Jean-Antoine CHAPTAL (1756-1832). L.S., Paris 17 prairial IX (June 5, 1801), to the régisseurs des Salines Nationales; 3 1/2 pages in-4 headed Le Ministre de l'Intérieur, small vignette. The Académie des Sciences has proposed "a prize for the indication of processes suitable for the large-scale extraction of soda from sea salt". The problem was not really solved, but Citizen Carny had worked hard on it, obtaining an exclusive privilege in 1789 and a patent in 1791. Carny proposed to continue his experiments and asked to go to "Dieuze or another national saltworks, that there he be delivered a sufficient quantity of sulfate & muriate of soda, that he be supplied with the necessary objects and utensils, & that a commissioner charged with following this experiment report to me". ...Chaptal believes that the results of these experiments "could create a new branch of industry among us, which would free the Republic from the tribute it pays abroad for the soda it imports into France", and asks his correspondents to contribute to this project...