«o8 Mr. Majfsy on Saltpetre. 
per pound, upon all the faltpetre made in Eng¬ 
land, to give them fuitable encouragement. 
The French are not infenfible of the great 
advantages they derive, from making their own 
faltpetre; and, therefore, pay no fmall attention 
to it. 
The faltpetre makers in Paris are incorporated, 
and have, befides, the privilege of carrying off 
the rubbifh of all the old houfes they fhall think 
proper, without fee or reward; though this in¬ 
deed is but a poor compenfation for the extra¬ 
ordinary expence they are put to in firing, in a 
city where fuel is fo dear. 
In the year 1775, fome defeft being found in 
the faltpetre brought to market, owing more, 
perhaps, to their parfimonious methods of making 
it, than to any thing elfe, the King of France 
immediately ordered a committee, of the Gentle¬ 
men of the Academy, to draw up and publifh an 
account of the feveral methods of making falt¬ 
petre, in all parts of the world, that all his fub- 
jedts might be made equally acquainted with 
them ; and, at the fame time, offered a confi- 
derable reward, to whoever Ihould difcover the 
fecret of nature in the formation of this fait, that 
they might equally avail themfelves of it. 
It has been fhewn, that nitrous earths are not 
uncommon in the walks of nature, and that, by 
the addition of wood-allies to them, they are 
converted into true faltpetre earths. Now it is 
only, 
