When you fill your shells, you must first put in the serpents, rains, stars, &c. or whatever they are composed of; then the blowing powder; but the shells must not be quite filled; all those things must be put in at the fuze hole; but marrons, being too large to go in at the fuze hole, must be put in before the inside shell be joined. When the shells are loaded, glue and drive in the fuzes very tight. Of these fuzes we shall say more hereafter; but shall here give the diameter of the fuze hole in ballóóns of each nature, which are as follows. For a coehorn ballóón, let the diameter of the fuze hole be seven eighths of an inch. For a royal ballóón, which is near five inches and a half diameter, make the fuze hole one inch one eighth diameter. For an eight inch ballóón, one inch three eighths: and for a ten inch ballóón, one inch five eighths.
Plate. 2
Having proceeded thus far with the directions of loading ballóóns, I shall in the second place give an account of the quantities and number of each article, proper for shells of each nature; but it is to be observed, that air-ballóóns are divided into four sorts, viz. first, illuminated ballóóns; second, ballóóns of serpents; third, ballóóns of reports, marrons, and crackers; and fourth, compound ballóóns.
For a Coehorn Ballóón illuminated.
| oz. | |
| Meal powder | 1½ |
| Corn powder | 0½ |
| Powder for the mortar | 2 |
Length of the fuze composition three quarters of an inch; one ounce drove or rolled stars, as many as will nearly fill the shell.
For a Coehorn Ballóón of Serpents.
| oz. | |
| Meal powder | 1¼ |
| Corn powder | 1 |
| Powder for the mortar | 2¼ |