k Tron=Stones ufed at the Blafi-Furnace. 393 
whofe form and fubfiance conftantly eludes our yifion ;' whofe 
exiftence is only afcertained by the wonderful changes pro+ 
duced by its various combinations with the iron; and whofe 
prefence in the fame iron-ftone, in various quantities, may: 
produce fuch variety of refult as to charaéerife the ores, as 
centaining good or bad iron, furely forms the moft intereft- 
img mixture which ores or iron-ftones poflefs, It will be a 
momentous epoch in the manufacture of iron when the ex- 
iftence of fuch a principle {hall be fully admitted by the ma- 
nufacturer, and its agency, from certain vifible effects pre- 
duced, adopted to explain its accompanying phenomena, 
Till that period he will not perceive the utility of afcertain- 
ing the quantity of oxygen, and_devifing ceconomical me- 
thods of taking it from the ore. An attention to this pow- 
erful principle can alone root out thofe prejudices fo inimical 
to the real interefts of the manufacturer, and which feem to 
glance at Nature, as having improvidently,, combined, her 
moft ufeful metal with mixtures which could refift the inge- 
nuity of man, or fet his comprehenfive intellect at defiance, 
In the progrefs of this great inquiry, is it not poflible that the 
prefent expenfive exertions may in part be fuperfeded? Is it 
not poflible, that, by laymg open the fources of \informa- 
tion to individuals at large, a greater mafs of intellect may 
engage in, the praétice of this art? While the prefent ex- 
tenfive and lofty buildings are neceflary, the bufinefs is en- 
tirely confined in the hands of men of great capital: the ex- 
tent of their manufactures require that alarge tract of coun- 
‘try be devoted to their fupply ; a natural confequence is, that 
innumerable fimall tracts of land are overlooked, or held un- 
worthy of notice, merely becaufe they cannot, in a period 
neceflary to clear a great capital and infure a fortune, affordé 
the neceffary fupply. of materials. Such fituations, accord- 
ing to the prefent fiate of the iron bufinefs, muft remain uns 
explored. Should, however, a defire for truth once gain foot- 
_ing in the manufaétories of iron, and fhould this natural 
-impulfe of the unprejudiced mind keep pace with other 
branches of intellectual information, we may not defpair of 
feeing many imperfections removed, which were the unavoid- 
able confequence of the period of their creation. ; 
In 
