The Sun.
London, England, 1814-10-12 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

• SIR,--,Readingin.ymir Paper of this day a re-
port of an. examination takyn at Queen-square
before the Magistrates, Messrs. FIELDIN(; and
COLQUHOUN, on an information, laid by Mr.
VENDER against C. PlAl•icA, for selling Detonat-
ing Balls, and other objects, &C. ete. contrary to
an Act of William 111. which detonating object
have been construed to come under the said Act
as an Article of Fire-works, I beg leave, in order
that no misconstruction may be given to what I
then said, to make sonic observations thereon.

PIANCA havini left the kingdom prior to
the information being served, his servant called
on me on Saturday last, requesting me to attend
the examination, antl• say what I could in
In cofflplianve, I did so, and, on my en-
tering the Office, I heard Mr. Justice FIELDING
prohibiting the Fide of every description of arti-
cle sold by the defendant : I requested to be heard
in his behalf, and endeavoured to prove (and I
still retain the same opinion) that these chemical
preparations cannot he considered. as tire-works.

. Although the experiment I wade was fairly
stated in your Paper, •et it is generally allowed
by'my scientific friends, that the accidental igni-
tion of the gunpowder %%as assisted by its superior
quality, and by my shoes baying retained hllicious
matter, from my. walking across the Park to (...211,.!en-
septare, which striking some ferruginous body in
the floor, 'caused that apparent failure in the ex-
periment, on which I much depended. It assur-
edly was the collision of these substances, and
not the Detonating Ball, that tired the powder.
Your Piper has stated, that I said these balls
could not be 'applied to any use but that of an-
noying the ; I beg to observe, Mr. Editor,
such an unguarded expression might escape me,
though I received every civility and respect from
the Gentlemen of the Bench and their Officers ;

yet I felt myself somewhat agitated, being sur-
rounded by a host of opponents. I now repeat,
that these detonating bails and composition may
be applied as a preventive against burghries, tO
scientific instrnctionin Military Academies, and
•entertaining experiments in the Drawing-room,
when properly used.
• Should these fulminating matter be still consi-
dered coining under the aforesaid act, I shall
certainly tremble whenever I send away such phi-
losophical articles as Electrical Alachines„ir-
guns,.l3riquets Pncumatique, Voltas Lamp, l'hos-
phonic Tinder-boxes, and many other apparatus,
especiklly such chemical preparations as:elitit light
and heat by their union.
To conclude, in the course of this day, the ex-
periment which appeared to confute nie at the
Office, has been eepeated to many scientific gen-
tlemen, without one instance of an explosion of
the gdnpowder having taken place ; and I shall
lac happy to show the same to any gentleman who
will honour not with a call, `and satisfy himself as
'to the propriety of itLy assertion.
I am, your humble Servant,
Strand, Tuesday Evenin-. R. BANKS.

THP. THEATRE.—MiSS STEPHENS has returned
from her• trip to Birmingham, and last night re-
sumed her station at Covent-Garden Theatre, as
Rosetta, in Love in a •Village. She sung delight-
fully, and evidently improves as an actress. She
sustained the part with easy gaiety, truth, and
feeling--Miss MATHEws should endeavour to
play with more simplicity, and rather aim at the
feelings than the eye.: Her manner of soliciting
'clemency from her aunt seemed too much like
mockery and affectation. FAWCETT was, very di-
verting in the Justice, and INcLEDON, SiNrLAIR,
EMERY, anti Mrs.
LISTON, -severally contributed
krespeclable support to this pleasant Opera.-
-The Theatre was crowded.