DOCUMENTS.

WILLIAM SEYMOUR, Esq.

Montreal, April 7, 1882.

SIR-Yours of the 30th ultimo was received the 5th inst., and although I could personally (having derived my information from time to time during the last season from our very respectable head inspector,) have given you the substance of the information now contained in Mr. Bouthillier's letter to me as enclosed, yet I prefer giving you the information sought after in the inspector's own words. My house has for a great many years done a heavy business in the sale and shipment of ashes as commission merchants, having in the last shipping season had about 32,000 barrels through their hands, and they feel much interested in keeping up the reputation of the article in foreign markets.

Yours, very truly,

HORATIO GATES.

Montreal, April 7th, 1832.

HORATIO GATES, ESQ.

SIR-In reference to a letter dated March 30th, signed by William Seymour, chairman of a committee of the Legislature of the State of New-York, on trade and manufactures, addressed to you on the subject of adulteration in pot ashes, we have to observe, that pot ashes for many years past have been adulterated to a greater or less extent, by adding foreign substances in the kettle while in the act of melting, such as sand, lime, salt, &c. ; but ashes adulterated in this manner, can easily be distinguished by an experienced in*pector.

Within the last year, a new, or as it is termed, patent mode of manufacturing pot ashes has been introduced, which consists (from what we have been able to collect from respectable sources) in pouring over the raw ashes in the leech tubs, boiling water in which salt and lime had been previously dissolved; the ley from which being, by the usual process, made into salts and melted down, yields a considerably greater quantity of an article resembling pot ashes of the best quality, but which is greatly deficient in the quantity of [A. No. 30%.]

2

caustic alkali, that would be contained in the same weight of genuine pot ashes of a similar appearance, and which deficiency has been found by experiments made by the inspectors, to be in proportion to the quantity of salt put into the before mentioned mixture. To detect ashes adulterated after the above manner, becomes a matter of much greater nicety, inasmuch as the pot ashes thus manufactured have nearly the same appearance as genuine pot ashes, and that too of the best quality, as already stated.

Before any knowledge was had of this new mode of adulteration, the inspectors had detected the imposition, in the first instance by not finding that caustic heat which is always felt in genuine pot ashes, and which led them to suspect that the sample under inspection, although having all the outward appearance of pot ashes of best quality, must, by some process or other, have been adulterated; and in submitting it to the proper chemical test, they ascertained their suspicions to be well founded; the sample in question having only 65 per cent of caustic alkali, whereas genuine pot ashes of the best quality, would contain from 80 to 85 per cent.

No pot ashes manufactured in this manner (with very few exceptions) have been found of sufficient strength to be branded first—a considerable portion has been branded thirds, and a good many not entitled to any brand.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

J. BOUTHILLIER, Insp'r and Ass'ts.

Extract from the Circular of H. Gates & Co. of Montreal.

"Our advices from Europe, received from time to time, down to the 7th Nov. are by no means encouraging, and some of our correspondents largely interested in ashes say, that a soda ash is making in England, on a large scale, which can be afforded at £20 sterling per ton, which is equal, for the use of bleachers, to a ton of Canada pot ashes of ordinary quality, and that the latter are consequently without demand to any extent and tending to a decline, notwithstanding it was known on the other side that a short supply of pots was anticipated, and the high rate on this side; pearls were also exceedingly dull and comparatively low, and we can not conceal our apprehensions that the new substitute will tend to diminish the consumption of pot ashes very considerably, and lessen the value in foreign

markets, and consequently in this. The large supplies of pearls shipped from hence in 1831 over 1830, will no doubt keep them low in the English market, and we are by no means sanguine that either pots or pearls will be 1s per cwt. higher here on the opening of navigation than they are now; say pots 28s 6d a 29s, and pearls 29s 6d a 30s. Before closing our remarks on ashes, we wish to advert to the new or patent method of making pot ashes, which has been practised the last season, and to say, that, although some few have passed as first sort, yet the greater portion, although frequently looking well to the eye, have been found to be wanting in strength, and have been cut down to 2nd, 3rd, and unbrandables."

Communication from Lewis C. Beck, M. D.

To the Hon. William Seymour, Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Manufactures.—Assembly of New-York.

The within report contains the result of my investigations on the subject of potash. There are several minor points which I could have wished to examine more in detail; but as you expressed a desire to have my report before the adjournment of the Legislature, I have endeavored to comply with it.

With my wishes that your efforts to sustain an important branch of industry, will be crowned with success,

I have the honor to be, yours, &c.

Albany, April 21st, 1831.

LEWIS C. BECK.

Report on the adulteration of Potash.

In discharging the duty which I considered as imposed upon me by complying with the request of your committee, I have endeavored to obtain all the information relating to the patent modes of manufacturing potash, and to several other points which I conceived to have a bearing upon the inquiry.

Before proceeding to give the results of my examinations, it may not be amiss to lay before you the specifications of the two patents which have been heretofore noticed, and upon which much potash has been manufactured. They are to be found in the 7th and 9th volumes of the Franklin Journal, and I need offer no apology for quoting the accompanying remarks of Dr. Jones, the talented editor of that work.

The first of these patents, is "for an improvement in the manufacture of potash, by Thomas H. Sherman, Hastings, Oswego county, New-York, February 2d, 1831."

"We have in this specification," says Dr. Jones, "the announcement of some magnificent chemical discoveries; one of them is, that salt will burn up, and that lime will become potash. Lest those who are adepts should be inclined to doubt, we will give the discovery in the words of the philosopher to whom it is due.

'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 remaider of the salt; and when