JB/539/112/001

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NITRE

there is a great abundance of nitrous earth in the southern parts of this country.
Some say that nitre enough might be made from it supp to supply all Europe,
but the exportation of it is forbid. Or rather the Crown takes this article to itself
exporting when and in what quantity it pleases after having bought it
of those who choose to make it at what price it pleases.

From The exportation of Potash is likewise in the hands of the Crown, so that
scarcely any is exported. From Nitre however nitrous acid and the purest
of fixt vegetable Alkalis may be obtained, as the the exportation of neither
of which is forbid. Though potash is but impure Alkali yet this as it has another name & this Alkali of nitre is made by a different process it would
Consult Anderson or anybody else about it. What
price such pure Alkali, as also the Acid would bear in England?

2. If & by what process the nitre can be decomposed so as to the obtain
its two constituents by themselves?

Tar & Cambuis

Of the latter I know not the English name unless it be coom. It is made from the
lite bark of the birch tree. It is used in this country and in Poland to as a lubricating matter
for cart wheels &c. It is with this that the Russians dress their leather which is so
much prized in Europe. It is about the same consistence as tar, but the colour is rather
darker. That however which is used to the dressing leather is as clear as oil. When the
ordinary sort is left to stand some time the upper part becomes clear, but when care is
taken to make use of the white part of the bark alone to obtain it from the whole
is an oil. The process of obtaining it is as . In the spring of the
year if the bark while as the tree is cut longitudinally it opens & curls back,
separating itself so as about to fall off. These rolls are collected and being pressed
flat so as to lie closer together they are sent into a large hole in the ground of a
crucial shape with the nitre downwards. This hole is not only fill'd but the best is

1780}
Da}
2}
Nov
21
B.S
S.B. Petersburgh
to
J.B. Linc. Inn
Street 2d
Qu-

Identifier: | JB/539/112/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
Date_1	1780-12-02	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	539	Main Headings
Folio number	112	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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