Notwithstanding much has been written on the subject, the original invention of gunpowder seems to be in obscurity. By whom, and at what time it was invented, is a question not fully settled. It is said to have been known in the east from time immemorial, and whatever claim Roger Bacon, who died in 1292, may have had to the discovery, or that he knew the properties of gunpowder, it is certain, that the use of fire-arms was then unknown in Europe. Professor Beckman, who examined all the authors extant on the origin of gunpowder, is of opinion, that it was invented in India, and brought by the Saracens from Africa to the Europeans, who improved the preparation of it, and employed it in war, as well as for small arms and cannon. M. Langles, who read a memoir on this subject to the National Institute, in 1798, observes, that the Arabians obtained a knowledge of gunpowder from the Indians, who had been acquainted with it from the earliest periods. The use of it was forbidden in their sacred books, the veidam or vede. It was employed in 690 at the battle near Mecca. As nitre was employed in all probability in the Greek fire, invented about the year 678, it is supposed, that that composition gave rise to the invention of gunpowder. Various prescriptions, or formulæ, have been given for the preparation of this fire. The oldest is by princess Anna Commena, in which, however, there is only resin, sulphur, and oil. Beckman observes, that the first certain mention of saltpetre will be found in the oldest account of the preparation of gunpowder, which, in his opinion, became known in the thirteenth century, about the same time that the use of the Greek fire, of which there were many kinds, began to be lost. The oldest information on this subject is to be found in the works of Albertus Magnus, and the writings of Roger Bacon. The true recipe for making the Greek fire, and the oldest for gunpowder, were found in a manuscript, preserved in the electoral library at Munich. Various copies of this manuscript were made. Bacon employed this writing, which was mentioned by Jebb, in the preface to his edition, from a copy preserved in the library of Dr. Mead. Whether the writer was Marcus Græcus, is of no moment; for Cardan observes, that the _fire that can be kindled by water_, or rather not extinguished by water, was prepared by Marcus Gracchus. The former Marcus, mentions two kinds of fire-works; and the composition, which he prescribes for _both_, is two pounds of charcoal, one pound of sulphur, and six pounds of saltpetre, well powdered and mixed together in a stone mortar.