What are the ranges of Congreve rockets? What angle of elevation produces the best range? How are Congreve rockets discharged in the field, and what number of men are usually employed for that service? Are the Congreve rockets considered to be a powerful offensive weapon; and, if so, in what particular? What is a carcass rocket? As an incendiary, is the carcass rocket equal to the usual carcass thrown from mortars? What is the carcass composition made of? What is the Congreve rocket light ball? In large rockets, are their sticks solid, or bored and filled with gunpowder? Why is that expedient used? &c.
It is obvious, that the student, after obtaining a knowledge of each subject by the preceding lecture, accompanied with demonstrations, is enabled to detail minutely all the facts in relation to it.
Pyrotechny, as known at present, is confined to a few books, and scattered in a desultory manner, without any regular or connected system. In fact the works which treat on this subject are in French, or translations from the French on particular subjects, but generally very imperfect. As applied to the uses of war, we may indeed say, that the small treatise of Bigot, (Traité d'Artifice de Guerre), and Ruggeri (Pyrotechnie Militaire) are the only works. We have, therefore, consulted these authors, as will be seen in the pages of the work.
Roger Bacon, in his Opus Majus, has given some account of the Greek fire, and of a composition, which seems to have had the effect of our modern gunpowder.
Malthus (Traité de l'Artillerie) contains some formulæ for Military Fire-Works. Anzelet and Vanorchis, in their several works, have given some receipts for incendiary preparations. Henzion (Recreations Mathématiques) and Joachim Butelius have also something on the subject.
The celebrated Polander, Casimir Siemienowicz, has nothing of any moment, if we except the incendiary fire-rain, an account of which may be seen in the fourth part of our work. His book is considered, however, the best of the whole of them. Belidor, Theodore Duturbrie, &c. have mentioned some preparations; but their works are chiefly confined to artillery.
The improvement of Pyrotechny is ascribed to the Germans and Italians, and the French acknowledge, that they are indebted for a knowledge of it to the Italians. Be this as it may, it is certain, that it was known in China from time immemorial. Their acquaintance with gunpowder, before it was known in Europe, is a fact which appears to be generally admitted. For an account of the Chinese fire-works, and the origin of gunpowder in Europe, consult these articles respectively.
Whatever merit we may claim in this work, as the public will be able to judge impartially, it will be seen, by referring to the different chapters and sections, that we have endeavoured to form a system, by presenting a connected view of the whole subject.
Having noticed under separate heads, the particular use and application of each composition, we have added a chapter on the arrangement of fire-works for exhibition, together with the order to be observed. We may remark here, that we have enlarged in this part more perhaps than its merit or importance deserves; but, on reflection, we thought it better to embrace the whole subject, in order to form a more complete system in all its parts.
After going through the fire-works for exhibition, and noticing the different formulæ, and preparations, for arrangement, with the theory of effects, we consider, in the next place, a subject of more importance, that of Military Pyrotechny. We have adopted this arrangement, more on account of obtaining a better acquaintance with ordinary fire-works, before the reader is prepared for military works, which he will understand with more facility; for all the preliminary operations precede the practical part.