Pevfyfoania, Philadelphia. 237 



tants of the colonies themfelves have enough of 

 it, but great quantities are fent to the Weft Indies, 

 and they have lately began even to trade to - 

 rope with it. This iron is reckoned better for 

 (hip building than our Swedifo iron, or any other, 

 becaufe fait water does not corrode it fo much. 

 Some people believed, that, without reckoning 

 the freight, they could fell their iron in England 

 at a lower rate than any other nation $ efpecially 

 when the country becomes better peopled, and 

 labour cheaper. 



THE mountain fax, * or that kind of ftonc, 

 which Bifliop Rrowallius calls Amiantus fibris fe- 

 parabilibus molliufculis, in his lectures on minera- 

 logy, which were publifhed in 1739, or the 

 amiant with foft fibres, which can eafily be fepa- 

 rated, is found abundantly in Penjylvania. Some 

 pieces are very foft, others pretty tough : Mr, 

 Franklin told me, that, twenty and ibme odd 

 years ago, when he made a voyage to England, 

 he had a little purfe with him, made of the 

 mountain flax of this country, which he pre- 

 fented to Sir Ham Shane. I have likewife feen 

 paper made of this ftone ; and I have likewiie 

 received fome fmall pieces of it, which I keep in 

 my cabinet. Mr. Franklin had been told by 

 others, that, on exppfing this mountain rlax to 

 the open air in winter, and leaving it in the 

 cold and wet, it would grow together/ and more 



* Amiantus (A/leftus) fib'rofus, fibris feparatulibus Rexili'bas t;- 

 nacibus, Linn. Syll. nat. p. 5.-. 



Amiantus fibris mollibus paralleiis facile fcpurabliibus, //<=."/. 

 ii/Iin. 140. 



Mou ntahr flax, Lininn ;.v.:v/ ..7 .'/*,?;, F*rjL- f. F. 



ii: 



