des Brins 
 
 30 Twelve Sky Rockets 
 
 31 Two Yew-Trees of Fire 
 
 32 A Nefl of Serpents 
 
 33 Two Double Cones Illuminated 
 
 34 A Regulating Piece of Seven Mutations, viz. 
 
 1 A Vertical Wheel Illuminated 
 
 2 A Golden Glory 
 
 3 An Octagon Vertical Wheel 
 
 4 Porcupines Quills 
 
 5 Crofs Fires 
 
 6 A Star Piece with Brilliant Rays 
 
 7 Six Vertical Wheels 
 
 gg A Brilliant Sun 
 
 36 A Large Flight of Rockets 
 
 When water-works are to be exhibited, divide them 
 into feveral fets, and fire one fee after every fifth or fixth 
 change of land and air-works-, and obferve this rule in 
 firing in a double fet of works, always to begin with 
 Iky-rockets, then two moveable pieces, then two fix’d 
 pieces, and fo on, ending with a large flight of rockets, 
 or a marron battery ; if a fingle collection, fire a fixed 
 piece after every wheel or two, and now and then fome 
 air and water-works. 
 
 Fountain of Sky-Rockets. 
 
 Plate 6th. Fig. 1 ft, reprefents a fountain of thirty 
 rockets *, let A, be a perpendicular poft, fixteen feet 
 high from the ground, and four inches fquare. Let 
 the rail or crofs piece C, be one foot fix inches in 
 
 length, 
 
254 A Treatise on 
 
 length, three inches broad, and one thick. The rail D, 
 at bottom, muft be fix feet in length, one foot broad, 
 and an inch thick. F, and G, are the two fides Whick 
 lerve to fupply the rails D, E, H, I, C; thefe fides are 
 one foot broad at bottom, and cut in the front with a 
 regular Hope, to three inches at top, but their back edges 
 muft be parallel with the front of the pots A. The breadth 
 of the rails E, H, I, will be determined by the breadth 
 of the fides ; all the rails muft be fixed at two feet diftance 
 from each other, and at right angles with the pots; 
 having placed the rails thus ; bore in the bottom rail, ten 
 holes at equal diftances from each other, large enough to 
 receive eafily the ftick of a one pound rocket ; in the 
 back edge of this rail cut a groove from one end to the 
 other, fit to contain a quick- match, then cut a groove 
 in the top of the rail, from the edge of each hole, into 
 the groove in the back ; in the fame manner cut in the 
 fecond rail E, eight holes and grooves ; in the third rail H s 
 fix holes and grooves ; in the fourth rail I, four holes and 
 grooves ; and in the top rail two holes and grooves ; B, a 
 rail with holes in it to guide the ends of the rocket fticks, 
 this rail muft be fixed fix feet from the rail D; the foun- 
 tain frame being thus made, prepare your rockets thus;- 
 tie round the mouth of each a piece of thin paper, large 
 enough to go twice round, and to project about an inch 
 and a half from the mouth of the focket, which muft be 
 rubbed with wet meal-powder; in the mouth of each 
 Rocket put a leader, which fecure well with the paper 
 that projects from the mouth of the cafe; thefe leaders 
 muft be carried into the grooves in the back of the rails, in 
 which lay a quick- match from one end to the other, and 
 cover it with pafted paper; holes muft be made in the 
 rail D, to receive the ends of tae fticks of the rockets, in 
 the rail E, and fo on to the fourth rail, fo that the fticks 
 of the rockets at top, will go through all the rails ; the 
 rockets being fo prepared, fix a gerbe or white flower-pot 
 on each rail before the poft, with their mouths inclining a 
 little forwards; thefe gerbes muft be lighted all at once; 
 
 behind 
 
Artificial Fire-Works. 255 
 
 behind or before each gerbe, fix a cafe of brilliant or flow 
 fire, thefe cafes muft be filled fo that they may burn out 
 one after the other, to regulate the fountain, which may 
 be done by carrying a leader, from the end of each flow 
 or brilliant fire, into the groove in the back of each rail ; 
 different fize rockets may be ufed in thefe fountains, b .itit 
 will be be fi to fill the heads of the rockets on each rail with 
 different forts of things, in this manner, thofe at top with 
 crackers, the next with rains, the third with ferpents, the 
 fourth with tailed ftars, and the laJft flight with common 
 or brilliant ftar$. 
 
 Palm - Tree. 
 
 This piece, though made of common fires, and of a 
 fiimple conftrudlion, has a very pleafmg effcdl; owing 
 to the fires interfering fo often, that they refemble the 
 branches of trees. Fig 2d. let A, be a perpendicular 
 poft of any thicknefs fo that it be furficiently ftrong 
 to hold the cafes ; let the diftance from B to C, be two 
 feet fix inches, and from C to D, two feet fix inches, and 
 let the length of each crofs piece be two feet ; on each 
 end of each, fix a five pointed ftar, then fix on pegs made 
 on purpofe, twelve inch half pound cafes of brilliant fire, 
 as in the figure, all the cafes and ftars, muft be fired at 
 one time j this piece fhould be fixed high from the ground. 
 
 Illuminated Pyramid, with Archimedian 
 Screws, a Globe and Vertical Sun. 
 
 May be made of any fize ; one made according to 
 the Dimenfions of fig. 3d, will be a good proportion, 
 whofe whole height is twenty one feet ; from G to D, 
 fix feet, from E to F, nine feet, the fpace between 
 the rails muft be fix inches, and the rails as thin as poflible, 
 in all the rails flick port-fires at four inches diftance ; 
 the archimedian fcrews G, K, are nothing more than 
 
 double 
 
A Treatise on 
 
 double fpiral wheels, with the cafes placed on their wheels 
 horizontally inftead of obliquely, the vertical fun I, need 
 not confift of more than twelve rays, to form a fmglq 
 glory ^ the globe at top mu ft be made in proportion tq 
 the pyramid, which being prepared according to the 
 preceding directions, place your leaders fo that all the 
 illuminating port-fires, fcrews, globe, and fun, may take 
 fire together ; the pyramid muft be fupported by the 
 two fides, and by a fupport brought from a pole, which 
 muft be placed two feet from the back of the pyramid* 
 in order that the wheels may run free. 
 
 Rofe-Piece and Sun. 
 
 A rofe piece may be ufed for a mutation of a regulated 
 piece, or fired by itfelf, this piece makes the beft ap- 
 pearance when made large ; if its exterior diameter be 
 fix feet it will be a good fize-; fig. 4, fhews the manner 
 it appears before it is fired ; let the exterior fell be made 
 of wood, and fupported by four wooden fpokes, all 
 the other parts on which the illuminations are fixed, 
 muft be made of {Irons iron wire*, on the exterior 
 fell, place as many half pound cafes of brilliant charge as 
 you think proper (but the more the better) for the nearer 
 the cafes are placed, the ftronger will be the rays of the 
 Sun ^ the illuminations fhould be placed within three 
 inches of each other, they muft be all fired together and 
 burn fame time before the fun is lighted, which may be 
 done by carrying a leader from the middle of one of the 
 illuminations, to the mouth of one of the fun cafes. 
 
 Tranfparent Stars with Illuminated Rays. 
 
 Plate 7, Fig. 5th, reprefents an illuminated, ftar, let 
 the diameter from A to B, be two feet and from C to D, 
 (even feet , firft make a ftrong circular back or body of 
 the ftar, two feet diameter, to which you fix the illuminated 
 
Artificial Fire-Works. 257 
 
 rays ; in the center of the front of the body fix a fpindle, on 
 which put a double triangular wheel, fix inches diameter, 
 clothed with two ounce cafes of brilliant charge ; the 
 cafes on this wheel muft burn but one at a time-, round 
 the edge of the body nail a hoop made of thin wood or 
 tin, this hoop muft projedl in front fix or feven inches ; 
 in this hoop cut three or four holes to let out the 
 fmoke from the wheel ; the (far and garter mav 
 be cut out of ftrong pafte-board or tin, made in this 
 manner, cut a round piece of pafte-board or tin, two 
 feet diameter, on which draw a ftar, and cut it out, then 
 over the vacancy pafte Perfian filk ; paint the letters 
 yellow ; four of the rays yellow, and four red the crofs 
 |n the middle may be painted half red, and half yellow, 
 or yellow and blue; this tranfparent ftar muft be fiiftened 
 to the wooden hoop by a ferew, to take off and on, the 
 illuminated rays are made of thin wood, with tin fockets 
 fixed on their fides within four inches of each other ; in 
 thefe fockets ftick illuminating port-fires ; behind the 
 point of each ray, fix a half pound cafe of grey, black, 
 or chinefe fire. 
 
 N. B. The illuminated rays to be lighted at the fame 
 time as the triangular wheel, or after it is burnt out, 
 which may be ? done by a tin barrel being fixed to the 
 wheel after the manner of rhofe in the regulated pieces, 
 into this barrel correl a leader from the illuminated ray:;, 
 through the back of the ftar, which leader muft be met 
 by another brought from the tail of the laft cafe on the 
 wheel. 
 
 Tranfparent Table Star Illuminated. 
 
 i 
 
 Fig. 6th, reprefents a, table ftar, whofe diameter from 
 E to F, is twelve feet, and from E to J, four feet, 
 this proportion obJerved on each fid£, will make the cen- 
 ter frame four feet feuare, in this jejuare fix a tranfparent 
 ftar, as (hewn in the figure; this ftar may be painted 
 blue, audits rays made as thole of the flaming ftars 
 
 defer i bed 
 
258 A Treatise on 
 
 defcribed in page 2 1 8, the wheel for this flar may be 
 compofed of different coloured fires, with a change or 
 two of flow fire ; the wheels a, a, a, a, may be clothed 
 with any number of cafes, fo that the flar wheel confifls 
 of the lame; the illuminating port fires, which mull be 
 place 1 very near each other on the frames, mufl be fo 
 managed as to burn as long as the wheels^ and lighted at 
 the time. 
 
 i 
 
 The Regulated Illuminated Spirili Piece, 
 with a projected Star Wheel illuminated. 
 
 This piece is reprefented by Fig. 7th, and is thus 
 made; have a block made eight inches diameter, in 
 this block fcrew fix iron fpokes, which mufl ferve for 
 fpindles for the fpiral wheels, thefe wheels are made as 
 ufual, each one foot fix inches diameter and three foot in 
 height ; the fpindles mufl be long enough to keep the 
 wheels four or five inches from one another ; at the end of 
 each fpindle mufl be a fcrew nut, on which the wheels 
 that hang downwards will run, and on the fpindles which 
 Hand upwards mufl be a fhoulder, for the blocks of the 
 wheels to run on. 
 
 The projedbd flar wheel, mufl turn on the fame fpin- 
 dle on which the large block is fixed, this fpindle mufl 
 be long enough to allow the flar wheel to project a little 
 before the fpiral wheels; the exterior diameter of the flar 
 wheel, mufl be three feet five inches, on this wheel fix 
 three circles of iron wire, and on them port-fires ; on the 
 block place a tranfparent liar, or a large five pointed bril- 
 liant flar, the cales on this wheel may burn four at once, 
 as it will contain near twice the number of one of the 
 fpiral wheels ; the cafes on the fpiral wheels, mufl be 
 placed parallel to their fells, and burn two at a time. 
 
 A 
 
Artificial Fire-Works; 
 
 259 
 
 A New Figure Piece Illuminated with 
 Five Pointed Stars. 
 
 The conftru&ion of this piece is very eafy, as fhewn 
 by figure 8, whofe diameter from B to C, is eight 
 feet, and from D toE, two feet, the vertical wheel in the 
 Center, muft be one foot diameter, and confift of fix four 
 ounce cafes of different coloured charge, which cafes muft 
 bum double •, on the frames of this piece, fix five pointed 
 brilliant or blue ftars, rammed four inches with compo- 
 fition, let the fpace between each ftar be eight inches *, 
 at each point of this piece, fix a gerbe or cafe of chinefe 
 fire ; when this piece is to be fired let the gerbes, ftars* 
 and wheel be lighted at the fame time. 
 
 The Star Wheel Illuminated. 
 
 This beautiful new invented piece, is fhewn in 
 Plate 8, fig. 9, its exterior fell is made of wood, three 
 feet fix inches or four feet diameter, within this fell* 
 form with iron wire, three circles, one lefs than the other, 
 fo that the diameter of the leaft may be about ten inches *, 
 place the port-fires on thefe fells, with their mouths in- 
 clining outwards, and the port-fires on the points of the 
 ftar, with their mouths projecting in front ; let the exte- 
 rior fell be clothed with four ounce cafes of grey charge, 
 thefe cafes muft burn four at a time, and be lighted at the 
 fame time as the illuminations. 
 
 Pyramid of Flower-pots. 
 
 Fig. 10, reprefents this curious piece, which muft be 
 made thus; let the diftance from A to B, be fix 
 feet, and from one rail to the other two-, on the bottom 
 rail, fix five paper mortars, each three inches and a half 
 diameter, thefe mortars load With ferpents, crackers, 
 ftars, &c. 
 
260 -'A Treatise on 
 
 In the center of each mortar fix a cafe of fpur fire ; on 
 the fecpnd rail fix four mortars, fo as to (land exadlly in 
 the middle of the intervals of them on the bottom rail; 
 on the third rail place three mortars ; on the fourth two ; 
 and on the top of the polls one ; the bottom rail rnufl be 
 fix feet in length; all the mortars in uft incline a little for- 
 wards, that they may eafily difcharge themfelves, and 
 the fpur fires rammed exactly alike that the mortars may 
 all be fired at the fame time, having prepared your pyra- 
 mid according to the preceeding directions, carry pipes of 
 communication, from onefpur-fire to the other. 
 
 The Illuminated Regulating Piece. 
 
 Fig. ir ? reprefents one half of this piece 4 . A, A; 
 A, A, are flat* wooden fpokes, each five feet in length, 
 and at the end of each, place a vertical wheel, ten 
 inches diameter, clothed with fix four ounce cafes of 
 brilliant fire, thefe cafes mu ft burn but one at a time ; 
 on two of the fpokes of each wheel, place two port-fires, 
 which pnu ft be lighted with the firft cale of the wheel ; 
 on each fpoke A, A, &c. behind the wheels place fix 
 cafes of the fame fize as them on the wheels; thefe cafes 
 muft be tied acrofs the ipokes with their mouths all one 
 way, and be made to take fire fucceffively one after the 
 other, fo that they may a (lift the whole pieces to turn round. 
 
 The diameter of the wheel B, muft be two feet fix 
 inches, and its fell made of wood, which muft be fixed 
 to the large fpokes, on this' wheel place twenty four cafes 
 of the fame fort as them on the final! wheels, theie cafes 
 muft burn four at a time; in this wheel make three cir- 
 cles with iron wire, and on them place illuminating poit- 
 fires, as fhewn in the figure ; the ftar points on the large 
 ipokes may be made of thin afh hoops, the diameter of 
 thefe points cjofe to the center wheel muft be eleven 
 inches; on thefe points place port-fires, at thiee inches 
 and a half djfiance, one from the other. 
 
 Fib-'. 12, reprefents the blocks or this piece, the di- 
 ameters of thefe blocks at A and B, muft be eight inches 
 
 and 
 
Artificial Fire-Works. 261 
 
 and C and D, four inches and a half, the length of each, 
 ol thefe blocks muft be fix inches; at the Iniali ends of 
 thefe blocks fix an iron wheel five inches diameter, 
 which wheels muft have teeth, to turn the wheel E, this 
 wheel which is fixed on a fmall fpindle fcrewed into the 
 large fpindle which goes through the two blocks, and on 
 which they run. 
 
 Suppofmg fig. 11, to be on the block A, in fig. 12, 
 and to turn to the right, and another piece of the fame 
 conftruflion on the block B, with its fires placed fo as to 
 turn it to the left, you will find them move very true and 
 fail, by the help of the three iron wheels, which ierves to 
 regulate their motions, as well as to aftift them in turning ; 
 let the iron circles in the front of the great wheels be of 
 different diameters fo that when fired there may appear fix 
 circles, when this piece is fired, all the wheels and illumi- 
 nations muft be lighted at onetime. 
 
 To Fix a Sky-Rocket with its Stick, on the 
 top of another. 
 
 Rockets thus managed make a pretty appearance, by 
 reafon of a frefli tail being feen when the lecond rocket 
 takes fire, which will mount to a great height; the method 
 of preparing thefe rockets is thus, having filled a two 
 pounder, which muft be filled only half a diameter above 
 the piercer, and in its head not more than ren or twelve 
 ftars *, the (tick of this rocket muft be made a little thicker 
 than common, and when made, cut it in half the flat way, 
 and in each half make a groove, fo that when the two 
 halves are joined, the hollow made by the grooves may be 
 large enough to hold the flick of a half pound rocker, 
 'which rocket make and head as ufual,the flick of this rocket 
 put into the hollow of the large one, fo far that the mouth 
 of the rocket may reft on the head of the two pounder ; 
 from whole head carry a leader into tne mouth of the imall 
 rocket, which being done, your rockets will be ready 
 for fird ng. ^ 
 
262 
 
 A Treatise 
 
 A New Method of placing Leaders. 
 
 The placing leaders, on fmall cafes or illuminations, 
 is a much quicker, ftronger, and more expeditious way 
 than that of ufing pins, which method has been pradlifed 
 rill very lately. Your port-fires being filled within about 
 three eighths of an inch of the top, bore with an awl a 
 hole through each fide of the cafe clofe to the compofition, 
 then fill the mouths of the cafes with meal powder wetted 
 with fpirit of wine, when you have thus prepared your 
 cales, fix them on your works, then take an empty leader, 
 and lay it on the mouths of as many cafes as it will reach, 
 then with your finger nail, mark the leader exadtly in the 
 middle of the mouth of each cafe, then at each mark with 
 a pair of Sciffars, cut a bit out of the pipe, fo that when 
 you put in the quick-match, it may be feen •, this being 
 done, lay the leader on the cafes again with that fide on 
 which the match is feen downwards ; then take fome fmall 
 twine, and , put it through the holes in the mouths of the 
 cafes, and tie on the leader ; do this to every cafe and 
 then cover them with fingle palled paper ; by making 
 ufe of the above method your works may be made very 
 clean, there being no occafion to put dry meal powder in 
 the mouths of the cafes which always foils the works and 
 prevents the pafte from flicking. 
 
 In this treatife, I have taught the method of rolling, 
 pinching, and filling all forts of cafes, the manner of 
 pulverizing, mixing, and preparing, all compofitions 
 ufed in artificial fire-works ; alio the method of placing 
 leaders, clothing , wheels, fixed pieces, &c. in fo plain 
 a manner, that all fire- works may be made without 
 any further inflruclions. A variety of pyrotechnical re- 
 prefentations only depends on the genius of the maker, 
 by fixing different cafes and fires on works of various 
 forms, of which there are many more. 
 
 But as thofe I have given are the principal, I final! con- 
 clude, till 1 have an opportunity of extending this work, 
 which will depend on the approbation -it meets with*