rammed, and on the ends of them holes being prick'd through, place any of the sorts of Stars, or a mixture, as your fancy leads you; and when the small Rockets go off like Thunder in the Air, the Stars will take fire, so that the Noise will seem to the Spectators as if it proceeded from them, because they will be seen on fire before the Sound of the Reports can be heard.
To make Paste-board Mortars for Balloons.
These stately Prospects of Fire are to be carried into the Air by the force of Powder, by the help of Mortars; and therefore the making of the Mortars are in the first place to be considered.
Take a Rowler of Wood, about 12 Inches Diameter, and three Foot and a half in Length, wet strong Paste-board, and rowl upon it as close as may be, glewing the Paste-board between each Rowling; then being about five Inches thick, bind over it strong pitch'd Rope, though indifferent small: Then choak the Breech of it, which must be beyond the length of the Rowler, with a strong Cord; pitch or glue it over that the Powder may not force its vent that way, and so when the Mortar is well dry'd, draw out the Rowler, and make it as even as can be; bore a Touch-hole two Inches from the Breech, that it may enter into the hollow of the Mortar, and set it by for use.
To make Balloons, the rarity of Fire-works.
Take strong Paper, or Paste-board, rowl it on a 12 Inch Rowler, near as thick as 'tis long, then with a strong small Cord choke it at one end only, leaving a Port-fire, which is a place to put in a Quill of Wild-fire, that will last till
being shot out of the Mortar it comes to its height; then next to that put on an Ounce and a half of loose Powder, and place in it as many small Rockets and Stars as it will hold; so choak up the other end quite. You may also put into it little quills of Wild-fire, then being closed up, only a Port-fire remaining, which made of a Quill of Wild-fire, as is said, or Stopple, to make which in the close of this Head I shall Instruct you, Charge the Mortar, being set Sloaping upwards with half a Pound of corn Powder, and it will by giving fire at the priming holes, send the Balloon up into the Air a prodigeous height, and when it comes to the dry Powder, that will break the Balloon; and then the Stars and Rockets in it taking fire, will scatter abroad in various curious Figures delightful to the Spectators; and as they are Cunningly placed, they will represent Crowns, Cyphers, Characters, Dates of the Year, &c.
The Airy or flying Saucisson, How to make it.
This curious Fire-work must be made in the Composition matter for filling mostly of corned Powder, putting before it when you fill the Cartoush or Case as much fine sifted Powder and Charcole as composed for the Rocket, will carry it to its height; leave a hole for the Port-fire in the choaking as big as a Goose-Quill will enter filling it with Dust-Powder and Charcole, and so close up the open end, by turning in the Paper or Paste-board corner-wise, either glewing or waxing it down.
Paste-board Guns to cast the Saucissons into the Air, How to make them.