Conversion of Cannon Balls into Plumbago. 179 
lus’ Py See ee 
ty: wr rubbed fee the ee it gives the same streak 
on paper, and when rubbed on leather or on cast iron, it 
produces the same lustre, and it polishes and sharpens steel 
instruments just like | wid obi No one could by the exe 
distinguish them. The magnet, however, takes u 
substance readily, while it produces no effect on black ie 
This substance is not altered by the blowpipe, only it grows 
firmer. The cannon ball, by lying three days in a dry room, 
where there is a fire, has grown less soft, but retains-all the 
other properties. Where it has been cut or powdered, it 
vusts, superficially, in the course of a day or two. 
Is the change in this ball to be attributed to a substitu- 
tion of pe derived from ihe ethepemt te the salt 
carbon eae paste i 
ca “the iron? The eee ly 
luble. Ania diluted aipharic acid--hy drogen.t is evolved, ping a 
black insoluble matter remains, which appears to be carbon. 
Since this occurrence has been talked of in New-Haven, 
an old gentleman, resident here, mentions a similar instance, 
as having occurred within his observation; acannon ball, Jong © 
immersed i m salt water, and covered with shells, was found 
dergone a e are not aware that 
ihe soroiapeabt is hast remtianest lems : 
evo-Haven, Oct. 14, é 
P. S. Since the, a em notice was writtots Saas oh 
tained from Capt. Daniel Goffe Phipps, of New. Mon. the 
person alluded to above, the following statement. 
Sap. Phipps was in Georgia about tw mn! years ago, oF 
ina boat, at a place called Rumley Marsh, visited 
ihe wreck of a vessel, which lay. principally in the mud, but 
with the ribs protruding into view. From this wreck he 
took'a very large bunch of oysters, which adhered to a six 
pound cannon: bal, and this lay on what had probably been 
the ballast of the vessel; it was not only under water, but 
probably buried in mud, and the vessel’s wreck appeared as 
if it had been there many years. The oysters were knock- 
ed off, and the ball, by rolling about the deck of the vessel 
to which Capt. Palas belonged, bad become smooth and 
clean. The oysters had adhered to the ball at only one 
place ; this place which was about two inches in diameter, 
