 Force. That, the
largest Balls thus discharged, would not only Destroy whole Ranks of an Army at
once; but batter the strongest Walls to the Ground; sink down Ships with a
thousand Men in each, to the Bottom of the Sea; and when linked together by a
Chain, would cut through Masts and Rigging; divide Hundreds of Bodies in the
Middle, and lay all Waste before them. That we often put this Powder into large
hollow Balls of Iron, and discharged them by an Engine into some City we were
besieging; which would rip up the Pavement, tear the Houses to Pieces, burst and
throw Splinters on every Side, dashing out the Brains of all who came near. That
I knew the Ingredients very well, which were Cheap, and common; I understood the
Manner of compounding them, and could direct his Workmen how to make those Tubes
of a Size proportionable to all other Things in his Majesty's Kingdom; and the
largest need not be above two hundred Foot long; twenty or thirty of which
Tubes, charged with the proper Quantity of Powder and Balls, would batter down
the Walls of the strongest Town in his Dominions in a few Hours; or destroy the
whole Metropolis, if ever it should pretend to dispute his absolute Commands.
This I humbly offered to his Majesty, as a small Tribute of Acknowledgment in
return of so many Marks that I had received of his Royal Favour and Protection.
    The King was struck with Horror at the Description I had given of those
terrible Engines, and the Proposal I had made. He was amazed how so impotent and
groveling an Insect as I (these were his Expressions) could entertain such
inhuman Ideas, and in so familiar a Manner as to appear wholly unmoved at all
the Scenes of Blood and Desolation, which I had painted as the common Effects of
those destructive Machines; whereof he said, some evil Genius, Enemy to Mankind,
must have been the first Contriver. As for himself, he protested, that although
few Things delighted him so much as new Discoveries in Art or in Nature; yet he
would rather lose Half his Kingdom than be privy to such a Secret; which he
commanded me, as I valued my Life, never to mention any more.
    A strange Effect of narrow Principles and short Views! that a Prince
possessed of every Quality which procures Veneration, Love and Esteem; of strong
Parts, great Wisdom and profound Learning; endued with admirable Talents for
Government, and almost adored by his Subjects; should from a nice unnecessary
Scruple, whereof in Europe we can have no Conception, let
