The method and plain process for making pot-ash : equal, if not superior to the best foreign pot-ash published, in consequence of the late encouragement granted by Parliament for that purpose / By Thomas Stephens.

  • Stephens, Thomas, -1780.
Date:
[1755?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The method and plain process for making pot-ash : equal, if not superior to the best foreign pot-ash published, in consequence of the late encouragement granted by Parliament for that purpose / By Thomas Stephens. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    renders it my Duty, to communicate this Procefs, with the utmoft Integrity and Expedition ; that its Advantage may the Sooner be extended to the Public. This indeed might have been effe&ed without the Ad¬ dition of a Preface ; which, I confefs, is but too relative to myfelf, and chiefly occasioned by the Behaviour of a few others on this Occafion. Laft Year I was followed from London to America by Letters as artful as the Oppo¬ sition of the Contractors for foreign Aft), on the memorable Day, when they confronted me for the Good of their Coun¬ try ; as more than one of the Agents for the Colonies can Witnefs; tho’ they would by no Means appear on Behalf of making Pot-Afh in the Britifh Plantations. Something in Excufe for the Behaviour of thofe inte- refted in the Importation of foreign Afh may be offered, from the too common Prevalence of Self-love over public Spirit; but that they fhould be countenanced by any who owe their firft Breath to the Colonies that give them Bread, is much lefs natural, and thence lefs pardonable. It has been faid by one Agent, who was at great Pains to make Gentlemen believe the Art of making Pot-Afh, “ is far from being a Secret in Americathat I could only make Pearl-Afh; and it has been induftrioufly reported too, in the Country he reprefents, that I only know what I learned of a German. Neither that Gentleman, nor any of his Conftituents, would have fpread this Scandal, had I been weak enough to have trufted him or fame of them with my Secret; which they had the Modefty to afk; and which, not en¬ tirely confiding in their public Faith, I had the Precau- tion to conceal; tho’ I indulged their Curiofity with an Ex-