JAMES MUSPRATT 81 



beginning, on the Clyde. Doubtless, Mus- 

 pratt, as a young man full of activity, 

 intelligence and enterprise, had made himself 

 acquainted with what was going on. He 

 and his partner were making money by their 

 existing business, but could not afford to 

 launch into new and expensive plant; still 

 the process was being studied and watched, 

 and when in the year 1823 the extravagant 

 duty of ^30 per ton was taken off salt, 

 Muspratt saw the chance and seized it. 

 He had in the previous year (182 2) separated 

 from his partner, and came to Liverpool. 

 Mr. Abbott declined to accompany him. 

 Mr. Muspratt perceived that the Mersey with 

 its splendid port, its neighbouring coal fields, 

 and its proximity to the salt district of 

 Cheshire, presented advantages not excelled, 

 if even equalled by theTyne or the Clyde. He 

 appeared to think that an old glass works on 

 a site not altogether the most favourable, 

 could advantageously be converted into a 

 new Chemical works. He was determined 

 to work the Leblanc process, but he did not 

 possess the capital to begin at once to put up 

 the plant for it ; he had therefore to continue the 

 manufacture of prussiate of potash, and devote 

 the profits he made to erecting the necessary 



