only vessel necessary for a wax lamp, the wax being cut to pieces and pressed into it: when a wick is consumed it is only necessary to pierce the wax with a large pin down to the burner, and introduce a fresh piece of waxed cotton.

If the wax lamp is required to have a thicker wick, as for experiments with the blow-pipe, the wick may be made in two pieces, as for the oillamp, and only the detached end will want occasional renewal.

pious resignation and sublimity of character. This exquisite picture has been admirably engraved by Sharpe. Great were the rewards and honours which this accomplished artist received from popes and princes, as well as from cardinals and nobles of various countries; notwithstanding this, he abandoned himself to gaming so entirely as to be reduced to poverty, which brought on a dejection of spirits, and a languishing disorder, of which he died at Bologna in 1642. Guido was so extremely handsome in his person that Lodovico Caracci, in painting his The best manner of extinguishing wax lamps, so angels, always took him for his model. Arpino, as to preserve the wick for re-lighting, is to overwhen asked by the pope his opinion of Guido's per-charge it with wax by holding a piece so that as the formances in the Capella Quirinale, replied, "our pictures are the work of men's hands, but these are made by hands divine."

BURNING WAX

WAX is sometimes substituted for oil in lamps. The great secret on which the burning of wax lamps depends is the affording a supply of melted wax to the wick immediately upon its being lighted; for this purpose, care should be taken that bits of wax should be heaped up in contact with the wick, so that the flame may melt it instantly.

The wicks of Mr. Smithson's wax lamps are made of a single cotton thread, waxed by drawing them through melted wax: it is supported by a burner made of a small bit of tinned plate; which has two slits cut at each end, and the middle parts raised up to form a wicker-holder. A cup is the VOL, V.-22

wax melts it may fall on the wick, and lessen the flame, when a gentle puff will extinguish it at once without any ill smell.

These wax lamps have a superiority over wax candles in that the flame being always at the same height, it admits a vessel of water being supported over it ready to be used for shaving in the morning; or coffee may be kept warm over it, to the great convenience of travellers; while, at the same time, the wax will congeal so quickly on the putting out of the flame that it is ready to be packed up among the baggage, or clapped into the night-bag, before the traveller has finished his dressing.

PYROTECHNY.

THE Chinese appear to have been the first scientifick inanufacturers of fire-works; they employed them at all their great festivals, and combined them with transparent lanterns so as to produce very pleasing and picturesque effects. In the present article we purpose pointing out the most convenient mode of making some of the most striking of these fire-works. Rockets may be regarded as the grand basis of all pyrotechnical exhibitions, which are little more than modifications of their form, and of the materials of which they usually consist. A rocket is a cartridge or case made of stiff paper, which being filled in part with gunpowder, saltpetre, and charcoal, rises of itself into the air when fire is applied to it.

There are three sorts of rockets: small ones, the caliber of which does not exceed a pound bullet; that is to say, the orifice of them is equal to the diameter of a leaden bullet which weighs only a pound; (for the calibers or orifices of the moulds or the models used in making rockets are measured by the diameters of leaden bullets,) middle sized rockets, equal to the size of a ball of from one to three pounds; and large rockets, equal to a ball of from three to one hundred pounds.

secured by means of running knots made one above the other.

Besides the roller, a rod is used, which being employed to load the cartridge must be somewhat smaller than the roller, in order that it may be easily introduced into the cartridge. The rod is pierced lengthwise, to a sufficient depth to receive the piercer, which must enter into the mould, and unite with it exactly at its lower part. The piercer, which decreases in size, is introduced into the cartridge through the part where it has been choked, and serves to preserve a cavity within it. Its length, besides the nipple or button, must be equal to about two thirds that of the mould. Lastly, if the thickness of the base be a fourth part of the caliber of the mould, the point must be made equal to a sixth of the caliber. It is evident there must be at least three rods, pierced in proportion to the diminution of the piercer, in order that the powder which is rammed in by means of a mallet may be uniformly packed throughout the whole length of the rocket.

After the cartridge is placed in the mould, pour gradually into it the prepared composition, taking care to pour only two spoonfuls at a time, and to ram it immediately down with the rod. When the

the half of the folds of the paper which remains, and having turned them back on the composition, press them down with the rod and a few strokes of the mallet, in order to compress the paper on the composition. Then pierce three or four holes in the folded paper by means of a piercer, which must be made to penetrate to the composition of the rocket. These holes serve to form a communication between the body of the rocket and the vacuity at the extremity of the cartridge, or that part which has been left empty.

To give the cartridges the same length and thick-cartridge is about half filled, separate with a bodkin ness, in order that any number of rockets may be prepared of the same size and force, they are put into a hollow cylinder of strong wood, called a mould. This mould is sometimes of metal, but at any rate it ought to be made of some very hard wood. This mould must not be confounded with another piece of wood called the former or roller, around which is rolled the thick paper employed to make the cartridge. If the caliber of the mould be divided into eight equal parts, the diameter of the roller must be equal to five of these parts. The vacuity between the roller and the interiour surface of the mould, that is to say, three eighths of the caliber of the mould, will be exactly filled by the cartridge.

For making the cartridges large stiff paper is employed. This paper is wrapped round the roller and then cemented by means of common paste. The thickness of the paper, when rolled up in this manner, ought to be about one eighth and a half of the caliber of the mould, according to the proportion given to the diameter of the roller. But, if the diameter of the roller be made equal to three fourths the caliber of the mould, the thickness of the cartridge must be a twelfth and a half of that caliber. When the cartridge is formed the roller is drawn out, by turning it round, until it is distant from the edge of the cartridge the length of its diameter. A piece of cord is then made to pass twice round the cartridge at the extremity of the roller, and into the vacuity left in the cartridge another roller is introduced, so as to leave some space between the two. One end of the pack thread must be fastened to something fixed, and the other to a stick conveyed between the legs, and placed in such a manner as to be behind the person who chokes the cartridge. The cord is then to be stretched by retiring backward, and the cartridge must be pinched until there remains only an aperture capable of admitting the piercer. The cord employed for pinching it is then removed, and its place is supplied by a piece of packthread, which must be drawn very tight, passing it several times round the cartridge, after which it is

In small rockets this is filled with granulated powder, which serves to let them off; they are then covered with paper, and pinched in the same manner as at the other extremity. But in other rockets the pot containing stars, serpents, and running rockets, is adapted to it. A little of the composition of the rocket must be put into these holes, that the fire may be communicated to it.

Care must be taken, in placing the rockets when they are to be fired, to give them a vertical direction at their first setting out, which may be managed thus: have two rails of wood, of any length, supe ported at each end by a perpendicular leg, so that the rails be horizontal, and let the distance from one to the other be almost equal to the length of the sticks of the rockets intended to be fired; then in the front of the top rail drive square hooks at eight inches distance, with their points turning sidewise, so that when the rockets are hung on them the points will be before the sticks and keep them from falling or being blown off by the wind in the front of the rail at bottom must be staples, driven perpendicularly under the hooks at top: through these staples put small ends of the rocket-sticks. Rockets are fired by applying a lighted port-fire to their mouths.

the

The girandole chests for flights of rockets are generally composed of four sides, of equal dimensions, but may be made of any diameter, according to the number of rockets designated to be fired; the height of the chest must be in proportion to the rockets, but must always be a little higher than the

rockets with their sticks. When the sides are join- | stick and the other facing the neck of the rockets; ed the top must be fixed as far down the chest as the distance between these notches may easily be the length of one of the rockets with its cap on. In known, for the top of the stick should always touch this top should be as many square or round holes, to the head of the rocket.

receive the rocket-sticks, as the pyrotechnist intends The following charges for the preparation of rockto have rockets; but he must let the distance be-ets are the result of actual experiments;-For rocktween them be sufficient for the rockets to stand ets of four ounces-meal-powder one pound four without touching one another; then from one hole ounces, saltpetre four ounces, and charcoal two ounto another must be cut a groove large enough for a ces. Rockets of eight ounces require meal-powquick-match to lie in; the top being thus fixed, the der one pound, saltpetre four ounces, brimstone three bottom must be placed at about a foot and a half dis-ounces, and charcoal one ounce and a half; and, tance from the bottom of the chest; in this bottom those of one pound require meal-powder two pounds, must be as many holes as in the top, and all to cor- saltpetre eight ounces, brimstone four ounces, charrespond, but these holes need not be so large as coal two ounces, and steel filings one ounce and a those in the top. half.

Signal sky-rockets without reports are only skyrockets closed and capped: these are very light, and therefore do not require such heavy sticks as those with loaded heads. Signal rockets, with reports, are fired in small flights; and often both these and those without reports are used for a signal to begin firing a collection of fire-works.

The method of fixing a sky-rocket with its stick. on the top of another is as follows:-Having filled a two-pounder, which must contain only half a diameter above the piercer, and its head not more than ten or twelve stars; the stick of this rocket must be made rather thicker than common; and, when made,

To make several sky-rockets rise in the same direction, and equally distant from each other, take six or any number of sky-rockets, of any required size; then cut some strong packthread into pieces of three or four yards long, and tie each end of these pieces to a rocket in the following manner having tied one end of the packthread round the body of one rocket, and the other end to another, take a second. piece of packthread and make one end of it fast to one of the rockets already tied, and the other end to a third rocket, so that all the rockets, except the two outside, will be fastened to two pieces of packthread; the length of thread from one rocket to the other may be what the maker pleases; but the rock-cut in half the flat way, and in each half a groove, ets must be all of a size, and their heads filled with so that when the two halves are joined the hollow the same weight of stars, or other ornamental fires. made by the grooves may be large enough to hold The prime being fired, all the rockets will mount the stick of a half pound rocket, which must be at the same time and divide as far as the strings will made and headed as usual. Put the stick of this allow, which division they will keep, provided they rocket into the hollow of the large one, so far that are all rammed alike and well made. They are its mouth may rest on the head of the two-pounder, „ called by some pyrotechnists chained rockets. from whose head carry a leader into the mouth of The dimensions and proper mode of poising rock-the small rocket. This combination has a very et-sticks will next engage our attention. These brilliant effect. points may be best illustrated by the accompanying tabular view:

Weight

of the rocket.

---

Poise from

the point of
the cone.

If two, three, or six sky-rockets, be fixed on one stick, and fired together, the tails of all will seem but as one of an immense size, and the breaking of so many heads at once will resemble the bursting of an air-balloon. The management of this device requires a skilful hand; but if the following instructions be well observed, even by those who have not 4 1.5 made a great progress in this art, there will be no 3 9 doubt of the rockets having the desired effect. 2 9 2 1

at top.

at top.

F.

in.

1

0.5

When one sky-rocket is fixed on the top of another, they are called towering rockets, on account of 1 10.5 the great elevation which they attain. They are 8.5 constructed as follows:-Fix on a pound rocket a 1 3 head without a collar; then take a four ounce rocket 11 0 of another kind, and rub the mouth of it with meal8 0 powder wetted with spirits of wine: when done, 5 put it in the head of the large rocket with its mouth downward; but previously place a piece of quickmatch in the hole of the clay of the pound rocket. which match should be long enough to go a little way up the bore of the small rocket, to fire it when the large one is burnt out; the four ounce rocket being too small to fill the head of the other, roll round it as much tow as will make it stand upright in the centre of the head: the rocket being thus fixed, paste a single paper round the opening of the top of the head of the large rocket. The large rocket must have only half a diameter of charge, rammed above the piercer; for, if filled to the usual height, it would turn before the small one takes fire

The last column on the right, in the above table, expresses the distance from the top of the cone, where the stick, when tied on, should balance the rocket, so as to stand in an equilibrium on a point or the edge of a knife. The best wood for the sticks is dry deal, made thus-When they are cut and planed according to the dimensions given in the table, cut, on one of the flat sides at the top, a groove the length of the rocket, and as broad as the stick will allow; then on the opposite flat side cut two notches for the cord which ties on the rocket to lie in; one of these notches must be near the top of the

To make an illuminated spiral wheel, the pyrotechnist must first have a circular horizontal wheel made two feet diameter, with a hole quite through the nave; and then take four thin pieces of deal, three feet long each, and three quarters of an inch broad each: one end of each of these pieces is to be nailed to the felloe of the wheel, at an equal distance from one another, and the other end nailed to a block with a hole in its bottom, which must be perpendicular with that in the block of the wheel, but not so large The wheel being thus made,

hoop planed down very thin must be nailed to the felloe of the wheel, and wound round the four sticks in a spiral line from the wheel to the block at top: on the top of this block a case of Chinese fire must be fixed, and on the wheel any number of cases, which must incline downward, and burn two at a time. The axis for this wheel must be a little longer than the cone, and made very smooth at top, on which the upper block is to turn, and the whole weight of the wheel to rest. The entire framing of the wheel, with its connecting tubes, is shown in the accompanying figure.

With regard to the preparations of Chinese fire prepared in this country, which are said to surpass even those of the Chinese, the following are the most perfect :

ces of meal-powder, four of saltpetre, and six each of sulphur and zinc.

Another blue fire, for calibers of half an inch and upward.-Eight ounces of saltpetre, four each of meal-powder and sulphur, and seventeen of zinc.

The cases charged with these compositions are only employed for furnishing the centre of some pieces, the movement of which depends on other cases; as these, having no projectile force, would not produce motion.

Blue fire, for any caliber.-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, two of saltpetre, and eight of sulphur. Radiant fire, for any caliber.-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, and three of pin-dust.

Green fire, for any caliber.-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, and three and one eighth of filings of copper.

Composition of Chinese fire for calibers under ten twelfths of an inch.-Sixteen ounces each of meal- Aurora fire, for any caliber.-Sixteen ounces of powder and saltpetre, four each of sulphur and char-meal-powder, and three and one eighth of brass powcoal, and fourteen of cast-iron finely pulverized.

Another. Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, three each of sulphur and charcoal, and seven of cast-iron. Another, for palm-trees and cascades.-Twelve ounces of saltpetre, sixteen of meal-powder, eight of sulphur, four of charcoal, and ten of cast-iron.

Another, white fire, for calibers of eight twelfths and ten twelfths of an inch.-Eight ounces of sulphur, sixteen each of meal-powder and saltpetre, and twelve of cast-iron.

Another, for gerbes of ten and eleven twefths and one inch caliber.-One ounce each of seltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal, eight each of meal-powder and cast-iron.

der.

Italian roses, or fixed stars.-Two ounces of mealpowder, four of saltpetre, and one of sulphur.

Another for the same.-Twelve ounces of mealpowder, sixteen of saltpetre, ten of sulphur, and one of crude antimony.

The forms which may be given to the flame of gunpowder, or to the substances which compose it, either by increasing or retarding its combustion, or by changing the appearance of the flame, giving it the form of jets, stars, rain, &c., are so numerous that a knowledge of these changes and variations is considered highly important to the practical fireworker. For instance, in the composition of fireworks, oak-charcoal, and pit-coal, will give the peculiar appearance of rain.

The following is one of the formula :-Eight ounces of saltpetre, four of sulphur, sixteen of mealpowder, two ounces and a half each of oak-charcoal and pit-coal.

What are denominated fire-jets, or fire-spouts, are cases charged solid with particular compositions. These jets have a caliber of one third of an inch to one inch and a third in interiour diameter. They are seven or eight diameters in length, and are charged with the particular composition, driving each charge with twenty blows of a mallet. The first Another composition intended for the same purcharge is the ordinary fire composition. Fire-jets pose is similar to the Chinese fire, but contains a are calculated for turning as well as for fixed pieces. larger proportion of powdered cast-iron. Common fire for calibers of one third of an inch. In the spur-fire, so called from its spark resem-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, and three of char-bling the round of a spur, used principally in theatres, the particular appearance which distinguishes Common fire for calibers of five twelfths to half it from other fires is imparted to it simply by lampan inch. Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, and three and a quarter of charcoal.

coal.

Common fire for calibers above half an inch Sixteen ounces of meal-powder and four of charcoal. Brilliant fire, for ordinary calibers.-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder and four of filings of iron. Another, more beautiful.-Sixteen ounces of powder, and four of filings of steel.

black.

The composition is :-Four pounds eight ounces of saltpetre, two of sulphur, and one pound eight ounces of lampblack.

The red fire used for theatrical purposes is made from forty parts of dry nitrate of strontian, thirteen meal-parts of finely-powdered sulphur, five parts of chlorate or oxymuriate of potash, and four parts of sulphuret of antimony, mixed intimately in a mortar; but the chlorate of potash must be powdered separately. A little orpiment is sometimes added, and if the fire should burn dim a small quantity of powdered charcoal is added.

Another, more brilliant, for any caliber. Eighteen ounces of meal-powder, two of saltpetre, and five of filings of steel.

Brilliant fire, very clear, for any caliber.-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, and three of filings of needles.

Small jessamine, for any caliber.-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, one each of saltpetre and sulphur, and five of filings of steel.

White fire, for any caliber.-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, eight of saltpetre, and two of sulphur. White fire, for any caliber.-Sixteen ounces of meal-powder, and three of sulphur.

Other compositions are made, as serpents, crackers, stars, Roman candles, rocket-stars, variouslycoloured fire-rains, white, blue, and yellow illumination, port-fires, &c., which show that the colour and appearance of flame may be modified with almost as many variations as the mixture of pigments employed by the painters.

Blue fire, for parasols and cascades-Eight oun-is

Bengal lights, although in some recipes orpiment added, owe their particular characteristic to the