During the early 1830's there were several firing mechanisms for artillery ignition.

  Priming Powder.  A fine powder would be poured into the touch hole, then ignited via slow match.   With dry powder, this was highly reliable means of firing artillery, but there were drawbacks that involved maintaining an open flame for lighting the slow match and the pouring of powder into touch hole.

  Quill Fuse.  This consisted of a assembled fuse made from a goose quill and then later, a paper tube filled with priming powder that would be ignited by a slow match.  These were reliable as long as the quills were kept dry.  Yet again, the drawback involved maintaining an open flame for lighting the slow match.

Maintaining an open flame or ember on the gundeck, especially during battle, had its own inherent dangers that were an acceptable risk.

  Friction Primer.  A copper tube was filled with potassium chlorate and ignited via a priming wire that was pulled briskley at a distance using a cord.  When the cord was pulled, the rough priming wire would create the friction required to ignite the potassium chlorate and thus fire the powder charge.  This was reliable but not an infallible means of firing black powder cannons and the drawbacks were minimal. 

Today mercury fulminate is a more common ingredient used in friction primers.

  Gunlock.  Used priming powder that was ignited by flint in a flintlock mechanism not unlike a flintlock musket.  Although an open flame or burning ember wasn't required to fire a cannon using this method, the flintlock was subject to misfires caused by fowling and loose or dull flint.

Those interested in making Quill Fuse for their artillery, I've provided a vdo showing how to make your own quill fuses or primers for 18th century ordnance.

19th Century Artillery, Fuse & Slow Match