[ 57 ] 
4v* 
V * ' 4 
common iron ore, but, upon farther experience, and 
more acquaintance with this fand, the workman has 
fhortened the operation from five hours down to three i 
if by any means it might be reduced to the fame time 
with pigg iron, it would be a moft ufeful improve*- 
ment. If you can afford any directions to haften the 
operation, I (hould be greatly obliged for any inftruc- 
tions. 
There is fo much of this fand in America, that I 
am apt to think, that there is more iron ore in this 
form of fand than in mines. 
I have writen an effay upon the futjeCt, which I 
hope Mr. Collinfon will let you fee, as I hope to fee 
what you are about to publifh. My fon has a fteel 
furnace, which was ereCted feveral years before the 
aCtof parliament prohibiting them in the plantations : 
he has converted fome of the fand iron into fteel, of 
which I fend you a fample ; as alfb a fample of the 
iron. As my fon had noinftruCtions for making fteel, 
we were forced to hammer out the fkill by various 
trials as we could; fo conclude that he is ftill imperfeCt, 
and wants your help and direction to bring it to per- 
fection, in which art I underftand that you are a per- 
fect matter, and withall kind enough to offer your 
affiftance; for which I am very thankful, and look 
upon it as an aditional favour, if you will be pleafed 
to indulge me with the benefit of your correfpondence, 
for I live in a corner of the world where fuch infor- 
mation as, I truft, you are able to furnifh, will be high- 
ly beneficial. Previous to my attempt of making 
iron from fand, I propofed my projeCt to thofe who 
were the moft fkillful in thofe affairs, but met with 
nothing but what was difcouraging ; yet after all, 
Vol. LIII, I had 
MW 
H) 
