| Pitch | 4 | parts. |
| Sulphur, | 3 | —— |
| Saltpetre, | 1 | —— |
| Antimony, | 1 | —— |
After introducing one-half of this mixture, when melted, we put in the iron plate, which rests on the composition, and then add the rest of it, which finishes the operation.
Sec. XVI. Of the Stink-Fire Lance.
This lance (Lance à feu puant of the French) is prepared in the same manner as stink-pots, and is principally used by miners. When a miner or sapper has so far penetrated towards the enemy, as to hear the voices of persons in any place contiguous to his own excavation, he first of all bores a hole with his probe, then fires off several pistols through the aperture, and lastly forces in a lance à feu puant. He takes care to close up the hole on his side, to prevent the smoke from returning towards himself. The explosion and fetid gas and vapour, which issue from the lance, and remain on the side of the enemy, infect the air so much, that it is impossible to approach the quarter for three or four days. Sometimes, indeed, they have had such instantaneous effect, that, in order to save their lives, miners, who would persevere, have been dragged out in an apparent state of suffocation.
The composition of ordinary fire-lance has been given. They are sometimes used to set fire to fuses.
The fire-pot is a vessel made of clay, with two handles, in which a grenade with powder is confined, and which is thrown against an enemy, after the match has been lighted; but a stink-pot is a vessel, filled with combustible and other matter, used in boarding ships, &c.
The suffocating pot is another contrivance, as its name expresses, to produce suffocation; and, as the materials consist only of sulphur and nitre, the gas which principally produces this effect is the sulphurous acid.
Composition for Suffocating Pots.
| Sulphur, | 6 | parts. |
| Nitre, | 5 | —— |