On the Manufaétures of Iron and Steel. 347- 
diftinguithes the artillerift, and the manufa@ture of the pre- 
fent times. 
' Hitherto caft and malleable iron were obtained from ores 
with the charcoal of wood, and the manufacture of thefe 
articles had acquired certainty and extent. 
If credit could be given to the mefallum marks of Dudley, 
in the rath year of James, anno 1615, there were at that 
_ period not lefs than 300 blaft furnaces for finelting iron ore 
with charcoal; each of which had fuel, upon an average, for 
40 weeks per annum. The average produce incrude iron at 
each furnace, 13 tons per week, makes the total annual 
quantity 180,000 tons * ; for the produétion of this aftonith- 
ing quantity, calculating at the rate’ of two loads of charcoal 
for each ton of iron, and reckoning 8 ewt. charcoal to each 
load, we find the amazing quantity of 144,c00 tons of 
charcoal neceflary. As wood in charring nearly affords bulk 
for bulk, and as a cubic foot will be found to weigh on 
an average nearly 18-75 pounds avoirdupoife, we find that 
17,310,000 cubical feet of timber was neceflary to produce 
this quantity of charcoal, Again, let this quantity of char- 
éval be valued at the prefent price (in Scotland), viz. 4/. per 
ton, its value will amount to 576,000/. a fum little fhort 
of the annua! value of all the pig iron manufactured. at this 
time in England, Scotland and Wales. 
Mr. Dudley alfo informs us, that at the fame period there 
were reckoned 500 forges and iron mills for refining the 
crude iron, and making it into malleable bars. Thefe on 
an average made 3 tons each per week, for 50 weeks an- 
nually = 150 X 500, annual produce in bar iron 75,000 
tons ; a produce little fhort of the whole annual export of the 
Ruffian and Swedifh markets. Three loads of charcoal were 
requifite to refine metal for 1 ton of bar iron; fo that, if the 
above calculation of 8 cwt. to each load is adopted, a further 
* Upwards of 80,oco tons more than is at prefent manufactured in 
Britain with pit-coal. 
quantity 
