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THE OLD MARYPORT FURNACE, AND ITS PLACE 
IN THE HISTORY OF IRON MANUFACTURE. 
By JOHN ADDISON. 
(Read at Maryport. ) 
In preparing the following paper, I soon observed that a mere 
history of the old Maryport Furnace would be so short, and 
possibly of so little interest, except to those connected directly or 
indirectly with the smelting of iron, that it would be well, in order 
_ to interest the members generally, to give some particulars of the 
development and progress of the Iron Manufacture from ancient 
q times up to the year 1752, when the old furnace was commenced. 
9 Also to call attention to the marvellous progress made in the art 
_ since 1783, when that furnace stopped working for want of the 
constant and uniform power which the steam engine has subse- 
- quently supplied, and which is necessary for maintaining a steady 
and unfailing blast; for the lack also of that extended scientific 
knowledge then so greatly needed, but which has since been 
_ brought to bear with such successful results on the construction 
_ of furnaces of suitable size and form for the work required of them: 
progress made by the application of Chemistry to the analysis 
_ of the ore, limestone, and fuel, fixing and regulating from time to 
_ time the relative proportions, so as to secure the most economical 
- results, 
