383 Bibliography. 



sion of the aim and application of the science of chemistry ; and sev- 

 eral of the remarkable discoveries of the last fifteen years in this man- 

 ufacture, are to be found, either in germ or more distinctly bi'ought out, 

 in certain letters, which, during the year mentioned, he wrote and pro- 

 posed to publish. There was reason to suppose that the effect of his 

 views, if adopted, would have tended to equalize the proportionate pro- 

 ducts of establishments of different sizes, and possessing different natu- 

 ral advantages ; but the interest of the large and favorably situated 

 manufactories was not to encourage this equalization, or, as they thought 

 it, rivalry ; and by temptations of whatever kind, Rogers was induced to 

 give no more than his first three letters to the public. But, a few copies 

 of this work as he prepared it, still exist in manuscript, and one of them 

 is now in my possession. Upon a careful perusal, I cannot but think 

 that the iron-masters overrated the influence which the entire publica- 

 tion would have had ; and Rogers was, perhaps, acute enough to come 

 to the same conclusion. However, it would have been unjust in any 

 treatment of the same subject, to have withheld the honorable mention 

 of himself and his work, which I have thought proper here to make." 



In Vol. xLi, p. 376, we inserted a brief notice of the labors of Mr. 

 Alexander for the diffusion of correct information, both historical and 

 practical, upon the manufacture and uses of iron, and we then gave an 

 outline of his Report to the Governor of Maryland, upon this most 

 important subject. 



The publication named at the head of these remarks, forms a second 

 step in the series of elucidations which we are authorized to expect, and 

 for which Mr. Alexander, (an unpaid laborer in these important re- 

 searches,) will impose upon his country a large debt of gratitude. No 

 person in these states has undertaken such a labor, and all who are able, 

 in consequence either of their scientific or practical knowledge, to con- 

 tribute to the great result, will we trust be forwai'd to sustain an enter- 

 prise of such magnitude, and connected with so widely diversified and 

 momentous interests. We rejoice that the work has fallen into the 

 hands of a gentleman so well qualified and so zealously disposed for 

 its effectual performance. We understand, that in the current season, 

 Mr. Alexander will lay before the Legislature, a statistical account of 

 the manufacture of iron, as it now exists in Maryland ; giving, as nearly 

 as can be ascertained, particulars relating separately to high furnaces, 

 foundery cupolas, and establishments for bar and plate iron ; showing 

 also how many of each are in activity, the fuel and raw material re- 

 quired by each, the number of men employed, the amount expressed 

 in the scale of some unit of calculation of steam and water power, the 

 quantity and value of the products of each, &c. &c. It is extremely 

 desirable to have similar results obtained in all the Northern and East- 



