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XV. An account ‘of the discovery of a mass of native iron in Brasil. 
By A. F. Mornay, Esq. in a letter to W. H. Wollaston, 
M. D. Sec. R. S. 
Read May 16, 1816. 
Dear Sir, 
N ear five years have elapsed since I presented you with a 
specimen of native iron from Brasil. Particular reasons 
prevented me at that time, from making it more generally 
known, and since then my private affairs have not allowed 
me a moment to look into my notes, and give you this short 
account of the block from which }mur specimen was cut, 
although I have so often promised it you. 
In the autumn of 1810, 1 discovered near Bahia, a spring of 
water strongly impregnated with iron, which was esteemed 
a most valuable acquisition in that country. This circum- 
stance called to the recollection of the government, that, 
about 30 years before, information had been received of the 
discovery of certain thermal springs, situated at the distance 
of 40 or 50 leagues to the northward ; and as his Royal High- 
ness the Prince Regent of Portugal had enquired, during his 
stay at Bahia, whether the country possessed any thermal 
waters, I was requested to visit the spot where they were 
supposed to exist. The Governor General offered me every 
facility and protection, and in order to induce me to under- 
take the journey, some of my friends described to me an 
