Faraday, the great master in experimental lectures, always devoted many hours to the preparation of his experiments for each lecture. No point, however trifling, bearing upon the success of the experiment, was considered unimportant: he used to try the stoppers of all the bottles he had to use, to see that they had not become fixed, and thus would cause delay by requiring forcible opening. His example cannot be too carefully copied. Before firing a display, all posts, spindles, lines, staples, screws, touch-paper, portfires, pieces of leadered quickmatch, &c., should be carefully provided. A yard of tape slowmatch, hung to a nail at the top of a post, will supply fire for a long time.

A book should be kept for future guidance, in which should be written the quantity of composition required to make a certain number of articles of a certain size: by attending to this, much waste will be prevented.

Never, upon any account, leave compositions lying about; and let nothing be done by candlelight, except making cases. Quickmatch, especially, ought to be kept locked up, so that nobody can get to it.

Never put squibs, crackers, &c., into the pockets: a stray spark might ignite the whole, and cause most serious mischief.

[FUSES.]

Number 1234567891011121314
Sulphur4231127346838-
Charcoal333213811793112
Nitre8284392145181810321
Meal powder8833241254447-3
Number1234567891011121314
Sulphur111248424221181
Charcoal421751174812822272
Nitre8550163216916201644364
Meal powder-------3111262
Steel-filings-------------1
Number123
Meal powder118
Grain powder F-1-
Charcoal--1