
          regards the Causes & substances tending to produce
 oxidation in Iron, by Mallet & others, that I
 see no open road before me. I could easily
 make a large report upon all which has been
 done already, but I suppose we must strike
 out a new line of investigation. Major Bowman
 is full of the idea that the Cause of the non oxidation
 of some iron compared with others lies in
 the nature of the ore, & by finding which was a
 slow oxidizing iron & then examining the ore the
 question would be solved. But it appears to
 me that is all wrong, that it is the mode of
 producing the iron which is the important matter
 & that the cause of rapid oxidation is the presence of
  less positive bodies in the manufactured metal,
 & this is just what Mallet has gone over. As
 it was Major B. who drew up the Circular
 his idea almost authorizes a line of investigation 
 which would (appears to me to) be useless. Can
 you give me an idea upon this [Ci???nerian]
 subject. I have the specimens since June
 but the weather has been so hot this summer
 & we have been so busy I have as yet had
 little time to look the matter up thoroughly
        