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To Make Squibs And Serpents


First make the cases, of about six inches in length, by rolling slips

of stout cartridge-paper three times round a roller, and pasting the

last fold; tying it near the bottom as tight as possible, and making

it air-tight at the end, by sealing-wax. Then take of gunpowder half a

pound, charcoal one ounce, brimstone one ounce, and steel-filings half

an ounce, (or in like proportion,) grind them with a muller, or pound

them in a mortar. Your cases being dry and ready, first put a

thimble-full of your powder, and ram it hard down with a ruler; then

fill the case to the top with the aforesaid mixture, ramming it hard

down in the course of filling, two or three times; when this is done

point with touch-paper, which should be pasted on that part which

touches the case, otherwise it is liable to drop off.



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