530 Reviews. | July, 
and Zine. We have no special history introductory to the Manufac- 
tures of Tron and Steel, but a short sketch at the conclusion of the 
work. Much, it is true, will be found in the descriptions of the 
various processes, which is, in fact, their history. Still, we should 
have been pleased, as we believe many others would also have been, 
had the author devoted as much research to the History of the Metal- 
lurgy of Iron and Steel as he has done to that of Copper. 
The Physical and Chemical properties of Iron are most ably dealt 
with, and every problem of interest im connection with the production 
of this valuable metal is carefully examined. The different states of 
grey iron, white iron, and mottled iron have been subjects of close inves- 
tigation. Dr. Percy gives us his own researches into the modes of 
existence of Carbon in Iron on which these states depend, and also 
some account of every inquiry of any value which has been made by 
British or by Continental Chemists and Metallurgists. 
Spiegeleisen, or specular cast-iron, which is now a product of the 
highest importance to the Iron and Steel manufacturer, has, of course, 
claimed a considerable share of Dr. Percy’s attention. He clearly 
refers the peculiarity of this metal to the Manganese, which he finds 
in combination. Yet, he states sufficiently all the evidence which has 
been adduced to prove Spiegeleisen to be a definite compound of 
Carbon and Iron, the Manganese playing an unimportant part. 
All the great questions of the combination of Silicon, Phosphorus, 
Sulphur, Titanium, and Tungsten with Iron or Steel are carefully 
examined, and this section of the work deserves the most careful 
attention of every Iron master. The numerous alloys of Iron are 
described, and most of the patent inventions (?) connected with this 
much disputed question, of the merit or demerit of alloying Iron or 
Steel with other metals, have a large share of attention. 
The analyses of British Iron Ores is exceedingly complete. In 
1851 Mr. 8S. H. Blackwell collected with much care, industry, and 
cost, examples of the ores then known. These were displayed by that 
gentleman in the Great Exhibition, and a very careful description of 
them, by him, will be found in the large catalogue of that Exhibition. 
This collection was given by Mr. Blackwell to the Museum of Prac- 
tical Geology, and with it the sum of 500/ “towards defraying the 
cost of analyzing all the more important of those ores.” Analyses 
have been made in Dr. Percy’s Laboratory of a very large number of 
these ores, and published, with descriptions of their modes of occur- 
rence, at the expense of the Government.* The collected analyses, 
therefore, given in this work, are of the most trustworthy and 
complete character. The processes of smelting [ron in all parts of 
the world are described. We believe we may safely say that the 
author gives descriptions of every variety of Iron Furnace in use, and 
in nearly every case, the accompanying drawings are to scale. The 
sections of the English Blast Furnace which are given, are remarkable 
examples of the amount of care which has attended every stage of the 
* «Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain; The Iron Ores of 
Great Britain, parts 1. 2, 3,4.’ Longman & Ce, London. 
