From Samuel Vaughan, Jr. (unpublished)
Clausthall in the Hartz 27 Decr. 1783.
My Dear and Honoured Sir,

It has long been my sincerest wish to return you my warmest and best thanks for your kind and affectionate attentions to me when at Paris, but I refrained troubling you with a letter till I could entertain you with something new and worthy your attention. Till the present moment I have unfortunately been only in those spots that you have yourself formerly visited; and if I have happened to have made any new observation, It is in the mineralogical line which cannot so much interest you.

Another Subject is therefore the occasion of my addressing you at present. It would give me singular satisfaction if you would be so obliging to send me some Account of Mr. Charles’s process to raise his Machine and the Stuffs of which it was made; as the Gazettes altho’ filled with accounts of it, are yet imperfect or confused on both these heads: but the articles on which I am most interested to be acquainted with, are the results of Mr. Lavoisiers memoires viz, the cheapest manner to procure Inflammable Air, its cost at Paris, the sort of Inflammable Air he thought best suited the purpose and their relative Weights. I should be far from making the above request Sir, was I not perfectly convinced from the notirity of the Subject, that all the above must be in Print, and that you have only to request Mr. Darcel your under Secretary to inclose and forward them for me to the care of Baron Reden, Berghauptman, at Clausthall in the Hartz by the earliest post he conveniently can.

I have had under my examination a Mountain which you have Sir formerly visited, but as perhaps you did not examine it with the same views as myself, I shall take the liberty of mentioning some particulars respecting it.

The Weisner is an Isolated Mountain, as it is the highest in the Country of Hessia, and bears no proportion in this respect to the Hills that are by the side of it. The Entire Top is of Basalt, and under it on every side is found a Coal originating from Wood; and the Roof of this immense Coal Mine is Cristals of Basalt. I do not doubt Sir Joh: Banks having seen Basalt formed by Lava’s running into the sea; but merely offer it as a doubt, whether Nature has not in this case two methods of producing the same effect: For, according to his Theory, the Top of this Mountain should have been entirely under Water; which excludes the possibility of Wood being under Basalt, as Forest could not grow there, and that flooded Wood would occupy the highest part of the Sea; and consequently, be beyond the sphere of action of solid Basalt. I have some very fine pieces of the Wood, which I procured myself in the Mine, and it is so very perfect, that it bears in the Mine, with the action of Water and Air, the same plants Wood always does when put in a similar situation, and is in the first Stage of Decay. I am a little anxious to know the Species of Wood, which can be determined; and I carry specimens with me in hopes of meeting a Connoisseur of the internal texture of Woods.

As I write in Haste I cannot enlarge on the above subject, or enter on others: however I hope shortly Sir, to have the honor again to address you or Mr. William Franklin, to whom I beg my most affectionate regards.

I was very sorry to hear of your being attacked by the Gout; but as you assisted at the Experiments of Messrs Mongolfier & Charles, you must be of course recovered. My prayers will be ever for your health and happiness, being with the greatest respect, My Dear Sir, Your truly affectionate, devoted, and Obliged humble servant,

Samuel Vaughan Junr.

ps. The Queries I have taken the liberty to lay down Sir at the beginning of this letter respecting Mr. Mongolfiers Machine, are not merely from Curiosity. Plans are yet too young to mention, but if they are completed and attended with Success, the result will be of no small importance. The only demur is the Expense of Air, but I think too much cannot be known before hand; and therefore I should wish also to add one Query to the preceeding ones: What method Mr. Charles used to let out his Inflammable Air when he wished to descend. I beg My Congratulations to Mr. Charles, and Compliments to all American friends, and the good Abbés at Place Vendome.
Plan of the Top of the Weisner and part of the interior
A Branserode Level where Dr. Franklin entered with Sr. T Pringle
and Prof: Hollman of Gottingen.
A, B, D Parts of the Mountain at present worked. nb. The  
shew the length and direction of the Levels from the side of the Mountain; The Dotted Lines shew the parts   working, and the Parts entirely covered with Dots, shew the    of the bed of Coal excavated. More of the Bed of Coal has been taken than is here marked, particularly A D; but there was a possibility of ascertaining it.
C, C and Places where the Coal has been exploited, but deserted on
a of the badness of the Coal or similar reasons. In all these and yet other places I have myself found the Coal, and always the Basalt over and never under it. Lime, Sand, and Clays are found under the Coal: the particularities of which I can give if required. In a few posts I hope to send a Section of the Mountain which will shew the precise thickness of the Basalt, ascertained by the Barometer.
E, E, E &a The Highest points of the Mountain
F Attempts made formerly to sink shafts thro’ the Basalt to the
Coal. The Basalt is here not thick as the Mountain is a little on the descent.
Addressed: To / His Excellency Dr. Franklin, / Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, / at Passy, / near Paris. / franc Ffort
Endorsed: Vaughan Mr. Samuel 27 Decr. 1783.
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