508 Of Chimney Fireplaces. 



Plate X., Fig. 5, shows the section of a chimney on 

 the common construction, in which d e is the throat. 



Fig. 6 shows the section of the same chimney 

 altered and improved, in which di is the reduced throat. 



The breast of a chimney is that part of it which is 

 immediately behind the mantle. It is the wall which 

 forms the entrance from below, into the throat of the 

 chimney in front, or towards the room. It is opposite 

 to the upper extremity of the back of the open fireplace, 

 and parallel to it ; in short, it may be said to be the back 

 part of the mantle itself. In the figures 5 and 6, it is 

 marked by the letter d. The width of the throat of the 

 chimney (d e, Fig. 5, and d i y Fig. 6) is taken from the 

 breast of the chimney to the back, and its length is taken 

 at right angles to its width, or in a line parallel to the 

 mantle (a, Figs. 5 and 6). 



Before I proceed to give particular directions respect- 

 ing the exact forms and dimensions of the different 

 parts of a fireplace, it may be useful to make such 

 general and practical observations upon the subject as 

 can be clearly understood without the assistance of 

 drawings ; for the more complete the knowledge of 

 any subject is, which can be acquired without drawings, 

 the more easy will it be to understand the drawings when 

 it becomes necessary to have recourse to them. 



The bringing forward of the fire into the room, 

 or rather bringing it nearer to the front of the opening 

 of the fireplace, and the diminishing of the throat of 

 the chimney, being two objects principally had in view 

 in the alterations in fireplaces here recommended, it is 

 evident that both these may be attained, merely by bring- 

 ing forward the back of the chimney. The only ques- 

 tion therefore is, how far it should be brought forward. 



