1823.] Process of smelting Copper. 123 



It is worked by a steam-engine of 40 inch cylinder, and contains 

 four pair of rolls. The cakes of copper are here manufactured 

 into sheets and sheathings for export and home consumption. 

 It is packed into cases which are lowered from the mills into 

 vessels, and forwarded to the different markets. The shru$\ 

 that is, the edges (cut off on trimming the sheets), and the pickle 

 dust, or oxide of copper, that is collected in the cisterns on 

 cleaning them, are sent back to the refinery, and remelted. 



In other mills situated on the river about two miles above these 

 smelting works, and worked by water wheels, are also two pairs 

 of rolls for sheathing copper; a pair of rolls for cold rolled 

 sheathing ; a pair of bolt rolls, and two hammers. And at Hafod 

 is a nail manufactory for casting mixed metal nails and spikes 

 of all descriptions, brasses for engines, &c. 



These establishments contain 84 furnaces ; and are lighted 

 by gas lights, the operations being continued day and night. 



In these works with the engine, and the shipping dependent on 

 them, from 1400 to 1500 tons of coal are consumed weekly, afford- 

 ing employment to nearly 1000 people, or support to 3000 in family, 

 and producing a revenue to the port of Swansea from 400/. to 500/. 

 per annum, causing a circulation in the country of 1000/. a week; 

 in fact, we need only look to the rapid rise and prosperous 

 situation of the town of Swansea, to see at once the manifold 

 advantages of the smelting establishments to the neighbourhood. 

 At the period of the establishment of the first copper work on 

 the Swansea river, about a century ago, Swansea was a mere 

 insignificant village. In 1801 its population amounted to 6099, 

 and in 1821 to 10,255, making an increase in the last 20 years 

 of 4156. 



The trade of the port has increased to such an extent that the 

 number of vessels entering its harbour now amount to 2600 

 annually, producing a great revenue for the improvement of the 

 navigation, and employing a very considerable number of sea- 

 men. Reckoning 10 voyages a year to each vessel, the copper 

 trade would require constantly upwards of 100 sail, of 100 tons 

 each. The Swansea market is frequented from the country for the 

 distance of 15 to 20 miles, such is the demand for agricultural 

 produce of all sorts ; and land in the neighbourhood, owing to the 

 wealth and prosperity of the town, lets for double its real agricul- 

 tural value. The current expenditure of the smelting works in 

 South Wales cannot be less than 200,000/. and their consumption 

 and export of coal upwards of 200,000 chaldrons ; and in 

 Cornwall from 50,000 to 60,000 souls are dependent on the 

 mines. 



It appears from the statement in the second volume of the 

 Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, that 



