PAMASCUS SWORD BLADES, 121 



had anticipated, I too haflily and without due confideralion 

 proceeded to harden it by heating and quenching in water; 

 3nd had ihe misforlune to fee it cracking in feven or eight dif- Itcrac'ced la 

 ierent places. I have no doubt this wasoccafioned by the un- ^^ "*'"S' 

 equal expanfion and fubfequent contraclion of the different 

 parts of the mafs, Jn ray next trial I fhall guard againft this 

 accident. Enough however remained found to prove it both ^— but promifei 

 good and beautiful; the edge bears the fever eft trials at the "'^^l* 

 lame time that the whole blade has fufficient tenacity. I have 

 poli filed a part of it, and by applying a weak acid, produced 

 an appearance, which though by no means equal to the beauty 

 of what is called the Daniafcus water, leaves me little reafon The Damafcua 

 to doubt of accompliflung that appearance in my next trial, "^^f"* 

 My intention is to multiply my pieces of metal, to repeat the 

 procefs of tvvifting, and certainly not again to quench in wafer. 

 I (hall take the liberty to tranfmit to you an exact account of 

 ipy next experiment, and if fuccefsful, to accompany it with 

 a fample of the metal formed into a blade of fome kind or an* 

 pther. I am with much refped, ' - " 

 Dear Sir, 



Your obedient fervant, 



J. STOPART. 

 Prand,Jan, 19///, 1804. 



'.., P. S. Why is the appearance produced on Damafcus fteel Inquiries con^ 



by the application of an acid called the water? Is it not dif- """""'S the 

 , 1 r • I • ^ jt 1 1 • t -11/^- , Damafcus watcf 



jerent degrees or oxidation ? * and what is the acid belt fitted upon fteel, 

 to produce this appearance. I had a paper given me fome ten 

 years ago on this fubjed, by a gentleman whofe name I do not 

 know. Unfortunately I have miflaid it. 



In addition to what you have publiflied on the fubject in your 

 valuable Journal, pray furnifii us with any other facts that may 

 have come to'your knowledge fince that period. The fiibjecl; 

 appears to me to be worthy of philofophical refearch, and 

 perhaps of national encouragement. 



* I have always fuppofed fteel to be lefs readily foluble than pure 

 iron; and that the carbon which is feen on the face of the former 

 dpring the procefs of darnatking, defends it from the acid, while the 

 fibres of iron are etched by corrofion fo as \o exhibit the peculiar 

 vaving lines of this operation, N< 



leiUr 



