For a transparent sun, a prepared face of oiled paper, or Persian silk, painted in a proper manner, must be provided, and strained tight upon a hoop, which must be supported by pieces of strong wire, six or seven inches from the wheel, so that the light of it may illuminate the face. After the same manner may be represented in the front of a sun, the words Farewell, Vivat Rex, or Apollo, or any other figure may be painted on the silk.
Sometimes a small hexagonal wheel is fixed to the nave of the large wheel, whose cases must be filled with the same charge as the other; two of which must burn at a time, and begin with the others.
For a sun five feet in diameter, the cases should be those of eight ounces, filled with composition about ten inches. If the wheels are larger the cases must be proportionate to them.
Composition for representing Animals.
22. Composition for Representing Animals and other Devices in Fire.
Reduce some sulphur to an impalpable powder, and having with starch formed it into a paste, cover with it the figure you intend to represent on fire; the figure must be first coated over with clay, to prevent it from being burnt.
When the figure has been covered with this paste, sprinkle it a little, while still moist, with pulverised gunpowder; and when the whole is perfectly dry, arrange some small matches on the principal parts of it, that the fire may be speedily communicated to it on all sides.
By the same method may be formed festoons, garlands, and other ornaments, the flowers of which might be imitated by fire of different colours, and arranged on any plastered architecture.