Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
I cannot omit so good an opportunity of writing to you; the bearer brings ten Tons of Saltpetre to yr. mills for manufacture.1 I am very glad to hear yr. mills are repaired. I rely upon it that effectual care will be taken to prevent a like Accident in future. Mills are wanted to manufacture the saltpetre that is imported. I hope your Mills are enlarged as well as rebuilt. I hope also that your neighbourhood will soon furnish saltpetre sufficient to keep your Mills at Work. This Manufacture has recd. great improvements lately. Dr. Wm. Whiting of Massachusetts, & one of 162a Committee of Gen’ral Assembly to improve & promote the manufacture, had reported to sd. Assembly a certain process the result of Experiment & this process has been published in many papers. I have had repeated Accounts from many places of the good Success of this process; I wish you would promote experiments on it. I am satisfy’d with a little more application we shall make sufficient of this valuable Article, but Sr. when we have got powder enough, we then shall want Small Arms & Cannon, the former of wch. we undoubtedly make very good, application only is wanted to exercise them. As for Cannon, I am of a Cmttee. to enquire into this matter, & should be obliged to you if you would inform me if Cannon can be made at the Furnace in the Mannor & of what size; if they can be made, it will save the transporting them to many places where they are wanted. Pray favour me with your Sentiments on these matters as soon as you can. With Compliments to yr family & Freinds, I am yr most hble. Sevt.
Ordered by Congress on Feb.12 (Journals of the Continental Congress, 4:128–129).