a small taper of tallow, wax, or spermaceti; the wick of which is commonly of several threads of cotton, spun and twisted together.

A tallow-candle, to be good, must be half sheep's and half bullock's tallow; for hog's tallow makes the candle gutter, and always gives an offensive smell, with a thick black smoke. The wick ought to be pure, sufficiently dry, and properly twisted; otherwise the candle will emit an unconstant vibratory flame, which is both prejudicial to the eyes, and insufficient for the distinct illumination of objects.

There are two sorts of tallow-candles; the one dipped, the other moulded: the former are the common candles; the others are the invention of the sieur le Brege at Paris.

As to the method of making candles, in general; After the tallow has been weighed, and mixed in the due proportions, it is cut into very small pieces, that it may melt the sooner; for the tallow in lumps, as it comes from the butcher, would be in danger of burning or turning black, if it were left too long over the fire. Being perfectly melted and skimmed, they pour a certain quantity of water into it, proportionable to the quantity of tallow. This serves to precipitate, to the bottom of the vessel, the impurities of the tallow, which may have escaped the skimmer. No water, however, must be thrown into the tallow designed for the three first dips; because the wick, being still quite dry, would imbibe the water, which makes the candles crackle in burning, and renders them of bad use. The tallow, thus melted, is poured into a tub, through a coarse sieve of horse-hair, to purify it still more, and may be used after having stood three hours. It will continue fit for use 24 hours in summer, and 15 in win- winter. The wicks are made of spun cotton, which the tallow-chandlers buy in skeins, and which they wind up into bottoms or clues. Whence they are cut out, with an instrument contrived on purpose, into pieces of the length of the candle required; then put on the sticks or broaches, or else placed in the moulds, as the candles are intended to be either dipped or moulded.

Wax-candles are made of a cotton or flaxen wick, slightly twisted, and covered with white or yellow wax. Of these, there are several kinds: some of a conical figure, used to illuminate churches, and in processions, funeral ceremonies, &c. (see TAPER); others of a cylindrical form, used on ordinary occasions. The first are either made with a ladle or the hand. 1. To make wax-candles with the ladle. The wicks being prepared, a dozen of them are tied by the neck, at equal distances, round an iron circle, suspended over a large basin of copper tinned, and full of melted wax: a large ladle full of this wax is poured gently on the tops of the wicks one after another, and this operation continued till the candle arrive at its destined bigness; with this precaution, that the three first ladles be poured on at the top of the wick, the fourth at the height of \( \frac{1}{4} \), the fifth at \( \frac{1}{2} \), and the sixth at \( \frac{3}{4} \), in order to give the candle its pyramidal form. Then the candles are taken down, kept warm, and rolled and smoothed upon a walnut-tree table, with a long square instrument of box, smooth at the bottom.

2. As to the manner of making wax-candles by the hand, they begin to soften the wax, by working it several times in hot water, contained in a narrow but deep caldron. A piece of the wax is then taken out, and disposed by little and little, around the wick, which is hung on a hook in the wall, by the extremity opposite to the neck; so that they begin with the big end, diminishing still as they descend towards the neck. In other respects the method is nearly the same as in the former case. However, it must be observed, that, in the former case, water is always used to moisten the several instruments, to prevent the wax from sticking; and in the latter, oil of olives, or lard, for the hands, &c. The cylindrical wax-candles are either made, as the former, with a ladle, or drawn. Wax-candles drawn, are so called, because actually drawn in the manner of wire, by means of two large rollers of wood, turned by a handle, which, turning backwards and forwards several times, pulls the wick through melted wax contained in a brass basin, and at the same time through the holes of an instrument like that used for drawing wire fastened at one side of the basin.

Makers of candles are not to use melting-houses, without due entry thereof at the excise-office, on pain of 100l. and to give notice of making candles to the excise-officer for the duties, and of the number, &c., or shall forfeit 50l. Removing the candles before weighed by the officer, or mixing them with others, is likewise liable to penalties.

Spermaceti Candles. See Spermaceti.

Experiments to determine the real and comparative value of burning Candles of different sorts and sizes.

| Numb.of Weight | candles of one | The time | The time | |----------------|---------------|----------|----------| | | in one candle | that one | will last | | | pound. | candle lasted | 12 hours when candles are at 6d. per dozen, which also shows the proportion of the expense at any price per dozen. |

| Oz. Dr. | Hr. Min. | Hr. Min. | Farthings and 100th parts. | |---------|----------|----------|---------------------------| | Small wick. | 18\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 14 | 3 15 | 59 26 | 4.85 | | Large wick. | 19 | 13\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 2 40 | 57 70 | | 16\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 15\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 2 40 | 44 2 | 6.54 | | 12 | 15\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 3 27 | 41 24 | 6.96 | | 10\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 18 | 3 36 | 38 24 | 7.50 | | 7\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 2 | 4 9 | 32 12 | 8.04 | | 8 | 2 | 4 15 | 34 0 | 8.47 | | 5\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 2 | 5 19 | 30 15 | 9.53 |

Mould-candles.

| Mould-candles | 5\(\frac{1}{2}\) | 2 | 7 20 | 42 39 | 7.87 | |---------------|---------------|----------|----------|----------| | 4 | 4 | 9 | 36 20 | 9.28 |

N. B. The time that one candle lasted was taken from an average of several trials in each size.

Candle is also a term in medicine, and is reckoned among the instruments of surgery. Thus the candela fumalis, or the candela pro fustu odorata, is a mass of an oblong form, consisting of odoriferous powders, mixed up with a third or more of the charcoal of willow or lime tree, and reduced to a proper consistence with a mucilage of gum tragacanth, labdanum, or turpentine. It is intended to excite a grateful smell without any flame, to correct the air, to fortify the brain, and to excite the spirits.

Medicated Candle, the same with Bougie.

Candle. Sale or auction by inch of candle, is when, a small piece of candle being lighted, the bystanders are allowed to bid for the merchandize that is selling; but the moment the candle is out, the commodity is adjudged to the last bidder.

There is also an excommunication by inch of candle; when the sinner is allowed to come to repentance while a candle continues burning; but after it is consumed, he remains excommunicated to all intents and purposes.

Rush-Candles, used in different parts of England, are made of the pith of a sort of rushes, peeled or stripped of the skin, except on one side, and dipped in melted grease.

Candle-Wood, slips of pine about the thickness of a finger, used in New England and other colonies to burn instead of candles, giving a very good light. The French inhabitants of Tortuga use slips of yellow santal-wood for the same purpose and under the same denomination, which yields a clear flame, though of a green colour.

Candleberry Tree, in botany, the English name of the Myrica.