C 27 ] 



v. A?! "Exannnctlon of C. Clouet's nczu Proc^fs for 

 viakhig Cajl Steel J'r'jjn Bar Inn by tneanx of the Dccom- 

 fofithn of Carbotiic Jc'id. Bj David Mu.s«jst, jE/j', 

 qfihe Calder Iron U'orks '*. 



1 



N the prcTent extenfive (late of the u-on trade in Britain, 

 which exceeds in that manufa*Sture alowe the collective exer- 

 tions of all Europe, every difcovery which may lead to elu- 

 cidate the principles of this art, and place them upon a per- 

 manent foundation, or which may remove thofe local dii'ad- 

 vantages, the inevitable confequeuce of the ufe of pit-coal, 

 become highly interelling. To counterattthe inferior efle£ls 

 produced by this otherwife invaluable combuftihle in the 

 converlion of caft into malleable iron, and to produce Britifh 

 bar iron equal in quality for all purpofes, ftccl-making in- 

 cluded, to the foreign fabrics, would be an attainment of 

 much national importance. Multiplied bcycnd precedent 

 have been the modes devifed within the laft llfty years; but 

 as they have been merely modifications of each other, witli 

 no eflential change of principle in the operation, the refulls 

 have been confequent to the unvaried nature of the means. 

 Every new idea, therefore, ought to be feizcd with eagernefs, 

 accurately examined, and put to the teft of experiment. Ul- 

 timately great improvement may be drawn from a hint loofely 

 thrown out, or even derived from experiments, w hich, though 

 at firft fight engaging, may neither carry with them convic- 

 tion of principle, nor be produ<5live of eventual utility. Im- 

 prefled with a full conviction of thefe truths, the procefs foT 

 converting iron into fteel, communicated by the French chc- 

 mifts in the Journnt chs Mines, No. 45, appeared to me de- 

 fervin^ of a fair examination. To this procefs I alluded in 

 my laft comniunicalion, and to it I fliall now particularly 

 attend. 



The report of citizens Guyton and D'Arcet to the French 



National Inftitute, announcing this difcovery, fets forth, 



that C. Clouet, among other inventions, had devifed a 



method of converting iron into (teel by means of the de- 



, compofilion of the carbonic acid in lime. To prove thij^, 



lumes in quarto. 1 hnve need only of a few moments of philofophic Icl- 

 fure to put the laft hand to it ; but, can I hope for it after having been 

 pcrllcured with as much injiiftice as barbarity > 



* CommunicRtcd by the Autbor. — In Mr. Miifhet's paper given in 

 our Uft Number, Vol, xi. p. ai'g, line 16, iot Jlatt of ftcel/' read Jlute 

 offttcl. 



fcvcral 



