é [: 32g 
HIE. On the Prodwtion of Caft Irox, and the Operations of tha q 
Blaft-Furnace. By Mr. Davip MusuHet, of the Clyde 
Tron-Waorks. Communicated by the Author. 
L was my wifh, in the papers preceding this communica-+ 
tion, to convey a clear and competent idea of the nature of © 
iron as a metal; as alfo of ores, and iron-ftones in general. 
~ T have endeavoured to explain, upon principles grounded on 
experiment, the chief agents of change in the fmelting ope- 
ration, fo far as they affect the quality of the materials pre- 
‘ pared. J have aimed at perfpicuity rather than minutenefs, 
which often becomes tedious; and renee: the facts may 
not. be conveyed in a ftyle fo popular as communications, 
which profefs a conveyance of praétical truths, generally are, 
yet, I truft, this wall form no real bar to their utility. When 
facts are to be learned, and principles fatisfaétorily explained, 
it is furely beft to begin by the examination of fimple caufes; 
and tracing their agency according to their quantities, rela- 
tive proportions, and affinities. Thefe faéts. will undonbt~ 
edly, in the end, be more radically underftood by ufing fuck 
_ phrafes, er figns, 2s denote i each a refpective quality af. _ 
fixed in confequence of a knowledge of its properties and ef-s 
fects. In fhort, if the language ot reafoning of our manu~ 
factories is ever to become fcientific ; if philofophy and che- 
tuaitry are ever to become of general utility in the perfection 
ef any branch; then thofe truths which conftitute the foun< 
gation of all feience are not to be rejected, though clothed — 
ina drefs which at firft fight appears difcordant to our ha. 
bits, or burdenfome to our memory. 
_ The operations I am about to defcribe have never as yet 
received any explanation confonant to true philofophy or — 
chemical facts ; yet there are few which prefent a more beau- 
, tiful chain of affinities, decompofition, and recombination, 
than the manufacture of dron in all its various ftages. An 
extenfive foundry is a laboratory fraught with phenomena of — 
the moft interefting nature in chemiftry and natural philo= 
fophy : are we not then juftly furprifed to find that prejudice 
‘ Rub 
