( f 44 ) 
VII 1. An Account of the making Fitch, Tar^ and Oil out of 
a hlackifh Stone in Shropftiire, communicated hy Mr. 
Martin Ele the Inventor of it. 
IN Erofely^ Bently^ Fttchford, and other phces adjacent in 
Shropjlnre, there lies over moft of the Coal-pits or Mines, 
a Stratum or Layer of a Blackifti Rock, or Stone of tome 
thicknefs which i$ Porous^ and contains in it great quanti- 
ties of Bituminous Matter. 
This Stone being brought to the Workhoufe is ground 
fmall by Horfe Mills, fuch as are utd for grinding Flints 
fo make Glafs of; the Powder is thrown into g eat Coppers 
of Water, where by boyling, the Bituminous Matter is fe- 
parated from the Stony or gritty^ this laff Hnking to the bot- 
tom, the other fwimming at top of the Water. 
This Bituminous Subftance being gathered together and 
evaporated, comes to the Confiftence ot Pitchy and with the 
help of an Oil diftilled from the fame Stone, and mix'd with 
the Pitch comes to be thinner or like Tarr, the Ufts of both 
which Materials either for Shipping or otherwife , thefe fub- 
ifances are laid to fupply, nay even go beyond. And this has 
been tried on feveral Boats this Three or FourYears paO^and 
does not crack as the ordinary Pitch or Tarr^ but always 
keeps black and fofc , and therefore is propofed to hinder the 
Worm from getting into the Ships pitched with it. 
There is likewife Diftilled from this Stone, an Oil which 
may be ufed for Oil of Petre, or Tupentine, and has been 
tried by divers Perfons in Aches or Pains. 
The whole will be better conceived by the following Fi- 
gure 4. Where 
J. A. Reprefents the River Sever?j^. 
B E. The Hills or Rocks where are the Coal-pits or Mines. 
C.C.C. The Pits from whence thofe Stones are taken. 
jD. The Store-houfe whither they are brought. 
E» E. E, Are 5 Horfe- Mills for grinding them to Powder. 
ffffffffffff Coppers wherein the Bitumi- 
nous Matter is feparated from the ftony or gritty by being 
boiled in them. 
a The Still-houfe for the Diftilling the Oil. 
H. H. H. The road from the Coal-pits to the Severn. 
I A well of Water tofupply the Coppers. 
~ IX. Account 
