SALTING-boxes, in artillery, are boxes of about four inches high, and 2¹⁄₂ in diameter, for holding mealed powder, to sprinkle the fuzes of shells, that they may take fire from the blast of the powder in the chamber; but it has been found that the fuze takes fire as well without this operation, so that these boxes are now laid aside.
SALTPETRE, Fr. See [Nitre].
SALTPETRE, or nitre, the principal ingredient for making gunpowder; it is found in great plenty in some of the East-India provinces, and in some parts of Europe. The necessities of the French revolution, when attacked by all Europe, forced the French to have recourse to their chemists, to supply nitre which could not be obtained from abroad; they scraped the walls and floors of their cellars and vaults, and out of the washed earth extracted nitre; they also extracted nitre from vegetable substances, such as the horse chesnut. In some natural caves discovered in Kentucky, vast quantities, sufficient for every demand of war and commerce can be procured. See [Gunpowder], [Nitre], &c.
SALPETRIERE, Fr. A particular spot in an arsenal where there are pits, &c. for the purpose of making saltpetre.
SALPETRIERS, Fr. Men employed in making saltpetre.
SALVE, Fr. A salute, a volley. It generally means a discharge of heavy ordnance and other firearms in concert.
Saluer de la mousqueterie, Fr. To fire a volley, or discharge of musquetry only.
Saluer du canon, Fr. To salute by the discharge of ordnance.
Saluer de la voix, Fr. To huzza. To cry out, as vive le roi! God save the king! vive la république! long live the republic! This manner of saluting generally appertains to the mob of a country, which lavishes its applause upon every man that happens to be in power. It has, however, been customary, both in Rome, Greece, France, and other countries, for whole battalions of soldiers to salute à vive voix; in which case they generally take off their hats, and give three huzzas.
Saluer du pavillon, Fr. To salute with the colors.