Philada. April 3d. 1776 Dear Sir,

I should have gratified my self in corresponding with you on the subject of saltpetre making, but that I have always been uncertain whether my Letters would reach you. But as you have now got the works in a good way, I may expect this will find you at General Court; I am exceeding happy to find your great success, & have laboured abundantly to promote the same in all the Colonies. I trust my labours have not been in vain. I have lately caused your method to be reprinted & have sent it to all the Colonies where I supposed it was not known, & procured a great number of Copies to send to private persons, as I made an Introduction I send you one for your inspection. I have been all winter sending to particular persons other methods which I was possessed of, & I delayed a republication of yours in order to have one matter explained. I wrote to somebody our way to enquire of you but have had no answer. It is this vizt. all earth that contains Saltpetre, more or less contains marine salts; all methods of making Saltpetre beside yours take notice of the method of seperating it; if the fermentation occasioned by mixing the lyes produces this effect, I wish it had been mentioned; in yr. first letter to me you mention the using allum to promote the refining, but you do not mention it in your proposed process; in short Sr. I republished it upon the credit of its great Success presuming the marine salt would seperate though you do not say how; I wish to know of you what is the true proof that there is no marine salt adhering to the petre. If it deflagrates without crackling, is that a sure sign? Suppose your Ashes lye is made with a portion of Stone or other lime, will it answer? It is said that some have substituted lime water intirely, & that some have put Stone lime into the nitrous lye to good effect. This may be advantagious where lime is more plenty than ashes. For the good of the Common Cause I wish to have a particular answer to these querys.

I think my Freind it must be matter of great pleasure to us (who had so hard work to set this manufacture a going in the begginning of it, in our Colony) to observe our prodigous success. I reflect upon my labours with great pleasure satisfaction, & the world knows your merit.

I hope these will find you in health & happiness. I doubt not you’ll use your endeavour to have the saltpetre manufacture so established as that we may never more be disposed to import gunpowder.

190

Pray write me what Success there is in working nitre beds or Walls. Some judgment should be formed of the time they take to impregnate.

I hope to hear soon from you. Mean while I am yr freind & Servt.,

R. T. Paine

RC (William Whiting Collection, MHS) ; internal address: “Dr. Whiting.”