Spontaneous Inflammation , 91 
lighter ; so that it could not have been less than a month 
upon its passage. 
When examined, it was found to be so much soaked 
with oil, resembling in smell rape-oil, that, instead of 
ISO lb. the net weight of the yarn, it weighed 1501b. or 
thereabouts ; but no probable guess * could be made of 
the time when the accident, by which the oil had fallen 
upon it, happened. 
It was placed in a warehouse at Spalding, where it 
remained about three weeks ; during the whole of which 
time, a journeyman of the shop it belonged to, and an 
apprentice, passed every night close to it in their way to 
bed, but they never observed any smell issuing from it, 
though they once, during the latter part of the time, as- 
sisted in removing it to some distance from the place in 
which it had stood. 
On Saturday, the 16th of August, the day after it had 
been removed, a smell of fire was observed in the house, 
but it does not seem probable that this smell issued from 
the bale, as the journeyman and apprentice passed it at 
night as usual, and on the next night also ; when, on ac- 
count of the day being Sunday, the warehouse had re- 
mained shut the whole day without any unusual smell 
being observed, though on Sunday night the journeyman 
accidentally stumbled upon it. 
At three o’clock the next morning, however, both were 
* This is I believe a word which the English consider as characteristic of the 
American phraseology, and which has consequently been the subject of their 
ill timed ridicule. They will however now scarcely dispute its propriety, since 
it is employed, not only by the present author, but by one of their countrymen 
who is regarded amongst the chastest writers of their language ; I mean the ce» 
lebrated Sir William Jones. — See Asiatic Researches, vol. 1. p. 4. Eng. edit.4to.— 
If we may use a vulgar expression, we may say, “ An Englishman may steal a 
liorse, whilst an Irishman dare not look over the hedge.” After the severe, but 
well merited remarks on this subject, which lately appeared in the Port Folio, 
it is to be hoped the English will admit their language to be employed with 
as much propriety in America, as amongst themselves. Ed. 
