American Cinnabar and Native Lead. 171 
Native Lead. 
As the existence of native lead has been so much dis- 
puted, I will give you a full history of the circumstances that 
led to the discovery, and the evidence of its existence. 
In the summer of 1812, a gentleman of unquestionable 
veracity, by the name of Johnston, a clerk in the store 
kept by the United States, for the purpose of Indian trade, 
at Fort Wayne, but not at all acquainted with mineralogy, 
told me that he, in company with five or six persons more, 
had found in the bed of the Anglaize river, near its mouth, 
a stone of uncommon appearance, and great specific ¢: vi- 
ty, and weighing thirteen pounds. ‘The description which 
he gave of its colour and of the form of crystals, correspon- 
ded with galena; but he stated that there were some soft 
metallic spots, that might be cut with the same ease as lead, 
and had the appearance of that metal; that the stone was 
broken, and he and several others of the party took pieces 
of it. I desired to see the piece which he had; but upo 
search, found it to have been misplaced. About one year 
t 
[tried its fusibility by the blow pipe, and submitted it to 
tests. > 
have sought in vain near the spot where it has been 
represented that this specimen was found to find more. 1 
think it is probable there is a large mass farther up the river, 
that the piece found, was frozen into the ice, and floated 
down with it to the place where the ice thawed. © é 
In conformity to your request, I have given you as full 
an account as in my power, of the sulphuret of Mercury 
and native lead. 
