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5138. MATCHES, Phosphoric.—

I should
have sent you a specimen of the phosphoric
matches, but that I am told Mr. Rittenhouse
has had some of them. They are a beautiful
discovery and very useful, especially to heads
which, like yours and mine, cannot at all times
be got to sleep. The convenience of lighting a
candle without getting out of bed, of sealing
letters without calling a servant, of kindling a
fire without flint, steel, punk, &c., is of value.—
To Charles Thomson. Ford ed., iv, 14.
(1784)