Part 24 (1/2)

_Oscillation_, a swinging backward and forward

_Gravity_, the tendency of a body toward the centre of the earth

_Registering_, recording

[Illustration: CHARCOAL BURNING]

[Illustration: GOLD MINERS WAshi+NG ORE]

To whom is the invention of Gunpowder ascribed?

Most authors suppose it was invented by Bartholdus Schwartz, a monk of Goslar, a town of Brunswick, in Germany, about the year 1320; it appears, however, that it was known much earlier in er Bacon, who died in 1292, knew its properties; but it is not certain that he was acquainted with its application to fire-arer Bacon?

A learned Franciscan, born at Ilchester, England, in 1214 He studied at Oxford, and afterwards becareat University

He was fae, but was especially distinguished for his extraordinary proficiency in the natural sciences To hiunpowder is ascribed to hih we have no evidence to shohether he discovered its ingredients hie fronorance of the age in which he lived, ic He died at Oxford in the year 1294

What is understood by Magic?

Magic is a ternify an unlawful and wicked kind of science, depending, as was pretended, on the assistance of superhus and of departed souls The ter, and in particular to the science of the Magi or Wise Men of Persia, froic is no more than the application of natural active causes to passive things or subjects, to produce effects apparently supernatural

_Supernatural_, beyond the powers of nature; miraculous

Of what is Gunpowder composed?

Of saltpetre,[10] sulphur, and charcoal, ether and powdered; its explosive force when fired, is owing to the instantaneous and abundant liberation of gaseousfrom the action of the combustibles upon the saltpetre It is not known by whom it was first applied to the purposes of war, but it is certain that it was used early in the fourteenth century Cannons were used at the battle of Cressy, in 1346; suns, or muskets, were introduced into the Spanish army in 1521

[Footnote 10: See Chapter XIII]

_Explosive_, bursting out with violence and noise

_Liberation_, a setting at liberty

Is not Gunpowder highly cole spark of fire, lighting upon any of it, will cause it to explode with immense force; and instances have occurred, when any store or azine of it has taken fire, that have been attended with the ineer as a readythe obstacles which are presented in their search forFroes in the ancient authors, there is reason to suppose that gunpowder, or a composition extremely like it, was known to theeneral use, and the invention of fire-arms is comparatively reater explosive force than gunpowder

_Engineer_, one orks or directs an engine

_Obstacles_, hinderances, obstructions