36 On preventing the injurious Effects resulting from the 



the passage without apprehension, because in the process of 

 melting mere is far less offensive matter disengaged, and of 

 course less to pi-ecipitate, than m calcinatiofi. It is fair also to 

 take into consideration that our stack or chimney is not the 

 most favourable in its formation, being very open and much 

 wider than the flues. He argues further, that the construction 

 of a smelting-fornace is calculated to increase a draught to the 

 utmost, whilst that of a calckier is calculated to check its di- 

 rect velocity, because an intense heat would be improper for 

 that part of the process. Now the calciner at Cadoxton be- 

 came so hot, when the fire for drying the flues was at its height, 

 that the doors were red hot, — a degree of heat far too great 

 for calcination, and this too, let it be observed, with your ovon 

 coal*, which would do nothing with the old flues, and which 

 the copper Avorks could not use without a mixture of bituminous 

 coal." 



As to the objection on account of the newness of the flues, I 

 cannot refuse my assent to the argument with which it is re- 

 butted by the superintendant: he says the flues had smoke 

 from a roaring furnace passing through them for 48 hours be- 

 fore they were used in the experiment, being composed of 

 bricks and thin tile-stone ; the former only on edge, and vidth 

 no more mortar between them than serves to close the inter- 

 stices; such a process would be likely to exhaust a large por- 

 tion of their moisture. Then, as for the new lime, that also 

 was become nearly dry, and was in too small a quantity to pro- 

 duce any specific effect. Then we come to the facts developed 

 on inspecting the flues: they were coated with the matters de- 

 posited, consequently the surface of this coating could not be 

 affected by the substances beneath the substratum of deposit : 

 however, those and all other objections ought to be fairly met, 

 and this can be done only by a perseverance in the experi- 

 ment. We have spoken to several intelligent gentlemen, who 

 will come and give us theu' remarks on the next calcination. 



From this report there appears good reason for believing 

 that the principles, exemplified by this experiment, will put an 

 end to a nuisance more destructive to animal and vegetable 

 life than any other existing in this kingdom. 



The deposit from the regular copper-works in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Swansea and Neath (in which many chaldrons of 

 coals are consumed every hour, day and night, throughout the 

 year) must be immense, and it will be matter of curious inquiry, 



* The coal here alluded to is a sort of inferior culm, fit for little else than 

 lime-burning: it has little or no binding quality, and will not coke ; so that 

 without a mixture of binding coal it has always been considered unfit for 

 the copper-sracltcr. 



whether 



