13 
43,000 tons of iron.f The value indeed of her manufacto¬ 
ries consist principally in labor. The exquisite state of 
workmanship to which the various forms of iron are brought, 
and the extent of her commerce, places it among the most 
productive branches of national industry. The metal which 
is used in Great Britain in the process of steel making, is 
procured from the district of Roslager in Sweden.f It is ob¬ 
tained from the ore, called magnetic iron stone , which is so 
pure as to yield from 80 to 90 per cent of iron. In due pro¬ 
cess of time, the nation which furnishes this rich material, is 
obliged to become a purchaser of the finished goods. These 
facts deserve the attention of the enterprising in this coun¬ 
try. Sweden is much indebted for the high character, which 
her staple commodity holds in foreign markets, to the care 
that is bestowed in its preparation. The crown, as well as 
the proprietors of iron works, interest themselves in. pre¬ 
serving its reputation.* A subject so intimately connected 
with domestic improvements, certainly deserves the foster¬ 
ing care of government. 
The ores of iron which are found in this country, are for 
the most parts, magnetic iron stone , brown hematite , arid bog 
iron ore.§ The sparry iron stone has also been discovered, 
and used. These different kinds are among the most valu¬ 
able species of the mineral. They all yield an abundant 
per centage of ore, so as in most cases to bring a handsome 
profit to the proprietors. Several local circumstances con¬ 
duce to this end. The cheapness of charcoal, the almost 
inexhaustible supply that our forests promise, the beds of 
coal that are continually discovering, are all arguments in 
favor of our nurturing this domestic manufacture. The on¬ 
ly deficiency appears to originate from the want of work- 
f Oddy’s European Commerce, vol. 2, p. 290. 
X Jameson’s Mineralogy, vol. 2, p. 273. Chaptal calls it Rosal- 
gia. 
* Jameson’s Mineralogy, vol. 2, p. 271. The various regula¬ 
tions adopted by the crown and the iron masters are noticed by 
Oddy, and also in Portia’s travels in Sweden. Vide Pinkerton’s 
Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. 6th. 
§ In noticing various minerals, I have adopted the names, and 
in general the arrangement, used by Jameson in his system of 
oryctogaosiq. 
