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  1. Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
  2. Path: sparky!uunet!europa.asd.contel.com!paladin.american.edu!auvm!HUSC.BITNET!JACKSON1
  3. X-Envelope-to: C18-L@PSUVM.BITNET
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  5. Message-ID: <01GSKTOTBCB68WXU0E@HUSC3.HARVARD.EDU>
  6. Newsgroups: bit.listserv.c18-l
  7. Date:         Mon, 21 Dec 1992 12:50:01 -0500
  8. Sender:       18th Century Interdisciplinary Discussion <C18-L@PSUVM.BITNET>
  9. From:         JACKSON1@HUSC.BITNET
  10. Subject: Re: "fire a train"?
  11. Lines: 12
  12.  
  13. Kyle: so far as I can tell, the phrase "fire a train" means to light a
  14. bomb by means of a trail (or train) of gunpowder. The term certainly
  15. had currency in the 1790s and I believe that Joseph Priestley wrote
  16. that the Government's refusal to repeal the Test and Corporation Acts
  17. had "lit a train around the House of Commons" the consequences of which
  18. he would not be answerable for. Sorry I don't have the reference handy !
  19. Good luck.
  20.  
  21. Leon Jackson
  22. Harvard University
  23.  
  24. Internet: jackson1@husc
  25.