3 26] FOS fundi d interest, as veil as with the numerous paper Ian ks which infest both town and country* Such of our readers as have lei- sure, or inclination, to peruse a few late trafts o; thj we shall refer to Mr. Giafit-ER's " Ot&ervatidns on the befnicious con- sequences of Reg r'a ing, Foi estalling, and Ingrossintg, See. (8vo, (>s. See- ley, 1800), v. fere they will iind considerable information, blended with reflections animated b) b( ne- volence and pnblic sp;nt, It is but justice to observe, that the same author has published an abridgment of his work in 12mo. price 2s. — Mr. M o r r i s s " Short In a if i i ■>/ nil o the ria fure of / and Fore- stalling," (8vo. Is. CsdeU> 1800), contains a temperate discussion of this interesting topic. — To these hall add Mr. Illingworth's
- ' Inquiry hilo the Laws, ancient
and viodern, res peSHng Forestalling, Regrating, and I //grossing," &c. (8vo. /s. Brooke, 1800),wbich com- prehends a full investigation of the subject, according to the laws of this country; and is alike calculated to inform the lawyer, the antiquary, and those who are in search of truth. F( )SSIL-ALKALJ, is thus called to distinguish it from the vegetable alkali ; as the former is found in a pure state, in the bowels of the earth ; whereas the latter is prepar- ed from various plants. Fossil, or mineral, alkali abounds < 9 y in Eg} 'pt, Tripoli in Barbery, Hungary, several KussianProvinces, and some parts of Asia ; but it has ■■I been found in the v> < • tern fri s pf 1 lufope, except in the lirinity ol volpandes, or iii mineral watersj and in these it exists only jn very small portions. Th< chief BOUTOe of' this alkali is . of the ocean, it forms FOS the basis of sea-salt; and, as it is aft article of the greatest utility, diffe- rent methods of extracting it have lately been invented. In August, 1/81, a patent was granted to Mr. Alex. Fordyce, for his new processes, by which the alkali contained in sea-salt, rock- salt, salt-springs, salt-cake, Glau- ber's-sr.it, and vitriolated tartar, may be separated from the manne or vitriolic acids. — He first converts salt-water, &c. into Glauber's salt, by the application of vitriolic acid, or of any substance containing the latter. This salt is then to be mixed with a double quantity of lime, chalk, or any other calcareous earth, or iron, or with any substance con- taining that metal. The whole is to be placed together in a vault, or other reservoir, secured from the rain, till it is completely decom-. posed, when the alkali is to be ex- tracted by dissolving it in water, and evaporating it to dryness. Or, the patentee employs 60lbs. of Glauber's salt, or vitriolated tartar j lOlbs. of charcoal, or any other sub- stance capable of bearing heat, and containing the inflammable prin- ciple; and lOlbs. of iron : these ingredients are pounded together, and thrown into forty gallons of water ; where they are suffered to digest for twenty-four hours. The clear solution is then to be sepa- rated; and, by evaporating, filter- ing, and, crystallizing, it is rendered tit for use. Another patent was granted in March 1/S(), to Mr. Anthony liouKBO'JLox de Boneujl, ot Li- verpool, for his invention of an ap- paratus op a in w construction, and c( rtain new | v* cesses for the making of fossil alkali, which is, slid t" be i qua) to that, exti from the beat barilla. — As, how-i
