JB/539/099/001

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Pleschijeff writ you a Letter in my absence which by his account
contained a Parcel of stuff about his Sister and me, and his
Criticisms on my Conduct, which were contrary to his real
opinion written with a kind of when he was out
humour on account of my being absent. As you have not
answered it, I hope you have not received it, as it wou'd
tend only to encrease, tho' without the least reason, the —
disatisfaction you before entertained on my account —
I long inexpressibly to have Code or Introduction in French.

The making the Circumferential Part of wheels of one piece bent
round, for which Viney had a Patent has been practised time
out of mind in the Interior Parts of Russia & Poland. There is
not a wheel of a Peasants Cart but what is made in this
manner. I took care to see the Process. Pieces of 3 1/2 inches
are bent to a circle of between 3 & 4 feet diameter though
quite straight before.

You mention Brydone's speaking of burning mirrors being used
as fire arms. I have no great opinion of the use they wou'd
be of against an Enemy who has fire arms & the modern Conveniencies of War universal in civilized Countries. But
during my excursion to the Southward I have thought that such
Implements might make the sun serve for Culinary purposes,
and thereby render wood for fuel unnecessary, the scarceness
of which is the chief impediment to the Peopling & Cultivation
of the immense deserts beyond the Duieper . I think I cou'd
make the Sun boil the Pot without any attendance, —
although it wont stand still for me. It's round about motion
makes it difficult to deal with, but I think I could fit it.
You know I have long ago been inclined to class it among
my prima mobilia.

At the time I rece'd your Letter about Copying Invention;
I had some Galls lying by me on the table wch I had procured
a fortnight before with an intention of making the Experiment.
I had intended that shoud this not succeed to have tried green
and white Vitriol. You will see therefore that I had not to
"wonder" at my not thinking of the means. It was from Dr
Solander that I heard, before I left England of a Mans having

Identifier: | JB/539/099/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
Date_1	1780-10-14	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	539	Main Headings
Folio number	099	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	Correspondence	Number of Pages
Recto/Verso		Page Numbering
Penner	Samuel Bentham	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number
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