3 1 6 Method of ihcreajing the Heat of Firei. 



There are Tome clrcumftances which (Irongly indicate that an admixture of incombudiblc 

 bodies with fuel, and efpeciiilly with coal, caufe an increafe of the heat, even when the 

 fuel is burnt in a clofed fire place> No fire-place can well be contrived more completely 

 clofed than thofe of the iron ftoves in common ufe in the Netherlands ; but jii thefe (loves, 

 which are heated by coal fires, a large proportion of wet clay is always coarfely mixed with 

 tlie coals before they are introduced into the fire-place. If this practice had not been found 

 to be ufeful it would certainly never have obtained generally, nor would it have been con- 

 tinued, as it has been, for more than two hundred years. 



The combination of different fubftances, combuftible, and incombuftible, to form, ar- 

 tificially, various kinds of cheap and pleafant fuel, particularly adapted for the different 

 procefles in which the fuel is employed, is a fubjecl well worthy of the attention of enter- 

 prizing and ingenious men. How much excellent fuel, for inftance, might be made with 

 proper additions, and proper management, of the mountains of refufe coal dull that lie 

 ufelefs at the mouths of coal pits ; and how much would it contribute to cleaulinefs and 

 elegance if the ufe of improved coke, or of hard and light fire balls, could be generally 

 introduced in our houfes and kitchens, inftead of crude, black, powdery, dirty, fea coal. 

 Of the great economy that would refult froin fuch a change there cannot be the fmalleft 

 doubt. 



It is a melancholy truth, but, at the fame time, a mod undifputable fadt, that, while 

 the induftry and ingenuity of millions are employed, with unceafing a£tivity, in inventing, 

 improving, and varying thofe fuperfluities which wealth and luxury introduce into fociety, 

 no attention whatever is paid to the improvement of thofe common necefTaries of life on 

 which the fubfiftence of all, and the comforts and enjoyments of the great majority of man., 

 kind, abfolutely depend. 



Much will be done for the benefit of fociety, if means can be devlfed to call the attenn. 

 tion of the active and benevolent to this long negleiSted, but mod interefting, fubjeft. 



The Royal Inftitution feems to be well calculated to facilitate and expedite the accom- 

 plithment of this important objeft. Indeed it is more than probable that this, precifely, 

 is the objeft which was principally had in view in the foundation and arrangement of that 

 eftablifliment. 



w. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS, ACCOUNTS OF BOOKS, S(c. 



Dijeafes of hor?>ed Cattle and Sheep, 



P. Whyte, Efq. of Worcefter, has drawn the outline of a plan for afcertaining 

 and defining the diiferent difeafes of horned cattle and flieep, their caufes, and means of 

 prevention or cure. He intends to publifh a profpeftus fpeedily ; but in the mean time his 

 outline, which is of fome length, appears in that ufeful work " the Annals of Agriculture" 

 The prefent propofals are as follow : 



4 I. That 



