C 52 ] 



If I might judge from the preceding analyfis, 

 there could not be lefs than half a ton of this fait 

 coUedied in the rubbifh which furrounded the fur- 

 nace, and was then removing. Such a quantity, 

 one would apprehend, muft be of confidcrable 

 value; efpecially as it might be eafily cxtradled 

 with very little cxpence; hot water for the folution 

 being always ready on the fpot, and even conftantly 

 flowing to waftc, whenever the engine is at work. 

 Suppoling this fubftancc to be a true and genuine 

 Glauber's fait, I think there may be methods found 

 out for coUefting and increafing it, which would 

 make it an objed: to the proprietors of fteam- 

 engines, well worth their attention. 



Dr. FoTHERGiLL being prefent at the meeting when the 

 above letter was read, at their requeft examined the 

 famples of falts, and fent in the following 



REPORT. 



Gentlemen, 



Agreeable to the Society's requeft, I have examined 

 the fpecimen of the fait which your ingenious correfpon*- 

 dent, Mr. Swayne, obtained from the mortar and brick- 

 work of a coal-engine i and find it to poffefs the following 

 properties :— 



It has a peculiar bitter tafte, like that of Glauber's fait ; 

 like that too, it has hexangular prifmatic cryftals, eafily 

 foluble in water, fufible in the fire, and calcinable in the 

 air. A folution of it does not alter the fyrup of violets, 

 or'tindlure of litmus j — undergoes no precipitation from 



acids 



