Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-01 00:00:00, page 3

Secondly, Of the boiling to ft it for filtering.
Take any kind of boiler and put your lye into
it, in the foul state which it was drawn off of the
earth, cover your boiler with a lid, and boil the
lye away with a brisk fire, to about one fifth the
quantity, if it (hould be reduced something more
or left it is not material, this firft boiling being on
ly to prepare the lye for draining, which is better
done while it is hot than while it is cold, and the
reducing of it in quantity makes the operation of
filtering it more expeditious.
Thirdly, To filter or flrain the lye.
Prepare yourfelf with a calk which must be pro
portioned to the quantity of your lye, put a falfe
bottom in it about two or three inches above the
true bottom, or otherwise make a kind of lattice
work with strips of boards or small twigs in the
game manner as is used in fettihg common lye tubs,
on the top of this falfe bottom or lattice work, a
layer of straw must be placed, the straws being cut
of a proper length to extend acrols the tub, and
must be laid about two inches thick, as even and
parallel with each other as conveniently can be,
over this another such layer of straw must be put so
as to cross it, and of about the fame thickness, this
straw mult be pressed down, and confined by some
flips of boards laid across it, tight within the tub,
on this spread some cut straw an inch or two in
heighth, then add some live ashes about five inches
thick, lastly have a piece of,board about the tize of
a plate to place upon the top of the allies, in order
to break the fall of the lye when poured into the
tub. The tub thus prepared is calledan asher. If
the tub tor this purpose should not be properly pro
portioned to the extent of your works, as was be
fore observed, the quantity of allies may be too
great, and you will be dilappointed of getting Salt
petre, having Pot-ash instead thereof. At the
Provincial Works their filtering vessels or asher will
contain better than a barrel, in which they put
near a bushel of ashes, this is fufficient for the lye
drawn from twenty tubs of earth at least, each the
size of half a hogshead, of course where you have
but one such lye tub, the asher must be small in
proportion, and not have above one twentieth part
of that quantity of ashes ; perhaps some may think
the allies wholly unnepeffary, but for their inform
ation I would observe, that in general the Nitre will
not fnoor into chryltals, without either allies or
pot-ash being added to the lye, it being absolutely
neeeffary to detach the Salt-petre from other unfit
iubftances which it had joined to in the earth.
The allies should be changed every fourth time
your filtering vessel is used, tut the other parts of
the tub may continue so long as you can refine your
lye through it ; this kind of filtering tub will be
Scarcely necessary unless the making Salt-petre is
intended to be continued, then it will fully recom
pense the trouble and expence of making it, as it
refines the lye expeditiously and well; if a tingle
or a few experiments are only intended to be made,
ten or twelve inches depth of cut straw put into a
calk with the proper quantity of allies above it will
answer the end very well.
The filtering tub or asher being prepared, pour
the lye after the firft boiling hot out of the boiler
into the said tub, and draw it gently off, return it
back again two or three times until it comes off
clear and fine.
Fourthly, Oftbefecond boiling, to separate the sea salt
from the lye, and to frengtben the lye to prepare it
for ebryftaiizing.
The lye which has been fufficiently refined by
running through the filtering vessel, must now be
returned into the kettle and boiled a second time,
but with a more gentle fire towards the latter part
of the boiling, otherwise it would be apt to boil
over; the boiler must be kept covered during this
boiling in the farn s ;manner as was directed in the
firft boiling. To know when the lye has boiled
away enough in or der to separate the salt, examine
it from time to time by potting about a fpoonful of
it in a saucer and lotting it in a place where it will
cool, rs it is of a proper ffrength a great part of the
lye will harden and (hoot in the form of chryltals,
or fometirnes in grains if the quantity of sea salt be
great; when this is the case the lye is boiled almost
enough.
* At the Provincial Works in this city cellar dirt it
chiefly uj d, as it has been found to contain a greater
proportion o'Litre than any other earth they have
ma ^itb."
The Process for extracting and retiring S ALT
PETR E, according to the method prfafed at the
Provincial Worts in so s aty. PubUJhed b, order
of the COMMITTEE of Safety.
SALT-FETR E, or Nitre, is found in a large
quantity mdifferent materials, fometirnes mix
ed and incorporated with gones, and. in earths
which arc exposed and open to all leathers; but
the molt common places where it is found, is in
the earth wnich ferns the fluor either of sheep,
horse or cow (tables and theca, in old out-houses,
in ce iars, and under barns where any animals usu
ally iheirer, or any other coveted place where any
animal or vegetable fubftanc^ n.ixcd together with
earth have been collected and have laid a long
tone ; and >t is hid thole places where tobacco is
maiufadured, &c. produce it. A very important
part of the Salt-petre maker's knowledge consists in
a judicious choice of the materials, and no direc
tions can be given that will avail march ; a few ex
periments properly attended to will afford more
inftru&ion than any written directions; neverthe
less, by way of caution, it may be proper to observe
that )where (tables are constantly vied yen must take
the earth «hich lays near the manger, otherwise it
will have too great a mixture of the urine and dung
of the animals, which will produce Sal Amoniac
instead of Salt-petre*, and it is considered as a rule
for the choice of materials that the longer they have
lain together, the greater chance there will be of
getting Salt-petre out of them.
When the materials are collected they extract anal
refine the Salt petre by the following easy process,
which I (hall divide into fix parts, to render it
plain and cafy cf comprehension, viz.
I. To make the lye.
z. The fifit boiling to prepare it for filtering.
3. Filtering or (training the lye.
4. The fecund boiling to separate the sea salt and
prepare it for chryttalizing.
5. Chrvttalizmg the Salt-petre.
6. Refining the chryftals of Saltpetre.
First, To make the lye.
Take a tub or tubs, according to the extent of
your works, but not to exceed the size of half a
hoglhead in depth, make a hole in the bottom near
one edge, fit a plug or fpile to it, lay a wisp of
straw over this hole, then fill the tub lightly with
the earth which you have found to contain Salt
petre, pour as much cold water on it as will fill
the tub to the brim, after it has soaked into the
earth keep your tubs in a warm place that the wa
ter may not freeze, and in about ten or twelve
horns draw off the water at the hole in the bottom,
till it has all drained off; this water will have dis
solved a great part of the Salt-petre that was in the
earth and runs off very foul, and is what we call
the lye.
When the lye is boiled to this Length If tl ere is
any sea salt it will fettle to the bottom of the boiler,
and should be taken out with a ikimmer, and put
into some suitable vessel, for the Salt petre lye to
drain off into the kettle ; this salt retains some
Salt-petre in it, and is laid to be very suitable to
cure meat with, and by a further refining may be
purified fit for table nfe.
The reason fffi :ned for the sea fall's fettling to
the bottom is, that water will melt the Salt-petre
more readily than t does sea salt, but when the lye
is weak or has more water in it than is barely fuf
ficient to diff 9 lve the Salt-petre, it will then dissolve
some sea salt, but as loon as the water is boiled
aw.y so much that there remains only enough to
dissolve the Nitre, the sea salt then fettles to the
bottom, for the Nitre lye of this strength has no
more power to ditlolve the sea salt, than water has
to dissolve a stone.
After all the sea salt is taken out which can be
done by this method, continue the boiling until
about one fourth of the remaining lye is boiled
away, then it must be put into a tub large enough
to contain the whole of it ; this tub is called the
stander, and is something broader at bottom than at
top, having a tap fixed about two indies above the
bottom ; let the liquor Hand in this tub till it is
nearly as cold as new milk, by which time the gross,
foul matter which will not dissolve in the water will
have fettled to the bottom, and amongst it there
usually is a good deal of sea salt, as the liquor is
not capable of retaining so much salt diflolved in it
after it has cooled as while boiling ; the liquor is
now ready for chryftalizing, which forms the fifth
part of the process.
Fifthly, To Cbryflali%e the Salt-petre.
Having any kind of a vessel, either of metal,
wood, &c. provided it is large enough ; at the Pro
vincial Works they have small tubs that will contain
about three gallons each; the liquor prepared for
chryftalizing by the former part of the process is
drawn out of the stander by the tap into these tubs
as long as it will run tolerably clear, filling them
about two thirds full, then set these tubs in a cool
cellar and let them remain there twenty-four hours
at least, if it has been boiled fufficiently the Salt
petre will be formed into beautiful chryftals, but
somewhat foul ; pour off the liquor that remains
and set the tubs on one edge to drain; this liquor
is called the Mother Lye, and should be returned
into the kettle with your next boiling, or may be
further boiled down by itfelf and set out to chryftal
ize again, as it is very strong of Salt-petre; if there
should no Salt-petre be fettled in your tubs after
Handing the time directed it is a sign that your li
quor has not been boiled enough, therefore you
should return it again into the kettle, and boil it
about one half away, proceeding as has been al
ready directed to separate the sea salt, &c.
Sixthly, Of the refining.
When you have a Sufficient quantity of Nitre made,
you may proceed to refine it, which is performed
thus.—Put your Nitre into a boiler that will hold
about one third more than your quantity of Nitre,
add as much water as will cover the whole mass one
inch, after it has soaked through it put it on a gen
tle fire, keep continually stirring it quite to the
bottom till the Salt-petre has all dissolved, take off
the foul feum as it rises, which you must continue
to do as long as any appears, when the feum has
nearly done rising the sea salt must be taken from
the bottom of the kettle with a skimmer, and which
fometirnes is nearly one sixth part of the Salt-petre ;
it will be proper for you to taste this as you take it
out of the kettle, or you will be apt to be deceived
by its appearance while wet, by its refemblanee to
the wet Nitre which you have in the kettle to refine,
but it is readily distinguished from it by the taste.
When you have taken all the sea salt out of the
kettle, put into the liquor while a boiling about
one quarter of an ounce of powdered allur, for
every 251 b. of Salt-petre, and in proportion for
any other quantity, it will occasion it to boil vio
lently and a great foul feum to rife, take off the
foulnefs, and have some cool water at hand to add
to prevent the liquor from boiling over, which it
would otherwise do; you must continue the bail
ing a little while after the addition of the allum,
then take the kettle off the fire, cover it over with
a coarse wet linen cloth, and lay a cover of boards
over that, set it in a cool place in a cellar &c. where
it must remain about two or three days, then pour
oft the liquor, or mother lye, and drain it from
the Saltpetre by setting the kettle an edge, when
drained turn the kettle bottom upwards for to get
your Salt-petre out, which will by this time be
formed in a handsome cake, if it is not Efficiently
refined this time, repeat this sixth part of the pro
cess over again and you will have it (efficiently fine
for any purpose, then put your cake n a heap of
dry'afhes, which will imbibe and draw off all the
moisture that remained in the cake, if not, renew
the heap of allies till it does This concludes the
whole business of extiadting and refining Salt-petre
fit for the Powder-maker, as it is pra&ifed at the
Provincial Works.
THE foregoing process has already had the ex
perience of many persons in the province, and
particularly in the city of Philadelphia and town of
York—it is simple, and may be pra&ifed in families
without any additional expence of fuel, or even of
labour, as it only requires the oversight of any per
son in the evening after the work of the day is con
cluded —-—The process is here described with such
precision and exa&nefs the Committee have reason
to think few or none will fail in the undertaking,
but if that should fometirnes be the case, in the firft
attempt, from too little attention to the directions
given, a second would doubtless succeed.
The Assembly of this province have granted a
premium of £.25 per hundred weight, which is 5/.
per pound for all Salt-petre made in this province,
and thrown into the public magazines—and the
Committee of Safety, through whose hands the
premium is to pass, do hereby, for the next three
months, leave it in the option of the makers of
this article to receive 1-4 of the weight thereof in
Gun-powder, to be delivered to the several perlons
appointed to take in the Salt-petre in the different
counties within this province, the names of whora
will be published soon.
The Committee need not remark to any intelli
gent and sensible man in the province the indifpen
fible necellity there is of instantly providing cur
felves with large quantities of Gun powder—when
the quarrel between the Mother Country and the
Colonies is drawing to a hasty decision by arms,
when the ministry threaten to overwhelm us the en
suing year, with numerous mercenary soldiers,
brought even from the molt distant and barbarous
nation in Europe—at a time too, when, from the
wicked vigilance and industry of this ministry, every
court in Europe has been follicited and prevailed
on so far, to aid their designs againit our liberties,
as to refufe felling us either arms or ammunition.
—But thanks to Almighty God, we have those
means and resources within ourielves, which, if not
fhamefully neglected and overlooked, will confound
all their artifices and conspiracies ; the principal of
these is the knowledge of making Salt-petre, by
which we may in a very short time, if it is pradiled
by every family in the country, who are surround
The Committee, in this publication, hold out
every motive to invite their countrymen to this un
dertaking, that can pcffibly engage toe human
heart—-There is the love of the public good which,
they doubt not fully possesses almost every brealt
there is intereff- —fhouid these strong incentives
alone net be of fufficient energy to overcome the
reluctance natural to some to engage in any work
that has the appearance of novelty—there is the
l° ve „°, pieafure, which, among sportsmen, can be
gratified at prefect in no other way, but by a cri
minal breach of a regulation dictated by felf-evident
necessity.
ed by abundant materials for the purpose, be relief
ed from the necessity of depending on a-pi ecariot Y
supply of Gun-powder, purchased at a ruinous ex
pence in foreign countries.
That this is not a fallacious repre fen tation cr a
deceitful hope, held opt to the people, will appear
from this confederation, that 5 pounds of Salt-pe
tre, which may be made in as many days, produc
ed from 20,000 families, would afford a Hnk of
Gun powder for a large armv, leaving a Efficiency
for cannon both for forts and batteries, and for the
field. ,
*, The Members of the AMERICAN
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY are
requested to take notice, that on Friday next,
between the hours of Two and Five in the after
noon, an Election for Officers will be held at the
Society's Hall: At which time and place the
Treasurer will receive the Annual Payments.
CHESTER COUNTY,
In COMMITTEE, December 26,' 1775.
Extras from the Fetes of Assembly.
" All battalions now formed, as well as those
hereafter to be formed, are desired to make the
necessary returns of their officers, with their re
fpedive ranks, to the Committee of their county,
and the Committees are desired to certify such re
turns with the refpe&ive rack es each battalion in
their county, to the Committee of Safety, that
commifions may be issued immediately for every
officer in conformity with these rules." Art. 24.
This Committee taking the foregoing regulation
into confederation, Refolded, That the refpe&ive
Colonels of the militia of this county be, and they
are hereby requested, to make the necessary re
turns of their officers, with their refpedive ranks,
to Col. Anthony Wayne, Chairman of this Com
mittee ; and he is hereby impowered and desired
to certify such returns with the refpe&ive rank of
each battalion in this county, to the Committee
of Safety, by the twentieth day of January next.
And it is further recommended that each town
ship, or fufficient number of associators to form a
company (after the companies already formed
are full) that hath not already chosen their offi
cers, do immediately proceed to eled them, that
returns may be made as above directed. And it
is further earnestly recommended to the associators
of this county to acquiesce under, and fubferibe
their names to the rules and regulations for the
better government of the military associators, as
formed by the Honourable House of Assembly of
this province, until there may be an opportunity
of an amendment. And they are desired to pay
a ftridt regard and attention to the 23d Art. which
is in these words—" No commissioned, non-com
missioned officer, or private, (hall withdraw him
felf from the company to which he belongs with
out a difeharge from the commanding officer of
the battalion, nor shall such person be received
in any other company without such difeharge."
Refolded, That Anthony Wayne, fames Moore,
Francis Johnson, Esquires, Dodor Samuel Ken
nedy, Caleb Davis, William Montgomery, Perffor
Frazer, and Richard Thomas, Gentlemen, or any
five or more of them, be appointed, and they are
hereby appointed to represent this- county (if oc
casion be) in Provincial Convention for the en
suing year.
Extra& from the Minutes.
Ry order of the Committee,
FRANCIS JOHNSTON, Secretary.
Errata. In the second paragraph of Governor
Franklin's meflage to the Council, for “ opinion
you have'' read “ opinion you gave." And for
“ has been conformable" read “ has been too
conformable/'
g-rt ~|=| —^ —^•^ —t--|~Q4 —^4 —fo44 ^P^
Lately fublifbed, and to be fold by
J O HN DUNLA P,
In Market-Street, Philadelphia,
A NEW
COMPENDIUM
OF
GEOGRAPHY;
Or an Attempt to make that Science more en
tertairiing, and consequently to adapt it better to
the indrufting the Youth of both sexes; particu
larly in the schools.
By S. EDWAR D S, School-Mafler, in Golden
Lane, Dublin.
The Committee, from these considerations, can
not entertain a doubt of extracting immediately
from this source the richest treasures—to a free peo
ple more valuable than the mines of Peru or Mexi
co to their possessors, it is affording them a cert tin
means of defending their natural and chartered
rights, and handing them down unimpaired a fair
inheritance to their children and children’s children
to the lateff posterity.
By Order of the Committee of Safety,
WILLIAM GOVETT, Clerk.
Yesterday morning, about two o,clock, a Fire
was difeovered in the Printing-office of the Sub
icribeis, which unhapplily consumed the fame,
together with the whole flock of Paper, Types
and Press :—lt burnt with such fury that no per
sons could enter the doors.—By this misfortune
they are reduced to the necessity of acquainting
their kind Customers, that it is no longer in their
power to supply them with the Pennsylvania
Mercury. —Whilst the publication continued it
was their constant Rudy to give fatisfh&ion to their
readers; but as this accident has deprived them
of the means of prosecuting it, they take this
early opportunity of returning their unfeigned
thanks for faft favours, and hope for a con tinuaffce
of that Friendship which induced so many
Gentlemen to patronize their Paper.
STORY and HUMPHREYS.
t o be $ o Ln,
AP LANTATI OJ^containing about fifty
acres of land, five acres thereof n%dow, and
twenty-two acres of,good woodlard, a gone loute
two stories high, tv 0 rooms on a floor, with a ceL
lar underneath, a (tone kitchen, a bain ant,iwet
of good water near the house, an orchard of aboi e
T3O apple-trees and a variety of peach- trees, among
which are the Newington and Heath, mho len e
cherry-trees. It is situate about twenty- fi,e miles
from Philadelphia, within three quarters of a mile
of MA John Murray’s, at the Trap on Manatawny
Road, on a road leading across tire country to the
Yellow Springs. For terms apply to Benjamin
Davids, Innholder, in Second- ft(eet, Philadelphia,
or to Thomas Reese, Miller, near the pumifes,
who will ihew the fame.
C m , dugufl 16. 1775.
AME to the plantation of the fubfer/ber,
living in Rye township, Cumberland county,
near Batkin’s Ferry, a black MA RE, about
thirteen hands high, marked on the near Moulder
M. the off hind foot white, long dock, weighty
beaded, a v&y heavy mane which h^ngs on the
near fide ; (he can pace a good travel, has no shoes
on, and was four years did last grass. The owner
is desired to come, prove his property, pay charges
and take her away.
§ THOMAS WATSON.
\ . ,December jo, 1774.
EIGHT DOLLARS REWARD.
RAN AWAY from the fubferiber, living
near the Horse Head, in Kent County, oil
Delaware, an Irish indented fervent man farmed
JAMES LOWER RY, but commonly goes
by the name of L AVEREY; he is about five
feet seven inches high, by trade a weaver, a good
deal pock-marked, pale complexion, black hair
commonly tied behind, bold and talkative; had
on when he went away, a good felt hat, an old red
and white silk handkerchief, two country linen
Shirts, a blue fulled country cloth coat, an old pur
ple silk jacket, a striped lincey under jacket, old
black velvet breeches, old patched trowfers, new
blue yarn stockings ringed with white on the tops,
white thread ditto, and shoes. Whoever takes up
said servant and brings him home, or secures hint
so that his master may have him again, shall have,
if in the county, FOUR DOLLARS, and if out,
the above Reward, and all reasonable charges, paid
b y HENRY ELBER T.
N. B. I bought him of Mr. William Boyce, in
Newcastle County. 11
Bucks County, ff. December 29, 1775.
BY virtue of a writ to me directed, will be ex
posed to sale by public vendue, on Tuesday,
the ninth day of January, at one o'clock in the af
ternoon, at the house of Walter William Harris;
situate in the township of Bristol, near Nefhaminy
herry, sundry houfhold and kitchen furniture, im
plements of husbandry, and a variety of stock on
the farm, such as horses, cows, sheep, and hogs;
together with a quantity of wheat and rye in the
barn, and fevefal fields of wheat and rye ; also In
dian corn in the ear, and hay and cats; late the
property of the said Walter William Harris ; seized
and taken in execution by
§ SAMUEL BILES, Sheriff.
T O BE SO L D,
yWO NEGRO MEN) 'both under thirty;
Jl healthy and strong; one of them a valuable
and compleat farmer in all its branches, to which
he has been bred from a child, and is very stout ;
the other a genteel footman and waiter, understands
the care of horses well, the management of a car
riage, drives either on the box or as postilion, isin
every refpe& capable of attending a genteel family
or a single gentleman, and is fond of farming: Both
have had the small-pox. Enquire of Mr. Coxe,
at Trenton, or of Do&or Redmond, at Phila
delphia. f
This Day is Published, and to be Sold by
R. AITK E N, Bookseller,
Oppofae the London Ceffee-Houfe,
Printed on a large /beet of Demy Paper, (Price T=wd
Sbi lings)
A CORRECT MAP of the great river St. Law
rence, Nova-Scotia, Newfoundland, and tht
part of New-England, in which may be seen the
march of Col. Arnold, from Cafco-Bay to Quebec;
by the way of Kennebec river: Ornamented wij 1
final! plans of Quebec, the town of Halifax and its
harbour, and a imall perfpedtive view of the city of
Bolton.
'Juft Publijbed and to be Sold by
JOHN DU NL A^
In Market-Street, Philadelphia,
AN
ORAT I O N,
Delivered February 24, 1775, before the
AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,
field at Philadelphia, for promoting
USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.
BY DAVID RITTENHOUSE, M. A.
Member of the said Society.
Dedicated to the DELEGATE S of the
Thirteen United Colonies.
CARTI^DGFKAPER,
By the Reau or Quire, so be SOLD b%
J O If N BUN LA A
TWENTY SHILLINGS REWARD,
RAN AWAY from Marcus Hook, on the
26th of December last, a servant lad named
THOMAS WATSON, about nineteen years
of age, by trade a lock smith; had on when he
went away, a brown coatee with buttons near the
fame colour, a whitish flannel waistcoat, black plufri
breeches, blue ribbed yarn stockings, shoes capped
up to the buckles, and a black neckcloth ; he ha;
a smooth face and pale complexion ; fays he was
one of the marines at the battle of Bunker’s Hill,
and (hows the mark of a wound on his right fide.
Whoever secures him in the Work-house or Gaol
of Philadelphia, (hall receive the above Reward
from 1 homas Hale, in Philadelphia, or the sub
scriber. § ALEXANDER DICK.
Philadelphia, December 28, 177,
FIFTEEN SHILLINGS REWARD;
STOLEN or STRAYE D, about three
months ago, from the fubferiber, living in
Race-street, a dun coloured HORSE, intermix
ed with grey, about fifteen hands high, all hi s feet
white, but the two hind feet not so white as the
others, a natural pacer, carries his ears high, has
a blaze in his forehead, and a mark on his near
tide not very plain. Whoever takes up and secures
said, horse so that the fubferiber may have him again,
shall have the above reward, and reasonable ch rges
§ MICHAEL MUEHLENBURG.