Letter received by Banks from William Kent, 6 December 1801 (Series 30.14) - No. 0004

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Fontley 30th Nov.r 1801

Dear Sir

          In answer to yours the lump of Iron Ore you sh'd to me I have no doubt if it had been properly smelted w.d have produced soft Cast Iron from which mealiable rought Iron may have been made but the Iron that was extracted from it appeard [appeared] to have been part burnt rather in a State of crude Cast Iron. I may say betwixt cast & rought the quantity was so small or it may have been Workd in an Air Furnace & brought into a State of rought Iron then a Smith may have workd it - but then if that Single lump of Ore had produced but indifferent Iron it ought not to have been condemnd or in all the Mines of Iron that I have seen & Work'd, there is different beds or Stratums under each other which in general are of different qualitys by smelting these together or leaving part out as will soon be found which is best, Iron of a good quallity is produced - from the description you gave me of New South Wales & the