WILLIAM GOSSAGE 17 



black-ash furnace, dispenses with some of the 

 more cumbersome parts of the old plant, at the 

 same time producing an ash of high strength 

 and comparable in quality with that made by 

 the ammonia process." 



It would indeed be a most gratifying result 

 if, after all, the crowning prize of the labours 

 of these fifty years was awarded to the son of 

 the man who was the first to enter the lists, 

 and who fought to the end of his days with 

 such courage and determination. 



In 1843, a patent was taken out jointly by 

 William Gossage and Henry Hussey Vivian 

 (the present Sir Henry Hussey Vivian, M.P.), 

 for improvements in treating and reducing 

 ores of zinc, also certain improvements in 

 furnaces to be used for reducing ores of zinc, 

 etc. This appears to have been a first essay 

 in metallurgy, and for a time Swansea became 

 the field of work. The valley of the Tawe 

 would present a scene that would move the 

 inventor of the towers for condensing muriatic 

 acid to grapple with the condensation of 

 copper smoke. At that time large quantities 

 of sulphurous and arsenious, as well as hydro- 

 fluoric acids, were emitted from the low stacks 

 of the works that had been built along the 

 river side. The principal ores then smelted 



