Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-11-07
THE NEW EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCE.

The GUs CoTToS.-Professor Schonbeins DISCOVERY IL
until patents be secured national arrangements made
mystery hcxpodes at about 400 degrees cis no smoke
leaves not STAN behind IT not detcorated by damp
wet at least dried again, readily explosive as at first
lock OF cotton touched by the hot iron cxpodes fash Of
orange fame seen, and of pun-coon or spo 1,
left The manufacture Of gun stated 10 be cbeaper
than that OF gunpowder and It's force in small charges az two
to one but in larger quantities the difference in favor of the
cotton much greater owing the waste Of the powder by
incomplete combustion.
lecture delivered by Mr. Grove at the British Assoca
ton, commenced by explanation of the rationale f The
composition Of gunpowder which depends on i.ng oobus
be substances with substance that supplies abundance az
oxygen for the support of combustion without depending for
ihe supply on the oxygen Of the atmosphere Nitrate Of soda
or satpee substance that answered thes conditions
and when intimately mixed with charcoal and snnbu ii nr
per proportions, supplied those combustibe bodies a
with sufficient oxygen and the composition became explosive
at given temperature There was however, considerable
residue after the explosion of the best runpouer which
showed that the combustion was not perfect and A.. e
proved greatly announcement by soing firearms In the in
vcnon Of Professor Schonbein this
renediod and the explosive force said to be double
that OF gunpowdcr. The substance was in fact COTTON
which prepared in some manner not vet made
and could not be distinguished its appearance from ordna
y cotton There two qualities Of the preparation one
o. which was intended for purposes and evolved
small quantity Of smoke on explosion the otbcr which
more expensive in its preparation emitted no ,rcc,,hI
smoke, and len residue whatever The aun-coton no
sad, expodes at the temperature Of 400 exp
save point OF gnnpowder being about 600 degrees and it
might be exploded on gunpowdcr without gninp the latter
Mr. Grove then exhibited the experiments He first exploded
small quantity OF gunpowde for the purpose Of showing
tue large quantity OF smoke evolved He then exploded
small lock OF the gun-coon Of the second quality II fash
ed OIL as rapidly as gunpowde and but very small quantity
Of smoke was perccptble The paper on which II was er
poded was but slightly stained The better kind of the
cotton exploded still more rapidly, without any smoke what
ever ana gave out an orangecoored fame The exhbi
,on o. the experiment was received with loud applause Mr.
next exhibited that peculiar property Of the cotton not
being injured by water He stepped piece of the cotton IN
glass water and then pressed between blottng paper
Ody Though could not have been thoroughly dry in the
me inc cotton flashed off when the heated wire was applied
70 " ana without any percepbe smoke The FASH how
'e was not IN THIS case instantaneous OF the
ec'y Dry cotton The last and curious experiment was
INC explosion OF piece Of the when placed upon
ooso powder without gning the latter The experiment
succeeded perfectly though requires the cotton to be quite
airy 70 ensure It's success for the combustion be less rapid the
gonpowder exPlodes.-London paper.
ANKcDoTE ScHoSBEIN's GUy Corrox -wbo, NJ
y attended at Osborne House TO exhibit the Qualities of hi
gun cotton TO Prince Albert he offered TO explode norton
on the hand OF Col B., but the gallant colonel recalled
from the experiment. and would have nothing 10 do with the
novel power Prince Albert himself however submitted a.
the test and of went the cotton without smoke stain n,
burning Of the skin Thus encouraged the colonel took his
n' but whether tho material changed or not for the
coafser PREPARATION gave him such singing that he Ieap
up with cry Of pain hearty laugh was ali the commits
sorauon be received After this, Mr. s. loaded fowina
piece with cotton IN the place Of powder and he Prince fired
both ball and shot from il with the usual effect and perfect
limPuniy.