We remarked, that, in common sky rockets, the charges consist of a mixture of gunpowder, saltpetre, and charcoal, with occasionally other additions, as steel-filings. _Rocket-stars_, on the contrary, are usually formed of mealed powder, saltpetre, sulphur, and sometimes other substances according to the colour of the flame required. Thus, for the _white star_, composition oil of spike, (a preparation of Barbadoes tar, and spirit of turpentine), and camphor are employed; the camphor giving to the flame a white appearance. The _blue stars_ owe their colour to sulphur, which is in the proportion of one to four of the meal-powder; the _variegated stars_ have the same materials, with sulphur vivum, and camphor; and the _brilliant stars_, _common stars_, and a variety of others, we shall mention in their proper places, are all formed by the addition of sundry substances. The variety of _rains_, as _gold rain_, _silver rain_, &c. are differently prepared. Besides saltpetre, meal-powder, and sulphur, gold rain contains in its composition the filings of brass, saw-dust, and pulverized glass. In this instance, the saw-dust communicates colour, while the brass and the glass are thrown out, the former partly consumed, and the latter partially fused by the intense heat. The same effect may be produced by meal-powder, saltpetre, and charcoal, or saltpetre, sulphur, antimony, brass filings, saw-dust, and pulverized glass. Here the antimony, as well as the brass, communicates the golden colour. (_See antimony._) Silver rain is generally formed of saltpetre, sulphur, meal-powder, antimony, and sal prunelle, but without saw-dust; the antimony communicating silver brilliancy to the flame. It may also be formed, by employing, in given proportions, saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal, the particular effect depending upon the proportions; or by using antimony in lieu of the charcoal, or in the place of the antimony, steel-filings. Whether antimony or steel-filings are used, the effect of their combustion is the same, forming in the one instance, an oxide of antimony, and in the other, an oxide of iron. Both gold and silver rain is employed chiefly for sky-rockets. As to the colours required, they may be formed of other substances. The charges for _water-rockets_ are also various. In some of which, besides the usual ingredients, (meal-powder, saltpetre, and sulphur,) sea-coal, steel-filings, saw-dust, &c. enter into their composition.