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Romans employed methods which were substantially thc 

 same as those now in use. But our iron furnaces may be 

 regarded as the growth of modern times : so entirely do 

 they surpass the exploits of antiquity both in extent, and 

 in metallurgic science. The vast and almost inexhaustible 

 strata of clay iron-stone, belonging to our carboniferous 

 series, -which keep our immense furnaces incessantly at 

 work, were scarcely touched by the Romans. The kinds 

 of ore which they smelted, were principally those which 

 engage the attention of rüde nations, and which occur in 

 comparatively small quantities near the surface of the 

 ground, such as bog iron-ore, hematite, and nodules, dis- 

 seminated through rocks of a comparatively recent geolo- 

 gical epoch. Under these restrictions we find clear and 

 abundant traces of Roman iron-works in England. 



"In Strabo's days," says MJP. Pennant (l. c), "iron was 

 in great plenty, as he mentions it among articles of expor- 

 tation (L. IV. p. 279)." Mr. Pennant also gives the 

 following account : " Immense beds of iron cinders are to 

 this day found in the Forest of Dean, the reliques of the 

 Romans ; others in Monmouthshire ; another was dis- 

 covered near Miskin, the seat of Win. Basset, Esq., 

 beneath which were found a coin of Antoninus Pius, and a 

 piece of earthen-ware (Archoeologia, n., 14) ; and finally 

 others in Yorkshire, also accompanied with coins ;* all 

 which evince the frequency of iron foundries during the 

 period of the Roman reign in Britain. These cinders are 

 not half exhausted of their metal ; for the Romans knew 

 only the weak powers of the foot-blast. They are now 

 worked over again, and yield a more kindly metal than 



* " A notable examj le is mentioned by Whitaker of Roman coins being 

 found in cinders turned up at Brierly, in the West Riding of Yorkshire." 

 — Taylor's Archaeology of the Coal Trade, p. 151, in the Newcastle Memoin 

 of Arch. Institute, vol 1. 



