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SELECTED ARTICLES. 
County, N. Y., for what is termed " an improvement in the 
manufacture of potash." Strange as it may seem, many well 
meaning and practiced manufacturers were deceived by the 
specious pretensions of the patentee, and actually, for some 
time, pursued the process which he recommended. 
The "improvement" thus proposed is announced in the fol- 
lowing words. " The compound used is salt, lime and lamp 
oil. . First, when beginning to melt, after the salt has done 
rising, it can then be ascertained what quantity of potash you 
are going to have. Suppose one barrel : First, take half a 
bushel of salt, sprinkle half of it over the top of the potash : 
Secondly, take two bushels of slaked lime, add that in the 
same manner, then the remainder of the salt, and when the 
lime has disappeared, then add half a pint of lamp oil. This 
is the quantity used for one barrel ; but it may be varied as 
the nature of the case may require. First, the use of the salt 
is to create a heat, and to purify the potash ; as it is supposed 
to burn up, and add nothing to the quantity, but to the 
quality : Secondly, the lime is supposed to melt and become 
the first rate potash : Thirdly, the oil is to create a blaze to 
consume : Fourthly, these are the contemplated uses of the 
above ingredients used by me."* 
* It need not excite surprise that such nonsense should gain currency 
among ignorant manufacturers, when intelligent and even scientific men, 
often countenance the most absurd pretensions. I once saw the names of 
several respectable gentlemen, and among the rest that of a professor in 
one of our colleges, attached to a certificate in favour of a perpetual mo- 
tion, which the inventor had the folly to exhibit. And, more recently, I 
have observed that a certain " improved compass needle," has received 
the approval of several of our naval officers, and has Deen noticed with 
apparent commendation in England. {See Lond. & Edinb. Phil. Mag. 
&c. May, 1835.) In regard to this " improved needle," I will only add, 
that it is said to have been the means of losing, for a friend of mine, a 
valuable vessel and cargo ; and that the construction of it is false in prin- 
ciple, and its use must be hazardous in practice. Scientific men often do 
themselves great injury and subject those who place confidence in them 
to serious losses by their endorsements of such valueless papers. 
