William Reid¹ to Faraday   April 1835²

Having been told by an officer of the Engineers in charge of the Government saw mill at Berbice³ that the timber sometime struck fire before the circular saws, I procured some head woods from the carriage department at Woolwich in 1830 and after burning part in a silver vessel with great care I proceeded to separate Iron, Magnesia, Silica, &c.-

In each trial however I had a considerable number of white metallic like shining particles, which in every process remaining smeltered, even when subjected to a white heat along with carbonate of potash as well as soda; nor did acids or chlorine affect them at all. I observe in my notes, made at the time, that they adhered to a Magnet when the wood was first reduced to ashes.

What could these particles be?

Wm. Reid

Address: Dr. Faraday | &c &c