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Document number: 139
Date:
Watermark: 1822
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: MANSEL Rawleigh Addenbrooke
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number: 27049
Last updated: 11th January 2011

Dear Sir

Enclosed is Mr Dawes note respecting the composition of the Bengal lights<1> – I strongly suspect that he has made some mistake in the proportion of black antimony – so shall write by this nights post to Mr Byers whose answer I shall receive on Monday. I am going down to Penrice <2> on Tuesday, and if I can be of use in bringing down any of these combustibles, pray command my services and believe me to be

Dear Sir Very truly yours
R. A. Mansel

You will find a great deal of pyrotechnic information in a little book called Endless Amusement <3> I had one, but have lost it.

Henry Talbot Esqre
Penrice Castle

[enclosure:]
1# of Nitre
¼# of Sulphur
¼# of Black Antimony

R Mansel Esqre

Notes:

1. A bright, steady blue flare, used extensively for nautical signaling.

2. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.

3. Endless Amusement: a collection of entertaining experiments in various branches of science. To which is added a complete system of pyrotechny (London: ca.1800).