Saturday Evening last the ministerial Fleet went down the Bay to Newport, and have since returned to Hope Island.
The same Day a Brig put off from Newport for New-London, having on board a Quantity of Salt, some Household Furniture, &c. the Hands being apprehensive that they should be taken and impressed by the ministerial Fleet, obliged the Captain to put back; but in returning the Vessel ran aground near the Entrance of the Harbour, where as she could not be defended, some Men from Head-Quarters went on board, and assisted in unbending her Sails, and saving some of the Furniture. ー [James] Wallace discovered her next Morning, when the Bomb Brig and a Tender took Possession of her; a few Shot were exchanged between them and some of our People on Shore, but without doing any Execution. After taking the Salt, they set her on Fire, and she burnt to the Water's Edge.
Gunpowder.
This is a most intimate mixture of nitre, sulphur and charcoal: The proportions found best by many experiments are,
6 parts nitre.
2 ー sulphur.
1 ー charcoal.
The charcoal should be ground extremely fine by itself, and the sulphur well pounded, if flower of sulphur is not used. The nitre may be pounded with the others; when all are put together, the whole should be pounded seven or eight hours. During the pounding it is to be frequently moistened with water sprinkled on it, a little every half hour, so as to use in the whole pounding about 4 parts of water: The water is to evaporate by the beating or pounding; there should be about 3000 strokes of the pestle in an hour; the compounds, when sufficiently pounded, to be dried in the sun.
