Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
The Congress have directed me to write to you respecting the practicability of casting heavy Cannon at Salisbury Furnace & to desire yr. Opinion Concerning the same. The Occasion of this Resolve was that Congress were informed that the Ore wch. is worked at that furnace is of the best quality for casting Cannon & that this appears by the Cannon already Cast there, that the furnace was is not large enough to cast Cannon heavier than 12 pounders; that the furnace & beds of ore belonged to a Mr. Richard Smith1 late of Boston an absconding Tory & that the State of Connecticut had taken it into the Possession of Government & had sett it to work in making Cannon & Congress being desirous that heavyer Cannon should be made at a place Convenient to Supply the middle & Eastern Colonies they directed this Consultation to be had.
As this furnace is in the Care of yr. State it is necessary to address you on the subject which I think you will not consider as troublesome when the advantage of Establishing a Manufacture of heavy Cannon in so convenient a scituation occurs to yr. mind. The grand Ques. is how it can be done, previous to the answering which I think it will be necessary to be fully ascertained that the ore is as good in quality for making Cannon as has been supposed, that there is a sufficiency of it, that there is Coal sufficient May be had in the neighbourhood & that the Stream of Water is sufficient for the purposes. This being the case, I Suppose that in other in order to cast heavy Cannon another Stack must be built adjoining to the one that now is, so that both together may have mettal Sufficient in fusion at once to cast a 32 pounder or even larger by tapping both at once, but who shall erect the new furnace & carry on the works? If the place was now private property the owner might undertake it, but whether yr. State will undertake it themselves or allow any body to do it I dont know. I think if some person who understands the business could be found to undertake it with the permission of yr. State it would be profitable to him; for I Suppose Congress would engage to take a large no. of heavy Cannon at Such a price as wd. be advantagious to him. Messrs. Hughes of Maryland Who have made exceeding good Long 18 pds. wch. have stood the highest proof has Contracted with Congress to build 292another stack & make 1000 Tons of Cannon from 32 lb. downwards as Congress may direct for 36 £ Pen. Curr. pr. Ton, but if the War should be pushed hard upon us it may be very difficult getting Any of those Guns our Way into N England the advantages of which I need not mention. It is therefore I think incumbent on us to exert our selves to effect this valuable Manufacture. I have so little Knowledge of the manner in wch. the furnace has been carried on lately, (tho’ I have taken great pains to acquire it) that I can make no perticular proposals about it. Phps. the Person who has had the management wd. undertake it; whatever is done this Season must be done soon; & a perticular Answer as soon as you conveniently can will be very agreable.
The mantaining the post at the highlands is of the utmost importance to America the United States in general & to N England in perticular in order for which Cannon are Still wanted, it is said that 18 pdrs. are cast at your furnace. I was desired by a Cmttee. on the highland affairs to request of you to inform us of this fact & if there by any Such whether they can be borrowed for those forts. I am &c.,
Richard Smith, Boston merchant. Shortly after his arrival from England in 1767 he bought the blast furnace at Salisbury, Conn. He was in England during most of the Revolution, and the Connecticut government took over the furnace to make cannon, but Smith came back in 1782, was accepted as a citizen of Connecticut, and got his furnace back. Later he returned to England (information from David B. Ingram, Foxborough, Mass.).