The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-06 00:00:00

ROCKETS.

The experiments intended to have taken place with Mr.
Hale's rockets in the marshes at Woolwich having been dis-
continued on the firing of the sixth rocket, in consequence
of their having diverged so much from the right line that
danger was to be apprehended, Mr. Hale applied to the
Master-General to appoint any of the members of the select
committee to witness the firing of the rockets in a situation
where no danger, .could be apprehended. Mr. Hale, having
obtained the permission of Mr. F. Masson to carry on the ex-
periments on the extensive sea beach near St. Osyth, on the
south-west side of the second Martello Tower, about a mile
and a half from Brightlingsea, ten miles from Colchester,
Lieutenant-Colonel Dansey, C. 8., Firemaster in the Labora-.
tory Department of the Royal Arsenal, and Lieutenant-Col.
Chalmer, Director-General of Artillery, arrived at the place
appoint ed yesterday to witness and report the result of the
experiments. The first rocket was fired from the ground,
and diverged a little to the right and fell in the sea. The
second from the ground diverged about five degrees
to the left, and struck the ground about seventy
yards from the spot where it was discharged. The
third from the ground struck the ground at about
twenty yards distant. The fourth went nearly 1,000 yards;
and the fifth, after striking the ground at about
200 yards distant, rebounded, and went a considerable way.
'the next three rockets were fired from a trough made of
wood, about from four to five feet long, the forepart being
elevated five degrees, and the rear resting on the ground.
The first struck the ground at 300 yards distant, after which
it altered its course considerably, and appeared to burst at a
distance of about 300 yards. 'the second struck the ground
at 94 paces, and the third at 20 paces, which altered their
courses, and they proceeded onward with a waving motion.
The trough was then elevated on a wooden horse about four
feet high in the rear, and 12 degrees in front. From that
elevation five rockets were fired, and they all went a con-
tiderable distance in a straight line, the first four from 1.500
iso 1,800 yards, and the fifth about 800 yards, when it bur*
n the air, and fell to the ground. The trough was then
elevated to about 20 degrees, and five rockets were fired from
it at that height, and they all went an immense distance,
apparently from 1,500 to 2,000 yards, several of them falling
into the sea. One of these rockets fell within a few yards of
some men who had proceeded in the direction in order to
ascertain as near as possible where they fell The trough
was then lowered to >S degrees, and two rockets fired from
it at that height ; the first struck the ground at about
200 yards distance, and the second at a short distance
from the place where it was discharged. The apparent re-
stilt of the experiments yesterday was that Mr. Hale's rockets
when fired at twelve degrees or higher were carried a con
siderable distance, but not with the same apparent velocity
as the common rockets with pieces of wood attached to them,
Mr. Hale's having no appendages whatever. The less de-
gree of velocity may be accounted for by Mr. Hale's having
no meal powder priming which the common rockets have,
which gives a great projectile power from the commence-
ment of their flight. The want of a piece of wood attached
to Mr. Hale's rockets is evidently the cause of the difficulty
of their being satisfactorily fired from low elevations, as
firing them from the trough placed on the ground, and on a
wooden horse when the degrees of elevation were nearly the
same, was alike in both. A number of gentlemen were pre-
sent to witness the experiments, and at the conclusion Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Dansey and Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmer re-
turned to Brightinsca in the coast g:uard galley, accom-
panied by the collector and comptroller of her Majeety's
Customs. The gallant officers were Invited to dine with a
party at Ariderd-hall, the residence of Mr. William
Hawkins, but their engagements at home prevented their
acceptance of the invitation. The weather was remarka-
bly fine, and in every way highly favourable for the ex-
periments.