302 November 1748. 



their coaft -, though their fituation is more 

 northerly. Lead-ore has been 'difcovered in 

 Penfyhania, but as it is not to be met 

 with in quantity, no body ever attempted to 

 ufe it. Loadjiones of confiderable goodnefs 

 have likev^ife been found ; and I myfelf 

 poffefs feveral pretty pieces of them. 



Iron is dug in fuch great quantities in 

 Penfyhania and in the other American pro- 

 vinces of the Englifi, that they could 

 provide with that commodity not only 

 Englandy but almoft all Europe, and per- 

 haps the greater part of the globe. The 

 ore is here commonly infinitely ealier got 

 in the mines, than our Swedifi ore. For in 

 many places with a pick ax, a crow-foot and 

 a wooden club, it is got with the fame eafe 

 with which a hole can be made in a hard foil : 

 in many places the people know nothing of 

 boring, Ijlafting and firing ; and the ore is 

 likewife very fufible. Of this iron they get 

 fuch quantities, that not only the numerous 

 inhabitants of the colonies themfelves have 

 enough of it, but great quantities, are fent 

 to the Weft Indies, and they have lately be- 

 gan even to trade to Europe with it. This 

 iron is reckoned better for fhip building 

 than our Swedijh iron, or any other, becaufe 

 fait water does not corrode it fo much. 

 Some people believed that without reckon- 



iiig 



