| Proportion of Stores for one Fire-ship, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of stores of each nature. | Interior diameter of each end. | Interior diameter at the bulge. | Height of the composition. | Greatest height. | Weight empty. | Length of one. | Diameter of the breadth of one. | Composition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swedish pitch. | Tallow. | Corn powder. | Salt petre. | Rosin. | Sulphur. | Mealed powder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feet. | Inches. | Feet. | Inches. | Feet. | Inches. | Feet. | Inches. | ℔ | ℥ | ʒ | Feet. | Inches. | Feet. | Inches. | C. | Qr. | ℔ | C. | Qr. | ℔ | C. | Qr. | ℔ | C. | Qr. | ℔ | C. | Qr. | ℔ | C. | Qr. | ℔ | C. | Qr. | ℔ | |||
| Fire barrels, | 8 | 1 | 8½ | 2 | 9½ | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtains, | 30 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bavins, | 200 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Port fires, | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reeds | long, | 150 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| short, | 75 | 2 | 6 | 4½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| short double dipped | 75 | 2 | 6 | 4½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Composition in barrels, for firing, | 3½ | 1 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quick match in barrels, | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hand grenadoes, | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chambers for ports, | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four of the eight fire-barrels are placed under the four fire-trunks; and the other four between them, two on each side the fire-skuttles, where they are securely cleated to the deck. The longest reeds[[26]] are put into the fore and aft troughs, and tied down: the shortest reeds are laid in the troughs athwart, and tied down also. The bavins[[27]], dipped at one end, are tied fast to the troughs over the reeds and the curtains are nailed up to the beams, in equal quantities, on each side of the fire-room.
The remainder of the reeds are placed in a position nearly upright, at all the angles of every square in the fire-room, and there tied down. If any reeds are left, they are to be put round the fire-barrels, and other vacant places, and there tied fast.
Instructions to prime.
Take up all your reeds, one after another, and strow a little composition at the bottom of all the troughs under the reeds, and then tye them gently down again: next strow composition upon the upper part of the reeds throughout the fire-room, and upon the said composition lay double quick-match[[28]] upon all the reeds, in all the troughs: the remainder of the composition strow over all the fire-room, and then lay your bavins loose.
Cast off all the covers of the fire-barrels, and hang the quick-match loose over their sides, and place leaders of quick-match from the reeds into the barrels, and from thence into the vent of the chambers, in such a manner as to be certain of their blowing open the ports, and setting fire to the barrels. Two troughs of communication from each door of the fire-room to the sally-ports, must be laid with a strong leader of quick-match, four or five times double: also a cross-piece to go from the sally-port, when the ship is fired, to the communication trough, laid with leaders of quick-match, that the fire may be communicated to both sides at once.
What quick-match is left, place so that the fire may be communicated to all parts of the room at once, especially about the ports and fire-barrels, and see that the chambers are well and fresh primed.
N. B. The port-fires[[29]] used for firing the ship, burns about twelve minutes. Great care must be taken to have no powder on board when the ship is fired.
The sheer-hooks represented by fig. 3, plate [IV]. are fitted so as to fasten on the yard-arms of the fire-ship, where they hook the enemies rigging. The fire-grapplings, fig. 4, are either fixed on the yard-arms, or thrown by hand, having a chain to confine the ships together, or fasten those instruments wherever necessary.
When the commanding officer of a fleet displays the signal to prepare for action, the fire-ships fix their sheer-hooks, and dispose their grapplings in readiness. The battle being begun, they proceed immediately to prime, and prepare their fire-works. When they are ready for grappling, they inform the admiral thereof by a particular signal.