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The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
An Italian inventor arrives in London with a powerful new gunpowder that bursts existing cannons; he offers experiments to the Board of Ordnance, proposing enhanced artillery range and devastating mortar shells.
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An Italian is arrived in this city, expecting to get a greater reward here for a discovery he has made, than in any other part of Europe. He has invented a new gunpowder, of a force so extraordinary, that no gun, musket, or cannon in being, is strong enough for its use; one pound weight of it detonates with such force, as to burst a thirty-six pounder; he has offered to the Board of Ordnance to make any experiments they require, if they will be at the expense of casting some guns upon his plan. One proposition is, to throw a ball of 140 pounds farther than any ball in present use is thrown, and with less than ten pounds of this powder. But his improvement of the mortar is the most terrible of his schemes, which is to throw and to burst a shell of such a size and thickness as to have the most horrid effects. It is said that the experiments will be made. The colour of the powder is a yellowish brown.
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
London
Event Date
May 5
Outcome
experiments expected to be conducted; potential for enhanced artillery capabilities and devastating mortar effects.
Event Details
An unnamed Italian inventor has arrived in London with a new gunpowder of extraordinary force, capable of bursting a thirty-six pounder cannon with one pound. He offers to demonstrate it to the Board of Ordnance if they cast guns to his design, proposing to throw a 140-pound ball farther with less than ten pounds of powder. His mortar improvement aims to burst large, thick shells with horrid effects. The powder is yellowish brown.