Philada. April 4th. 1776 1

Circular

Gentlemen, The Congress taking into Consideration the urgent importance to the safety, freedom & wealth of the united Colonies, that the manufacture of Saltpetre and gunpowder should be established in all of them, in addition to their former resolves on that subject, have passed those herewith inclosed, & appointed the Committee therein mentioned: in persuance of this trust the Committee transmitt you the resolves, & being deeply impressed with their importance to our common Cause, think themselves in duty bound to urge upon you the immediate & vigorous execution of them.

The erecting public works as mentioned in the resolves will be the first step to promote this useful business; if prosecuted with skill & diligence it will ensure the making saltpetre in large quantities & will also afford the best method for suitable persons to learn the process & from thence be sent abroad to teach those who have not opportunity of learning from these public works: for it is thought an object of the greatest concern that private families should be induced to make it; the inconsiderable expence attending the making it in Families, when the method is once understood, & the quantities that each family may make, should remove all Objections to their putting it in immediate practice.

When we consider the great consumption of saltpetre, used as medicine, in preparing meat, & in gunpowder, even in times of peace it should seem a sufficient inducement to private families to learn & practise this Art; but most of all when so large quantities are wanted for our necessary defence, & when it will in a great measure supply the want of salt, which the rage of our Enemys may render scarce, it should not reasonably be supposed that any true American will neglect it.

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As there can be no doubt but that every Colony may produce Saltpetre enough at least for their own consumption, it is necessary that powder-mills be erected and skillful persons provided to manufacture gunpowder, & proper regulations established for preventing their explosion.

It is supposed that sulphur may be found in many Colonies & it is necessary that it should be collected, tryals may be made at places supposed to contain it at not great expence.

It must afford great pleasure to find that some Colonies have already in a measure anticipated the design of these resolves, from the good effects of which it is clearly evinced that we can never want the most abundant supply of ammunition from our own manufacture, but through inattention & neglect.

We doubt not you will consider these proceedings as designed to promote the best welfare of the Colonies, & that you will as soon as may be & from time to time inform the Congress of the State of these manufactures in your Colony, of the quantity of Saltpetre already made, the preparation for & prospect of encreasing it, what quantities of gunpowder are already made & the state of your powder mills, & also what discovery is made of Sulphur mines & the progress in working them.

Supposing the most approved method of making Saltpetre may not have reached you, we have inclosed Such as experience in some colonies has recommended.

The laying together Suitable composts either in fences or beds in order to collect nitrous matter, seems necessary to be immediately attended to, as the earth from under old buildings may soon be exhausted.

It is hoped this effort of the Congress will have the desired effect, without which we have reason to fear it will ere long be said of us, that we are become slaves because we were not industrious enough to be free. By order of the Comttee. I subscribe myself yr. Obedient hble. Servt.,

Robert Treat Paine2

Dft. ; endorsed: “Circular to encourage the making of Salt petre”; endorsed in another hand: “The original signature cut of to give to a gentleman wished to have a facsimile of it.”

1.

Although this draft is dated Apr. 4, RTP noted in his diary on Mar. 28: “sent Letters to Convention of Georgia. So. Carolina No. Carolina & Virginia wrote 26th instant, with the process of Saltpetre making & also Bay Salt; sent them by Mr. Hooper & Penn”; and on Apr. 2: “wrote Col Palmer & comtte of Safety Maryland abt. Saltpetre & salt dated 28th ulto. Majr. Hawley.”

2.

Substitute signature in the hand of the endorser.