[draft] ^<1>

If _^^{you thk} it is likely th^t a trial of the L ore might cause som acc^t or stoppage in y^r furn^ce it w^d be bett^r cert^ly not to attempt it

I have had my ore caref^lly analysed both in W & L ¨C I sh^d be glad for the sake of comp^son to know the composⁿ of y^r ore, if y. have had it analysd ¨C I do not mean the v^y best sort, but that ordinary ore which you are us^g ev^y day, & w^ch for its abund^ce is of course the most import The point I wish Besides the percentge of iron, I believe the percentge of alumina & Silica in the ore exercises great influence & if you can tell me the quant^y of those 2 earths in your ordinary ore, I shall be _^^vy glad of the informⁿ. Hav^g heard that silica _^^{in the ore} was injur^s to iron I was surpris¡¯d at Glasg to see them smelting their iron with chalk f^m the N. of Irel^d cont^g imm^se flints w^ch they did not take the trouble to remove. I ¡à conclude that v^y little harm arises f^m the pres^ce of silica to some extent.

I sh^d be v^y glad if y c^d give me a specⁿ of your pig iron w^ch y are u I sh^d be obliged & could show it to several persons who understand the subject ¨C What _^^{I shd say that} I wish for is quite an average sample such as y are mak^g ev^y day ¨C The half of a pig, broken into 6 portions for conven^ce of distributⁿ, w^d be a suitable quantity & if you c^d send it to 1 of the inns at Melksh^m ¡°to be calld for¡± ¨C I w^d send for it ¨C Do I underst^d y rightly that some of the Seend iron has bⁿ sold at a remun^ve price? Of course I am glad to hear that your iron sells freely in the market that of course is the true test of the w^ch is an und & complete proof of its ex^ce

[expanded version:]

If you think it is likely that a trial of the Lacock ore might cause some accident or stoppage in your furnace it would be better certainly not to attempt it

I have had my ore carefully analysed both in Wales and London ¨C I should be glad for the sake of comparison to know the composition of your ore, if you have had it analysed ¨C I do not mean the very best sort, but that ordinary ore which you are using every day, and which for its abundance is of course the most important The point I wish Besides the percentage of iron, I believe the percentage of alumina and Silica in the ore exercises great influence and if you can tell me the quantity of those two earths in your ordinary ore, I shall be very glad of the information. Having heard that silica in the ore was injurious to iron I was surprised at Glasgow to see them smelting their iron with chalk from the North of Ireland containing immense flints which they did not take the trouble to remove. I therefore conclude that very little harm arises from the presence of silica to some extent.

I should be very glad if you could give me a specimen of your pig iron which you are using I should be obliged and could show it to several persons who understand the subject ¨C What I should say that I wish for is quite an average sample such as you are making every day ¨C The half of a pig, broken into six portions for convenience of distribution, would be a suitable quantity and if you could send it to one of the inns at Melksham ¡°to be called for¡± ¨C I would send for it ¨C Do I understand you rightly that some of the Seend iron has been sold at a remunerative price? Of course I am glad to hear that your iron sells freely in the market that of course is the true test of the which is an undeniable and complete proof of its excellence.

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Notes:

1. This is a reply to Doc. No: 08053. See also Doc. No: 05650.