86 Description of a Mach ine 
quiry, but, I believe, without effect. My attention lias 
been again called to this subject,, by lately stripping off a 
small and single fibre from a plant, and twisting it once 
or twice into a small twine, which I could not with all 
my force break, otherwise than by repeatedly bending, so 
as gradually to destroy the cohesion of the parts ; even 
the single fibre you Id, I believe, have supported a weight 
of some pounds. Under the impression I have, I con- 
sider the medium of the Emporium the best, by which 
X might hope to have a full and fair experiment made 
upon a point so truly important, and X have only to re- 
quest the favour of any one who pursues it, to let me 
know the result, that X may communicate it to the public* 
Before X conclude, X shall only add, that the pith of 
this plant, which is very considerable, is, without excep- 
tion, one of the most combustible materials X know. A 
piece of seven or eight inches in length, from one of the 
branches, perfectly dry, catches fire like tinder, and 
burns down in less than a minute. Whether experiment 
may show it to be useful as a match, in blasting rocks, 
instead of the present kind employed, X know not; proba- 
by we may find it useful in this, as well -as in other 
pursuits. 
John Redman Cqxe* 
Philadelphia , October 5, 1818. 
MO. 5. 
Description of a Mew Machine for liaising Water to 
any height . By X. B. 
(With an engraving.) 
Baltimore , August 25, 1818. 
<g IR ™Xf you think the machine, of which X send you the 
description and sketch, deserving any merit on account of 
