Interesting handwritten manuscript entitled "Directions to Make Rockets, 1844," 34 pages inside a 4.75 x 7.25 booklet, discussing the physical and chemical processes used in the manufacture of "rockets," or fireworks. Sections are headed: "To prepare Cases for Rockets," "Colours," "To bore the Rockets or to ram them over the Piercer," "To Garnishing Rockets," "How to Proportion the Rocket Poles and Sticks," "Rockets without Sticks," "Rockets that run upon lines or ropes from one place to another," "Charges for line Rockets," "Some General Remarks Upon Rockets," "Defective Rockets," "To Prepare the Paste for Stars & Sparkles," and "How to Make Powder."
The comprehensive instructions include recipes for charges and powders, in addition to observations related to these pyrotechnic fireworks. The text notes: "You may…exhibit a variety of colours, ishuing forth from a rocket, by mixing among the charge a certain quantity of camphor which produces a white fire, rosin a red, blood stone…beaten to a powder a blood red, sulphur a blue, salmoniac a green, antimony a redish, ivory shaving a shining silver, filed agate stone an orange."
Following the lengthy "rocket" manuscript are three pages of "Directions to tune Accordions," "How to make Black Ink," and "A Brisk Purgative Pill." In very good condition, with some dampstaining and foxing, primarily to the inner covers and not affecting the text.
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