ECONOllilCA'L PRfeciSS FOR EVAPORATION. 15^ 



for their rank, knowledge, and situations; by ministers, 

 peers, members of parliament, &c. Several learned socie- 

 ties, artists, and government contractors, whom the minis- 

 ter was desirous of exciting to carry it into execution, were 

 acquainted with it. It is now nine years since the raanu- Papers stolea 

 scripts, which contained a full account of the invention, ^^J^^^^*^^®"** 

 with various other matters, and which were in the hands 

 and under the care of ^pyeroroent, were taken away by 

 some treachery, respecting which there ave only conjec- 

 tures. 



About that time, s.r, I had the honour to request you to Farther proof*, 

 assist me with your knowledge and distinguished talents, io 

 rendering them into the English language, with which I 

 have but an imperfect acquaintance; and to show you au- 

 thentic certificates of the experiments, that I had made 

 several years before with an apparatus, to which I gave the 

 lUrni^ of a pofi/chrest machiney on account of the variety anrf Polychrest raa- 

 muitiplicity of its applications. I appeal lo your candour *^^"^®* 

 and impartiality, to confirm the proposal I had the honour 

 to m^ike you on this subject, ai[»d the production of the* cer^ Vtnalfawd.-' ♦ 

 tificates, which ar^ still in my possession, if you still re- 

 member the clrcuuistaiice ; which indeed was the occasion 

 of my first bavins^ the honour of beinor known to you. 



The apparatus 1 have mentioned, for which 1 obtained Caveats at the 

 several caveats in the patent office more than twelve years P'^'*^"^ otiice. 

 ago, was ordered by the nobleman who was then first Lord 

 of the Admiralty, whose kindness and encouragement have 

 supported me, and whose protection I have still the honour 

 to enjoy. His zeal for the good of the public, and for the 

 sciences, induced him to cause the apparartus to be con- An apparaftJi" 

 strueted at his own expense, under my direction^ as appears constructed 

 by the certificate of the experiuients made in his presence, {^ 1798. 

 feigned by himself some time after, and dated in 1798, 

 which 1 have in my possession. After such authentic offi- 

 cial testimonies, I presume 1 need not appeal to several 

 others, which, though highly respectable in themselves, 

 would add nothing to the validity of the proofs already ad- 

 duced. All these person*^, of whom 1 could give you a list, 

 are still living; and as most of them are known to you, they 

 would confirm, if requisite, the publicity, which 1 beg the 



