METALS AND MINERALS. 21 



heating in the fire and boreing holes in wood. This 

 circumstance ought to excite the polished European 

 to contemplate with admiration and gratitude the 

 wisdom and goodness oFthe Creator in furnishing us 

 with an article so essential to the welfare of the hu- 

 man species. 



Iron is found in most parts of the world ; but 

 Russia and Sweden produce the greatest quantities. 

 The mines of those countries are almost inexhaus- 

 tible ; and it must be considered as an unequivocal 

 proof of a wise and benevolent design in the great 

 plan of the Author of nature, that irou, which is so 

 indespcnsibly necessary to mankind, is found in such 

 great plenty in so many different countries ; that 

 while it is the most useful it is also the cheapest of 

 metals. Perhaps Creation scarcely affords a more, 

 conspicuous and striking instance of the beneficial 

 and harmonious adaptation of tilings in the universal 

 system. . 



As I cannot leave your mind impressed with a 

 subject more worthy of attention, or better adapted 

 to excite reflection, I will give you a few moments 

 of leisure, and we will afterwards finish our survey 

 of the mineral kingdom. 



Most affectionately I am, 



Dear Sir, your's, &c. 



J. B. 



LETTER VL 



"The unfruitful rock itself, impregn'd by light, 

 In dark retirement forms the lucid stone!" 



THOMSON. 



DEAR SIR, 



IT OtJ will, after these observations on the nature 

 and utility of iron, naturally be desirous of knowing 

 the origin of steel, which gives perfection to every 

 kind oledge-tools, and is also used in various other 

 manufactures. The information requisite on this sub- 

 ject may be easily given. Steel is nothing but iron 



heated with red-hot charcoal until it acquires that 



