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purchase the lease, together with all the machinery and other 
materials, for 4600. 
In the inventory of the property and materials, the following 
particulars are given: — “ The buildings belonging to the 
furnace are very extensive, large, and convenient, being 
three large coal houses, which will contain charcoal or coke 
sufficient for a year’s blast; three commodious houses for the - 
storing of iron ores; three dwelling houses for workmen; a 
large and convenient casting house, with a very good furnace, 
both adjoining to the blast furnace, by which the foundry 
branch may be carried on to the greatest extent; seven- 
teen ovens for charring coals, built on an improved plan, and 
which make a cinder superior to any other method; and a neat 
well-built dwelling house, most agreeably situated, and very 
convenient for the works.” 
The old Maryport furnace, when erected, would be considered 
a large and costly structure,—the pride of its owners; now its 
venerable features and dilapidated pyramidal form look down on 
us as from a past generation, usefully encouraging us by the 
evidence of its past efforts, and warning us to avoid its defects. 
The base of the furnace measures, outside, thirty feet square ; 
the height, thirty six-feet; to the top of the chimney portion, seven 
feet more. The present inside diameter of the bottom is eight 
feet; at seven feet above the bottom, the diameter at the bosh is 
twelve feet six inches. It is built of solid masonry of red sand- 
stone, lined with brick. 
The defective principle on which it was built (square instead 
of round) is shewn by the large cracks at the side, caused by the 
destructive action of heating and cooling, which could not be 
uniform in such a structure. 
The papers I have just referred to, afford evidence that 
the working of the furnace was occasionally stopped for want 
of water to turn the wheel which worked the blast cylinders. 
This uncertain supply of water in summer would be a constant 
source of anxiety to the owners, from which future iron masters 
were relieved by the invention of the steam engine. Indeed, I am 
