JOURNEY THROUGH JERSEY 27 



America unless first prepared in sheets under the ham- 

 mer for the use of the coppersmith. In former years 

 it had been necessary for such establishments to send 

 to England either the ore, (of no great value), or the 

 unrefined copper. On this basis the dealer gained very 

 much at the expense of the mine-owner. So rolling 

 machines of a nice construction were brought from 

 England, of a sort which could not be cast and fitted 

 in America. Such an apparatus (two smooth iron 

 rollers working horizontally) made it possible to get 

 out the copper with more convenience and expedition 

 than under the hammer. In a short time nearly four 

 tons of sheet copper were got ready for market, as 

 fine as any ever brought from Europe ; and by the use 

 of the roller it was found possible to prepare 2.^/2 tons 

 a week. The first specimens of this Jersey-made sheet- 

 copper were brought to Philadelphia precisely, at the 

 time when the Congress had passed the non-importa- 

 tion act of 1775 ; and there was so much pleasure taken 

 in this successful and really fine product of the country 

 that without any hesitation a price was offered 6d. in 

 the pound higher than for English sheets, quoted at 35. 

 8d. to 45. Pensylvan. Current. But the war coming 

 on, the work once more came to a stand ; the workmen 

 were scattered, and finally the establishment was burnt 

 by American troops, merely to get nails from the ashes. 

 The mine has since gone to ruin ; we made a search 

 for ore in the rubbish, but could find only a few insig- 

 nificant pieces. 



On the same mountain, near Pluckamin, other mine- 

 prospectors at one time sunk a shaft, and followed up 

 a good vein of grey copper ore. But water swamped 

 the work, which was given over because there was no 

 inclination to install hydraulic machinery. 



