[TABLE OF CONTENTS.]

PART I.
CHAPTER I.
Page.
Pyrotechny in General,[1]
Sec.i.Definition of Pyrotechny,ib.
ii.General Theory of Pyrotechny,ib.
iii.Remarks on the Nature of Particular Compositions,[9]
iv.Of Illuminations,[23]
v.Of some of the Feats or Performances by Fire,[26]
CHAPTER II.
Of the Substances used in the Formation of Fire-works,[48]
Sec.i.Of Nitrate of Potassa, or Saltpetre,ib.
ii.Of Nitrate of Soda,[73]
iii.Of Chlorate of Potassa,[74]
iv.Of Sulphur,[78]
v.Of Phosphorus,[84]
vi.Of Charcoal,[87]
vii.Of Gunpowder,[97]
viii.Of Lampblack,[144]
ix.Of Soot,[145]
x.Of Turpentine, Rosin, and Pitch,[146]
xi.Of Common Coal, or Pitcoal,[149]
xii.Of Naphtha, Petroleum, and Asphaltum,[153]
xiii.Of Oil of Spike,[156]
xiv.Of Amber,ib.
xv.Of Camphor,[157]
xvi.Of Gum Benzoin, and Benzoic Acid,[161]
xvii.Of Storax Calamite,[162]
xviii.Of Essential Oils,[163]
xix.Of Mastich,ib.
xx.Of Copal,[164]
xxi.Of Myrrh,ib.
xxii.Of Sugar,[165]
xxiii.Of Sal Prunelle,[167]
xxiv.Of Alcohol,[168]
xxv.Of Fulminating Mercury,[171]
xxvi.Of Fulminating Silver,[173]
xxvii.Of Fulminating Gold,[175]
xxviii.Of Fulminating Platinum,[176]
xxix.Of Detonating Powder from Indigo,[177]
xxx.Of the Fulminating Compound, called Iodide of Azote,ib.
xxxi.Of Detonating Oil, or Chloride of Azote,[179]
xxxii.Of Pyrophorus,[180]
xxxiii.Of Sal Ammoniac,[184]
xxxiv.Of Corrosive Sublimate,[186]
xxxv.Of Orpiment,[187]
xxxvi.Of Antimony,[188]
xxxvii.Of Carbonate of Potassa,[189]
xxxviii.Of Wood Ashes,[192]
xxxix.Of Clay,[193]
xl.Of Quicklime,[194]
xli.Of Lapis Calaminaris,[195]
xlii.Of Zinc,[196]
xliii.Of Brass,[197]
xliv.Of Bronze,[198]
xlv.Of Mosaic Gold,[200]
xlvi.Of Iron and Steel,[201]
xlvii.Of Glass,[210]
xlviii.Of Glue and Isinglass,[214]
xlix.Of Wood,[216]
l.Of Linseed Oil,[218]
li.Of Gum Arabic and Gum Tragacanth,[219]
lii.Of Cotton,ib.
liii.Of Bone and Ivory,[220]
liv.Of Galbanum,[221]
lv.Of Tow and Hemp,[222]
lvi.Of Blue Vitriol,ib.
lvii.Of Nitrate of Copper,[223]
lviii.Of Strontia,[224]
lix.Of Boracic Acid,[226]
PART II.
Instruments, Tools, and Utensils,[228]
CHAPTER I.
Of the Laboratory,[228]
Sec.i.Of Laboratory Tools and Utensils,ib.
ii.Of Mandrils and Cylinders for forming Cartridges and Cases,[230]
iii.Of Rammers, Charges, and Mallets,[231]
iv.Of Utensils necessary for constructing Signal Rockets,[232]
v.Of the rolling or plane Board,[233]
vi.Of the Driver for Charging large Rockets,[233]
vii.Of Mortars and Pestles,ib.
viii.Of the Choaker or Strangler,ib.
ix.Of the Table and Sack for mealing Gunpowder,[234]
x.Of Sieves,ib.
xi.Of the Paper Press,ib.
CHAPTER II.
Preliminary operations in the preparation of fire-works, and observations on the preservation of Gunpowder, and sundry manipulations,[235]
Sec.i.Of the Workshop,ib.
ii.Of the Magazine,ib.
iii.Of the Driving or Ramming of Sky-rockets,[236]
iv.Of the Boring of Rockets,[238]
v.Of the Preservation of Steel or Iron filings,[239]
vi.Of the Making of Wheels and other Works incombustible,[240]
vii.Of the Formation of Rocket and other Cases,[243]
viii.Of Tourbillon cases,[245]
ix.Of Balloon Cases, or Paper Shells,ib.
x.Of Cases for Illumination Port-Fires,[246]
xi.Of Cases and Moulds for Common Port-Fires,[247]
xii.Of Pasteboard, and its Uses,[249]
xiii.Of the Pulverization of Substances,[253]
xiv.Of Mixtures,ib.
PART III.
Fire-Works in General,[255]
CHAPTER I.
Observations on Fire-works,[255]
CHAPTER II.
Fire-works for Theatrical Purposes,[262]
Sec.i.Of Puffs, or Bouffées,ib.
ii.Of Eruptions,[263]
iii.Of the Flames,[264]
iv.Of the Fire-rain,ib.
v.Of other Compositions for Fire-rain in Chinese Fire,[265]
vi.Of Thunderbolts, (Foudres),ib.
vii.Of Dragons and other Monsters,[266]
viii.Of Lightning,[267]
ix.Of the Artifice of Destruction,ib.
x.Of the Spur-Fire,ib.
xi.Of the Coloured Flame of Alcohol,[269]
xii.Of Red Fire,[270]
CHAPTER III.
Of Portable Fire-works,[271]
Sec.i.Of Exhibitions on Tables,ib.
ii.Of Table Rockets,[272]
iii.Of the Transparent Illuminated Table Star,[273]
iv.Of Detonating Works,ib.
CHAPTER IV.
Of Scented Fire-works,[283]
Sec.i.Of Pastilles,[286]
ii.Of Vases of Scent,[288]
iii.Remarks on Spontaneous Accension,ib.
iv.Of Torches, and Odoriferous Flambeaux,[289]
v.Remarks concerning Odoriferous and Fetid Fire,[290]
CHAPTER V.
Of Matches, Leaders, and Touch Paper,[292]
CHAPTER VI.
Of the Furniture, or Decorations for Fire-works,[298]
Sec.i.Of Serpents,ib.
ii.Of Crackers,[300]
iii.Of Single Reports,[301]
iv.Of Serpent Stars,ib.
v.Of Whirling Serpents,[302]
vi.Of Chinese Flyers,[303]
vii.Of Simple Stars,ib.
viii.Of Rolled Stars,[304]
ix.Of Cracking Stars,ib.
x.Of Sundry Compositions for Stars, designed for Various Purposes,ib.
xi.Of the Fire-rain, (filamentous),[309]
xii.Of Sparks,ib.
xiii.Of Gold-rain,[310]
xiv.Of Rains in General, for Sky-Rockets, &c.[311]
xv.Of Rain-Falls and Stars, double and single,ib.
xvi.Of substances which show in Sparks,[312]
xvii.Of Italian Roses, or Fixed Stars,[313]
xviii.Of Lances of Illumination, white, blue and yellow,[314]
xix.Of Slow White-flame Lances,[315]
xx.Of Lights,ib.
xxi.Of Lances for Petards,[318]
xxii.Of Lances for Service,ib.
xxiii.Of Marrons,ib.
xxiv.Of Shining Marrons,[320]
xxv.Of Saucissons,[321]
xxvi.Of Fire-Pumps,[322]
xxvii.Of the Volcano of Lemery,[323]
xxviii.Of the Blue and Green Match for Cyphers, Devices and Decorations,[324]
xxix.Of the Purple or Violet Match,[325]
xxx.Of Meteors,ib.
CHAPTER VII.
Of Rockets and their Appendages,[326]
Sec.i.Of the Caliber and Proportion of Rockets,ib.
ii.Of the Composition of Sky-Rockets, and Observations on its Preparation, and on other Subjects respecting rockets,[329]
iii.Of the Heading of Rockets,[334]
iv.Of the Decorations for Rockets, and the Manner of filling their Heads,[335]
v.Of the Dimensions, and Poise of Rocket-Sticks,[336]
vi.Of the Mode of Discharging Rockets,[337]
vii.Of the Appendages, and Combinations of Rockets,[340]
viii.Of Swarmers or Small Rockets,[343]
ix.Of Scrolls for Sky-Rockets, and of Strung, Tailed, Drove, and Rolling Stars,[344]
x.Of Line-Rockets and their Decorations,[345]
xi.Of Signal Sky-Rockets,[347]
CHAPTER VIII.
Of Sundry Fire-works, denominated Air-works,[347]
Sec.i.Of the Composition, and Mode of Forming large and small Gerbes,[348]
ii.Of Paper Mortars,[349]
iii.Of Mortars to throw Aigrettes, &c.[350]
iv.Of Making Balloon Fuses,[357]
v.Of the Mosaic and Common Tourbillon,[358]
vi.Of Mortars for throwing Aigrettes, and the Manner of Loading and Firing them,[363]
vii.Of Making, Loading, and Firing Pots des Brins,[364]
viii.Remarks respecting Fire Pots,[365]
CHAPTER IX.
Of Particular Compositions,[367]
Sec.i.Of Fire-Jets, or Fire-Spouts,ib.
ii.Of Priming and Whitening Cases, and Remarks concerning Spunk and Touch Paper,[370]
iii.Of Chinese Fire,[371]
iv.Of Bengal Lights,[377]
v.Of Roman Candles,[380]
vi.Of Mosaic Simples,[381]
vii.Of Mosaic Tourbillons,[382]
viii.Of Hydrogen Gas in Fire-works,[383]
CHAPTER X.
Of the Manner of fixing and arranging Fire-works in General for Exhibition,[387]
Sec.i.Of the Composition of Wheel-Cases, Standing and Fixed,[388]
ii.Of Single, Vertical, Horizontal, Spiral, and other Wheels,[391]
iii.Of Revolving Suns,[395]
iv.Of Fixed Suns,[397]
v.Of Fixed Suns with Transparent Faces,[398]
vi.Of the Rose-Piece and Sun,[399]
vii.Of the Manner of changing a Horizontal to a Vertical Wheel, and representing a Sun in front,ib.
viii.Of Caprices and Fire-Wands,[400]
ix.Of Palm and other Trees,[401]
x.Of the Pyramid of Flower Pots,[402]
xi.Of the Dodecaedron,[403]
xii.Of Cascades of Fire,[404]
xiii.Of Chinese Fountains, and Parasols,[405]
xiv.Of Wings, or Cross Fire,[406]
xv.Of Galleries of Fire, and Batteries of Roman and Mosaic Candles,ib.
xvi.Of Girandoles, and their Modifications,[407]
xvii.Of Cracking Caprices,ib.
xviii.Of the Projected Regulated Piece of Nine Mutations,[408]
xix.Of the Pyric or Fire-Piece,[412]
xx.Of Sundry Illuminated Figures,[413]
xxi.Of the Spiral or Endless Screw, and Waved Fire,[418]
xxii.Of the Decoration of Wheels,ib.
xxiii.Of Globes, with their Various Decorations,[419]
xxiv.Of the Representation of the Moon and Stars,[421]
xxv.Of the Representation of Sundry Figures in Fire,[423]
xxvi.Of the Representation of Flat Stars with a large Body of Fire,[424]
xxvii.Of the Single, Double, and Triple Table Wheel,[425]
xxviii.Of Decorations, Transparencies, and Illuminations,ib.
xxix.Of Imitative Fire-works,[440]
CHAPTER XI.
Of Aquatic Fire-works,[442]
Sec.i.Of Water Rockets,[443]
ii.Of Pipes of Communication,ib.
iii.Of Horizontal Wheels for Water,[444]
iv.Of Water Mines,ib.
v.Of Fire Globes for the Water,[445]
vi.Of Odoriferous Water Balloons,[446]
vii.Of Water Balloons,[447]
viii.Of Water Squibs,[448]
ix.Of the Water Fire-Fountain,ib.
x.Of Swans and Ducks, to discharge Rockets in Water,ib.
xi.Of Discharging Rockets under Water,[449]
xii.Of the Representation of Neptune in his Chariot,[450]
xiii.Of the Representation of a Sea-Fight with small Ships, and the Preparation of a Fire-Ship,[451]
CHAPTER XII.
Of the Arrangement of Fire-works for Exhibition,[452]
PART IV.
Military Pyrotechny,[456]
CHAPTER I.
Observations in General,[456]
Sec.i.Of Cartridges,462
ii.Of Cannon Cartridges,[467]
CHAPTER II.
Of Matches,[471]
Sec.i.Of Slow Match,ib.
ii.Of Priming Tubes,[475]
iii.Of Quick Matches,[477]
CHAPTER III.
Of Port-Fires,[479]
CHAPTER IV.
Of Fuses for Shells, Howitzes, and Grenades,[481]
Sec.i.Of the Method of Charging the Fuses of Bombs or Shells,[482]
ii.Of Loading Shells, Howitzes, and Grenades,[484]
iii.Of Fuses with Dead Light,[485]
iv.Of the Dimensions of Fuses, and the Dimensions and Charge of Bombs, Howitzes, and Grenades,[487]
CHAPTER V.
Of Incendiary Fire-works,[490]
Sec.i.Of Fire Stone,[491]
ii.Of Incendiary Matches,[492]
iii.Of Carcasses and Fire Balls,ib.
iv.Of Incendiary Balls, or Fire Balls, to be thrown from Cannon or by Hand,[497]
v.Of Smoke Balls,[499]
vi.Of Stink Balls,ib.
vii.Of Poisoned Balls,ib.
viii.Of Red-hot Balls,[499]
ix.Of Pitched Tourteaux and Fascines,[500]
x.Of Torches, or Flambeaux,[501]
xi.Of Powder Bags,[503]
xii.Of the Powder Barrel,ib.
xiii.Of the Burning, or Illuminating Barrel,ib.
xiv.Of the Thundering Barrel,[504]
xv.Of the Petard,[505]
xvi.Of the Stink-Fire Lance,[506]
xvii.Of the Combustible Substances used in, and the Manner of preparing, a Fire-Ship,[507]
xviii.Of Infernal Machines,[512]
xix.Of the Catamarin,[514]
xx.Of the American Turtle,[515]
xxi.Of the Torpedo,[521]
xxii.Of the Marine Incendiary Kegs,[523]
xxiii.Of Sea Lights,[525]
xxiv.Of Signal and War-rockets,[526]
xxv.Of Sky-Rockets, (Meurtrières,)[538]
xxvi.Of the Rocket Light-Ball,[539]
xxvii.Of the Floating Rocket Carcass,ib.
xxviii.Observations on Rockets,[540]
xxix.Of the Succouring Rocket,[544]
xxx.Of the Greek Fire,ib.
xxxi.Of Mines and Mining,[550]
xxxii.Of the Means of Increasing the Strength of Gunpowder for Mining,[554]
xxxiii.Of Incendiary Bombs,[556]
xxxiv.Of Murdering Marrons,[557]
xxxv.Of Incendiary Rope,[558]
xxxvi.Of Balloons of Grenades, of Bombs, and of Flints or Stone,[559]
xxxvii.Of Spherical Case Shot,ib.
xxxviii.Of the Fire-Rain, according to Casimir Siemienowicz,[560]
xxxix.Of the Effect of Mirrors in inflaming Bodies at a Distance,[562]
xl.Of Incendiary and Poisoned Arrows,[566]
xli.Of Pyrotechnical Sponge,[570]
xlii.Of Extinguishing Flame with Fired Gunpowder,[572]
xliii.Of the Inflammable Dart,[574]
xliv.Of the Firebrand,ib.
xlv.Of the Fire Flask,[575]
xlvi.Of the Trompe-Route,ib.
xlvii.Of Fire-Pots for Ramparts,ib.
xlviii.Of Inflammable Balls,[577]
xlix.Of Pauly's Inflammable Powder,ib.
l.Of Extemporaneous Fire,[578]
li.Of the Indian White Fire,[580]
lii.Of the Pyrophore of Defence,[581]

[INTRODUCTION.]

In presenting this work to the public as a system of Pyrotechny, which, we have reason to believe, is the only full and connected system that has appeared, we may be permitted to remark, that, in our arrangement of the subject, we have appropriated separate heads for each article.

This plan, of the subject being considered in chapters and sections, and forming with the divisions of the work, a connected system of arrangement, enables the reader to have a full view of the whole, and, at the same time, all the facts in detail belonging to the chapter, or section under consideration. By referring to the Table of Contents, this plan will be seen without further comment. The arrangement of the different articles in this manner, necessarily comprehends in the onset all the substances, which are employed in various preparations. In considering this part of our subject, we have given the chemical characters, or peculiar properties of each substance respectively; by which a rationale of pyrotechnical effects may be the better understood, and, consequently, the action of bodies on each other better illustrated.