[ '38 ] 



Julphuric acid ftiould be found in fuch abundance in turf afhes 

 procured at a great diflance from the fea ; but my admiration 

 cncreafes when I alfo take into confideration the very great folu- 

 bility of this compound ; and (if we allow the exiftence of falts 

 in vegetable matter previous to combuftion) the length of time 

 it muft have remained without being operated on, in a fubftance 



-eternally pervaded by water. 



That fuch a fait may be thus procured has not, to my very 

 limited knowledge, hitherto been noticed by any writer. Dodlor 

 Darwin mentions the alhes of peat, and denies indeed their con- 

 taining alkali ; and Mr. Jamefon, who gives an analyfis of 

 unbnrned peat, did not produce ftilphat oi foda, though he ob- 

 tained Julphat of magnefta, of which fome fuppofe the former a 

 •modification. 



I DID intend to have purfued the inveftigation of this fubjeet 

 at future leifure, but am very happy to find it is already in 

 much abkr hands ; I have therefore only to entreat your indul- 

 gence for trefpailng thus far on your time, and to afTure you 



that I am, 



My dear Sir, 



Your faithful humble fervant, 



TULLAMORE. 



Blachrocl:, Oclcher i6t/j, 1799. 



P. S, I was induced, fince I wrote the above, to try the afhes 

 of a ditTerent though ncigbouring bog which were of a deep 



red 



