But the chief thing we deſign'd to do
with our Piſtol, was, To obſerve whe
ther Gun-powder would take Fire in our
empty'd and cloſely ſtop'd Glaſs? Whe
ther the expanſion of the Flame would be
conſiderably varied by the abſence of ſo
much of the ambient Air as was drawn
out of the Receiver? and whether the
Flame would diffuſe it ſelf upward, as it is
wont, notwithſtanding its not having a
bout it the uſual proportion of Air to
force it up? And though moſt of our at
tempts to fire the Gun-powder in the
Pan of the Piſtol ſucceeded not, becauſe
we were fain to let it hang almoſt perpen
dicular in the Receiver; whereby the
Powder was ſhaken down before the
ſparks could reach it: yet once the Ex
periment ſucceeded, and the kindled
Powder ſeem'd to make a more expanded
Flame then it would have done in the
open Air, but mounted upwards accord
ing to its wont, whether by reaſon of that
little portion of Air, which in ſpight of
our pumping remained in the Receiver, or
for any other cauſe, we have not now the
leiſure to conſider. But we muſt not for
get, that upon the extinction of the Flame
the Receiver appear'd darken'd with
with our Piſtol, was, To obſerve whe
ther Gun-powder would take Fire in our
empty'd and cloſely ſtop'd Glaſs? Whe
ther the expanſion of the Flame would be
conſiderably varied by the abſence of ſo
much of the ambient Air as was drawn
out of the Receiver? and whether the
Flame would diffuſe it ſelf upward, as it is
wont, notwithſtanding its not having a
bout it the uſual proportion of Air to
force it up? And though moſt of our at
tempts to fire the Gun-powder in the
Pan of the Piſtol ſucceeded not, becauſe
we were fain to let it hang almoſt perpen
dicular in the Receiver; whereby the
Powder was ſhaken down before the
ſparks could reach it: yet once the Ex
periment ſucceeded, and the kindled
Powder ſeem'd to make a more expanded
Flame then it would have done in the
open Air, but mounted upwards accord
ing to its wont, whether by reaſon of that
little portion of Air, which in ſpight of
our pumping remained in the Receiver, or
for any other cauſe, we have not now the
leiſure to conſider. But we muſt not for
get, that upon the extinction of the Flame
the Receiver appear'd darken'd with