164; On the Origin and Discovciy of lion. 



queror of the world disdained not to accept. In other words, 

 the gift in our times could be purchased by the labour of one 

 man for 240 days, equivalent in our money to 30/. or 40/. 



But to I'eturn to' the subject of iron, — to trace if possible 

 those probable steps by which it was first placed in the scale of 

 manufactured products. I say probable steps, for I am afraid 

 there does not now exist in this or any other country a clue 

 by which the rise and progress of this art may with certainty 

 be traced, an art which has given man the mastery over all 

 other metals and minerals, and has conferred on him the un- 

 rivalled dominion of the universe. Yet whilst the exploits of 

 the conqueror and the intrigues of the demagogue are faith- 

 fully preserved through a succession of ages, the persevering 

 and unobtrusive efforts of genius, developing the best blessings 

 of the Deity to man, are for ever consigned to oblivion. 



The uncertamty of obtaining ii'on in tlie mode by which it 

 was originally discovered, would probably give rise to a spe- 

 cific operation for this purpose. The powerful effects of air 

 in raising the temperature would soon be appreciated, and its 

 current by various contrivances directed upon the burning 

 fuel. The CEConomy of the latter, the attenuation and concen- 

 tration of the heat, would next become objects of considera- 

 tion; and ilifferent rude contrivances with stone and mortar 

 would for a time stimulate the labour and exhaust the patience 

 of the daring metallurgist. From manifold combinations 

 there- would at last result a furnace capabie of producing uni- 

 form results. Greatly delighted must this early worker in iron 

 have been, when he found he could obtain by regular rules of 

 process, that which had only existed by chance. This feeling 

 must have been equally shared with the more early inventors 

 or extractors of other metals, and in many respects -enjoyed by 

 them in a superior degree. The production of a crude in- 

 fusible mass of iron withdrawn from the furnace, burning by 

 its own intense temperature, surrounded by scoria, and com- 

 pressed to form by repeated blows, would seem a less perfect 

 result than a pure molten stream of brass or copper issuing 

 from the crucible ol the founder, and becoming in the mould, 

 by a creation simultaneous with its existence, matter of the 

 most perfect shape and figure. 



If, however, we were to appreciate the merits of the respec- 

 tive discoveries by the unwearied and unremitting labour em- 

 ployed in botli cases, the palm of excellence would probably 

 be bestowed on the ruder worker in iron. Less ingenuity 

 and contrivance would be apparent ; but an uncommon stretch 

 of toil and labour only could have crowned his labours with 

 success. 



As 



