The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-10

formation Of IL Immediately concerned, and
for the encouragement Of others, briefly detail
In the winter of 1908. being in Portsmouth N
H. WAS shewn mineral substance, evidenty
suPhurated anthony, which was said TO be found
in the bed of Saco river, about twenty miles above
the town OF that name, in the District of Maine.
a celebrated mineralogist now or lately in this
city, had been presented with specimens of the
same, and directed to that part of the river where
1t was found but mistaking the place for the
banks instead of the bed fthe river. the waters
OF which were at that time high he wandered
about for whole day in the rain in search Of the
spot, but without success.
As the river during my visit was in the same
state, had no better opportunity of examining
than my predecessor-a,d this place remains still
unexplored. The land adjoining is the property
OF Mr.. Nathaniel Parsons, lives abou. two miles
northwest from York courthouse, in the same
District,of Maine. At the same time and place
l was shewn piece Of antimonial ore, said to
have been found in the state of Vermont by a
miner of the name of Pitcher. In my way to that
state stopped at Dartmouth college, and i'm a
conversation with DIR. Smith, professor of mate.
ria medica there, was informed that specimens
OF antimony were deposited in The museum o.
the college, which had been found by some labor
ers, few days before, in digging the canal at
Hadley; but learned 20 my a,tonishment, that 40
enquiry had been made by the professor or any
other person 1t the time, as to the precise spot
whence this substance was taken nor on nv ar
rival there, could l find any person who could
throw any further light on the matter, than that
1t was SAID, that antimony had been dug UP some
where thereabout and this discovery is also,
like the former, still wrapt up in obscurity.
Having been crediby informed, that some
years ago, an apothecary of this city Pniladel.
phia had purchased quantity OF what was at tina {
time considered to be black lead but which on ex
animation afterwards was found to be anthony,
4 Frrsr Il
was anxious, Oh approaching that state, to make
some further enquiries relative to'this mineral.
took shelter from violent snow storm i'm the
house OF colonel Burwell nIoorng, who lives
near the Roanoke, about twenty miles below Hal.
lax. From this gentleman received the follow
ing information ~
That about nine years ago, he lived in WAYNE
county, IN. c. and had on his place mill now
called Thompson's mill, ON Nohunta creek,
which falls into Contenta creek and the last into
the river Neuse. That the rapidity of the water,
after passing through the mill, tore deep run
in the bank and boys while amusing themselves
by swimming there, were in the practice ofbring-
ing up, from the depth of ten or twelve feet,
large pieces ola heavy black gttering mineral SO
like antimony, that on comparing the substance
so found with some anthony, they had in the
house, and which the lady herself then handed
to me, they could perceive no difference in their
appearance. Unacquainted with the value ofthis
uSCofCTy ITO atlcIllCu VAS pelN 70 and
TO my great regret not remnant Oft had been
preserved. rh, spot, he says is not more than
thirty feet below the mill, on the right hand
going down. The present proprietor is q MIR.
Zaddoch Thompson, who lives on the premises.
Col Moorng added, that in Nohunta run, y.
bout mile below the mill, great abundance of
the same substance may easily be found.-Suoh
was the Information received from this respec
table family. Urgent business prevented me
from repairing Immediately to the spot though at
distunce of forty miles but in reply 10 the let.
ter which at that time wrote him, Mr. Thomp-
son says, that the substance mentioned was gen
orally supposed to be antimony and that in am
attempt to melt it, it few off smoke, or evapo-
rated
After such highly encouraging proofs, let us
hear no more whining, that this valuable mineral
no where exists within the territory of the ".
States but let those who have skill and opportu-
mites of making excursions, be OH the alert, and
leave no stone uuturned in tue pursuit for, with
prophetic certainty, could almost venture to
pronounce in this, in much more solemn
and important affair, seek diligently and We Shall
find.