RETURN FROM PITTSBURG 347 



how all this material through unknown ages, in a 

 warm climate and a moist soil, has been quietly ex- 

 posed to the most complete decay, to such a one cer- 

 tainly the development or production of an indescrib- 

 able quantity of stable lixivial salt should be no matter 

 of astonishment, provided the salt can be produced in 

 this way. But should it be admitted, (and should the 

 later discoveries continue to offer confirmation), that 

 atmospheric air itself stands in the closest relation to 

 the acid of saltpetre, these rich saltpetre-mines are at 

 once made explicable. 



The zeal of the Americans in the preparation of 

 saltpetre for the needs of the war was at its height 

 during the first years of the war, before the French 

 fleet had made navigation and imports somewhat 

 easier. That before that time much saltpetre was 

 really made in the manner above-described, is quite 

 to be believed, but there were sufficient reasons why 

 afterwards the fabrication should have in great part 

 come to a stand. The workmen for this business were 

 dear, as for all mine-work, and during the war scarcer. 

 For although not everybody joined the army, and 

 many sat in comfortable and careless ease at home, 



it 



they were nevertheless unwilling to go into the mount- 

 ains to dig and boil saltpetre. And so the Congress 

 could never obtain it in sufficient quantity for making 

 the powder needed by its troops ; but so as not to let 

 the spirit of the people sink, casks were often filled 

 with black sand and despatched about the country and 

 to the artillery. The saltpetre prepared in the country 

 reached a high price ; and later, under the protection 

 of the French flag, saltpetre as well as powder could 

 be brought to America cheaper than it could be made 



