S On a Projected Machine for Sweeping Chimnej/s. [Aug. 1, 



which I have stated my plan; but I \atures, but tliis difticiifty vanishes l>e- 



hopethat my suggestion will lead to the fore the weight of the bullet. To this 



adoption of some method for relieving ]AAn, however, and indeed every other 



the very grievous sufleriugs of those who that can be proposed without the use of 



boys, there is one formidable objection, 

 which has never been candidly allowed 

 by any of the persons who have vaunted 

 of their inventions. Tlie soot produced 

 from t!ie Scotch coal is, it seems, always 

 light, free, aiul easily dro))s off; whereas 

 that from the English coal, being more 



labour in the tillage of the land 

 3Iaij 29, \8\6. 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



•SIR, 



CHIMNEY-swecpcrs, on accoimt 

 of their extreme youth, their nn- , ^ 

 pleasant and dangerous occupatioti, and viscous, in certain situations cakes and 

 from being continually exposed to view hardens to such a degree as to re<]uire 

 in their dismal garb, have, at all times the forcible operation of scraping. It is 

 greatly excited the compassion of the difficult to conceive how any exertion, 

 public. Alvowt twelve years ago very other than manual acti\itj', could per- 

 earnest exertions v. ere made to supply form sn eh kind of work. If, however, 

 their place by some mechanical inven- the concretions uniformly take place 

 tion. A society, composed of the most at the top, as I suspect they do, by the 

 respectable peisons, was formed, for the co-operation of the weather, by working 

 sole purpose cither of snpersediiig their from above, they may perhaps be eradi- 

 necessity altogether, or of ameliorating cated by means of some iiistrumeiit re- 

 flieir condition; but no good of any kiiul seml)liiig a rake, which, with the brush 

 Was eflected. Various macliines were and bullet, will, it is likely, completely 

 indeed produced, with sangui;-:" hopes of s\\ rep every chimney, 

 success: for some of them patents were Eut, if it be found altogether impossi- 

 procured, and they were publicly advcr- ble to accomplish this operation without 

 tised for practice. Their merits, how- the assistance of boys, it may give some 

 ever, having been carefully investigated case to the minds of the humane to meii- 

 by a committee of the society, and also tion, that, of the tlirce or four whom 

 by a committee of the Sociely of Arts, I aoeidentally met with, none ex- 

 they were all found insufficient. This pressed any discontent at their occnpa- 

 subject has been lately revived at a lion. As they happen to be objects of 

 meeting held in the Mansion-house, on universal commiseration, they are kind- 

 the 12th of this month. The speeches ly treated by families, who often give 

 of the gentlemen present were full of them money and victuals gratuitously, 

 humane sentiments; but it might also They are cheered, too, with the |iros- 

 have been expected that some new and pect of soon becoming masters, which, 

 well-authenticated facts would have as it is attended with hardly any ex- 

 been brought forward as the foundation pense, is within every one's reach. All, 

 of their present proceedings. At the as I am told, who do not chuse this pro- 



same time it would have been iJiojier 

 to have given some account of the 

 former attempt, and the re;isons of its 

 failure ; and likewise to have explained 

 their present prospects of success. 



In Scotland chimneys are swept very 



fession, when full grown, become coach- 

 men. I have not heard that they are 

 noted for being reduced to a slate of va- 

 grancy, or of often being obliged to be 

 sailors or soldiers. 



The chimnevs in Scotland are not, as 



easily, and always cllectnally, by a sim- here, topped with earthen lubes or pots, 



pie kind of machinery, which is "worked which might, i)erhaps, encumber persons 



from above ; wheicai all the machines attempting to sweep from above. I 



attempted here were planned to work wonld ask those who can inform, what 



from below, which I iiiuigine was one are the uses of these tubes? Certainly, 



cause of their not succeeding. Through- in point of architectural elegance, they 



out the whole of tiiat country, men only have a very unsightly broken appear- 



are employed, generally bricklayers, 

 who ascend by a door in tlie roof, with 

 which every house is furnished. A rope 

 is gently let down the chimney, to which 

 is suspended a bullet and a brush, and, 

 by passing them upwards and down- 

 wards once or twice, it is always sulh 

 eieiitly cleaned. I'hc English niacin 



ance. Tl'.e mere circumstance of addi- 

 tional elevation cannot render them the 

 more useful, as on that supposition all 

 chimneys would perform well in propor- 

 tion to their height, which we know docs 

 iiothold true. If, as has been said, tliat the 

 final exit of the smoke is accelerated by 

 the smoothness and rotundity of the 



ocry was greatly embarrassed with cur? tubes, surely the same degree of smooth^ 

 1 ness 



