19 
iron, and the great expense incident to its preparation, will 
probably prevent its extensive use.f 
Emery is said to have been lately discovered in Schoha¬ 
rie and Washington counties in this state. It ha'k also been 
found in South Carolina. This substance is a compound of 
silica, alumina, and iron. Its hardness is so great, that it is 
used for cutting and polishing metals and precious stones. 
There are several other minerals which derive some of 
their important qualities, from minute quantities of iron. 
These will be noticed hereafter.* 
In the scale of importance Copper holds a station only in¬ 
ferior to iron. Its history is however not so creditable to 
American enterprize. It is found in the states of New- 
York, New-Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia 
and South Carolina, and travellers also state that there are 
rich mines on the south side of Lake Superior, within the 
American territory. In many of these places, the ore is 
if I have understood from Dr. Mitchill, that the prepared 
chromate of lead, sold at g2 per oz. He also mentions in his 
lectures, that a ferrugineous oxide of chrome has been discover¬ 
ed near Philadelphia. 
* The length of the observations on iron has necessarily pre¬ 
cluded the author from noticing some important facts. These 
may in some degree be condensed in a note. Iron sand y a spe¬ 
cies of magnetic iron stone, is said to occur in Virginia and from 
its purity makes excellent bar iron. (Jameson’s Mineralogy, vol. 
2, p. 276.) Ochrey red iron stone , or red ochre ; this is probably 
the mineral mentioned by Dr. Williams as found in Vermont, 
and much used in the manufacture of nails. (History of Ver¬ 
mont, 2d edit. vol. 2, p. 360.) The comfiact brown iron stone is 
said to occur in this state. A mineral, supposed by Mr. Cutbush 
to be the blue iron earth of Werner, is found in New-Jersey. It 
makes a beautiful pigment. (Bruce, No. 2, p. 87.) The man¬ 
ufacture of Prussian blue ought not to pass unnoticed. It is 
produced by a union of the Prussic acid with iron—The former 
substance is the result chiefly of the decomposition of animal sub¬ 
stances, at a high temperature. As a paint the prussiate of iron 
is highly valuable, and certainly can be made with advantage in 
this country. It may be proper to add, that the exertions lately 
made in this and adjacent states, to manufacture iron wire , are 
highly praise-worthy. Its value cannot be fully comprehended 
without recurring to the extent of our domestic manufactures of 
wool. After reviewing this article, I find that hollow ware is 
not explicitly mentioned. This is a very important and exten¬ 
sive branch of workmanship. The American founderies have 
almost destroyed the demands for European castings. 
