180 Conversion of Cannon Balls into Plumbago. 
was observed to be soft, and when cut, presented every ap- 
e of perfect black lead, exactly like that in the New- 
Gaven ball which Capt. Phipps. has examined. He found 
no difficulty in boring into the ball, quite to the —- where 
he found it solid, as it was also in every other part. The 
perforation which he made, was fant ahsipe or conical, 
two inches wide at the outside and tapering to the vertex in 
the centre. He is firmly persuaded that the oysters had 
produced the change, and thinks that there must have been 
oysters adhering to the ball recently found at New-Haven. 
Of this there is no direct nica 3 although it is said there 
were shells in the bank where it was found. Both balls 
were evidently found under circu eeados considerably siza- 
ilar, and carbon might possibly have been afforded to the 
iron, both by the mud and the oysters. The facts are curi- 
ous, and we have thought them worth ‘preserving. 
Captain hippatorine states the following circumstance, 
vii: is not. ye aaa he suggestions made 
Speinip ‘the Americau 
2 ial 
ial ‘slit sass 
ide we ay gg shells adhering firmly to it. On re- 
moving: them, the metal was discovered to be ec 
sound, and no change had occurred similar to that in the 
eannon balls. But it is obvious that this cannon must have 
lain long under the salt water, although it might not have 
been in mud, AO it Was not known whence it was hes ag 
A circumstance werden Susie the leaning: of isc can- 
non, which was very remarkable. _ As one means of detach- 
ing the shells, — was built around the cannon, and it was 
, and ted in sport at the chimney of a common 
as hidiosaacheet ealick: the Governor, with a threat to blow 
the Governor’s chimney. down. At the end of two. hours the 
cannon actually went off. t, and knoe 
chimney down. It would seem that the cannon must have 
been loaded, and probably spiked, by which means and the 
wadding, the powder, although wet, was kept i in its f aeth 
plo 
carried the ball : against the sieteye Itis aie neces- 
eared the cannon ot the ay 
wo one that it fameenrat. 
