68 Phosphate Rocks of South Carolina, 
On the Doctor’s return from the Ashley (with Mr. 
Lucas) we had the pleasure of placing the book in 
his hands, and directing his attention to the article. 
Several persons were present at the time, and all 
expressed their surprise. 
The thickness of the beds described, the formation 
of strata and the percentage of Phosphate of Lime, 
were almost exactly those of the Ashley Beds; and 
it was remarked, that if the war had not occurred, 
which cut us off from all English publications, the 
value of the Ashley Beds would have been known to 
Carolinians in 1864. The Hon. C. G. Memminger, 
was the first person to whom we applied for aid to 
develop this additional source of wealth. At first 
he did not seem to appreciate its value, but when we 
exhibited our own publications, extending through 
many years, and also the work of Professor Ansted, 
of England, which had been received only the day 
before, he said, on taking leave of us: “ Zhat book of 
Ansted's ts of the first importance in enabling you 
(Dr. Pratt and the writer) 40 establish the worth of your 
discovery; be careful of it.” 
That book did ultimately convince many of the 
value of this discovery, and aided us greatly in obtain- 
ing the necessary means to develop the Phosphate 
deposits of South Carolina. 
For several months after the discovery, we were 
engaged in making explorations and arranging future 
work, and had lost sight of or had forgotten to en- 
quire concerning the specimen first analyzed by Dr. 
Pratt ; and it was not until sometime in the early part 
