Extraordinary Colle&ion of Saltpetre in France... «> 
ufual occupations, and to put them under 
intelligent and fkilful matters; thefe alfo 
were to be inftructed by artifts fill more 
experienced, who would throw a light 
upon the practical part, rectify, fimpli- 
fy, and intirely change it, in certain 
cafes, by taking adyantage of the ac- 
quired and accurate Knowledge of the 
firft men of the kind: in fhort, it was 
neceflary, that all fhould be conitantly 
inftrufied, moved to action, encouraged, 
and fuftained, by a powerful govern- 
ment, which gave every proof of being 
devoted to the fervice of its country, and 
was endowed with found judgment and 
energetic will. But, if I may be al- 
lowed the-expreflion, it was neceflary to 
give impulfe to a whole nation, when 
the bufinefs was brought forward, of ex- 
tracting every where the faltpetre earth 
contained in the French foil. This art 
was, in fact, an object more confined ; 
it was almoft generally unknown. Pri- 
vate intereft was alarmed at feeing it fet 
on foot; and ftill more numerous preju- 
dices produced a variety of obttacles. 
Men could not be perfuaded that perfons 
fo untaught, and at that time perfect 
{trangers to the bufinefs, could all at 
once engage in it with fuccefs; they 
could not believe that France was fo rich 
in that precious commodity, which was 
never known to have been extraéted in 
fufficient quantity for ordinary ufes ; and 
of which a full fupply had only been ob- 
tained, by means of what was brought 
from India. 
<< In the mean time, at the invitation 
of the National Convention, proclaimed 
by a decree of the 14th of Frimaire, 
en, 2, the citizens gave themfelves up to 
the making of faltpetre. The number of 
buildings ereéted in the Republic, on 
this grand occafion, amounted rapidly to 
6000. Neceflary inftructions were every 
where diftributed by order of government. 
France was divided into large’ diftricts, 
each of which was continually furveyed, 
by an infpeStor fkilled in arts and {ci- 
ences. Under each infpector, in every 
department, was placed a former Direc- 
tor of the National. Adminiftration of 
Saltpetre Works; who appointed in 
each diltri&t, a citizen fufficiently intel- 
ligent to prefide over the formation of the 
offices, and to regulate the works; and 
thus was activity eftablifhed in every 
place at once. 
On the other hand, a fummons was 
iffued, for every diftrigt.to fend two ro- 
buft and intelligent cannoniers to Paris, 
fo recciye sheir inftructions from the moft 
193, 
fkilful perfons * ; who were to explain to 
them the art of preparing faltpetre—of- 
refining it, and of making gunpowder ; 
and to fome of them, the mode of cafting 
cannon. Thefe pupils were then fent 
back into the different ettablifhmenrts, ac- 
cording to their capacities, to affift in 
the works. Government kept up an ac- 
tive correfpondence with all its agents; 
it fupplied them occafionally with every, 
neceffary, and every where made eafy 
the executive part. It was known, that 
every diftrict could eafily furnifh a thou- 
fand weight of faltpetre every decade, 
and orders were given for that quantity ; 
places were pointed out where to fend it 
to; the means of conveying it were fixed 
upon; and frequent accounts were ren- 
dered of every operation. In fhort, fo 
much care produced the defired effeéts ; 
more than fixteen millions of pounds of 
rough faltpetre were colleéted in one 
year t; and the working of it up, al- 
though recalled in the following year, to 
the laws formerly enacted, fill yielded 
nearly five millions and a half of this fa- 
line fubftance. 
«« But thus filling the magazines was 
not fufficient, it was neceflary to refine it 
for making powder ;_ the former mode was 
too tedious, too embarrafling, in a word, 
was impracticable, confidering the ur- 
gent neceflity for powder. A new and 
more advantageous proce{s was propofed 
by M.Carny, which when properly 
executed, required lefs time, confumes 
lefs fuel, difpofes the falt petre to dry 
more readily, demands lefs extent of 
ground and buildings, and confequently 
occafions lefs lofs of faltpetre. 

* There were fent to Paris, in confequence 
of this order, about 1,100 men, to whom 
Citizens Guy Ton, Fourcroy, DuFroure 
Ny, BerTHoLeT, Carny, PLuyINET, 
MonGe, HassENFRATZ, and PERRIER, 
gave initructive leétures, on the fabrication 
of faltpetre and cannon. This courfe com- 
menced on the 1{t Ventofe, an. 2. and the 
fummary of each lefture was formed into a 
little work, and printed by order of the Com- 
mittee cf Public Safety. This Committee 
alfo gave charge to Citizen Moner, to draw 
up a complete defcription of the procefs for 
making cannon; in confequence of which, 
he publifhed a moft valuable work upon 
that fubject, in large 4to. with a number 
of plates. 
+ The fumming up of the decadary ac- 
counts, addrefled ofmcially to government, 
announce a prodnétion of 16,754,039lbs of - 
faltpetre, from the 14th Frimaire, an. 2. ta 
the fame’ dats,’ an. 3. 
Ce 2 
s Tn 
