For curtains, bavins, and reeds, and sulphur to salt them, as artificers call it; sulphur 240 lbs. pitch 350 lbs. rosin 175 lbs. tallow 50 lbs. tar 25 lbs.
Total weight of the composition 3017 pounds, equal to 26 cwt. 3 qr. 21 lbs.
The composition, required for the rods and barrels, is one-fifth of the whole of the last article, which is equal to 160 lbs. making in the whole, 3177 lbs. or 28 cwt. 1 qr. 13 lbs.
Adye (Bombardier and Pocket Gunner) has given two general formulæ for the composition, used in fire-ships, which we will here insert.
Composition for dipping reeds, bavins, and curtains.
| Rosin, | 120 | lbs |
| Coarse sulphur, | 90 | — |
| Pitch, | 60 | — |
| Tallow, | 6 | or 8 |
| Mealed powder, | 12 | — |
Composition for priming.
| Pulverized saltpetre, | 22 | lbs. | 8 | oz. |
| Rosin, | 2 | — | 11 | — |
| Sulphur, | 18 | — | ||
| Meal-powder, | 45 | — | ||
| Linseed oil, | 1 | pint. |
The composition put in cases, to set fire to fascine batteries, is sometimes used in fire-ships, viz.
Composition for setting fire to Fascine Batteries.