On Primary Ores of Iron. 355 



fa&ure to the forge pig, or oxygenated crude iron, part of 

 which is ufed to make a fine quality of bar-iron for the pur- 

 pofe of manufacturing into wire : for this end fome of the 

 manufacturers prefer carbonated iron, from which to fabri- 

 cate their bars, in order that a great fhare of ductility, ela- 

 fticity and ftrength may conjointly be united. Britifh bar- 

 iron, thus manufactured, far exceeds the fineft foreign marks, 

 in its aftonifhing ductility in the wife-drawer's gauge. 



When primary ores of iron are introduced into the pit- 

 coal blaft furnace, forming by weight a confiderable propor- 

 tion of the mixture, with the ufual proportion of coaks, the 

 refult is always oxygenated crude iron, unfit for any purpofe 

 but the forge manufacture. Experience, therefore, has taught 

 the fmelter to ufe them in fmall quantities, proportioned to 

 the meafure of iron-ftone applied at each charge of mate- 

 rials. Some have renounced the ufe of Cumberland and 

 Lancafhire ores, as being incompatible with the exiftence of 

 good melting pig-iron ; and the advocating for or againft 

 their ufe is at prefent a matter of local opinion. So much 

 is, however, decided regarding them, that primary ores of 

 iron in any proportion will, when improperly applied, pro- 

 duce oxygenated crude iron ; that iron-ftone, properly pro- 

 portioned with coaks, affords the fineft quality of crude iron ; 

 and, in the iron trade, it is ftill a defideratum, whether Cum- 

 berland and Lancafhire ores, when fmelted with pit-coal, 

 will afford in the large way a quality of pig-iron equal to 

 that prefcnlly made from iron-ftone. On this interefting 

 fubject I fhall make a few observations. I deem it intereft- 

 ing, fince, in many places on the coaft of Scotland, coal is 

 to be found in great quantity, where as yet a fufficient quan- 

 tity of iron-ftone has not been difcovered, or which from ap- 

 pearances likely never may : in fuch fituations, favoured by a 

 ready communication, cither to import materials, or to vend 

 raw or manufactured products, the Cumberland and Lan- 

 cashire ores might be purchafed and ufed with great econo- 

 A a % my, 



