and the Economy of Fuel. 5 



by agriculture, if wood be used as fuel, as the propor- 

 tion of woodland to arable must depend in a great 

 measure on the consumption of fire-wood, any saving 

 of fuel will be attended with a proportional diminution 

 of the forests reserved for fire -wood, consequently with 

 an increase of the lands under cultivation, with an in- 

 crease of inhabitants and of national wealth, strength 

 and prosperity. 



But what renders this subject peculiarly interesting is 

 the great relief to the poor in all countries, and partic- 

 ularly in all cold climates, and in all great cities in every 

 climate, that would result from any considerable dimi- 

 nution of the price of fuel, or from any simple contriv- 

 ance by which a smaller quantity of this necessary 

 article than they now are obliged to employ to make 

 themselves comfortable might be made to perform the 

 same services. Those who have never been exposed 

 to the inclemencies of the seasons who have never 

 been eye-witnesses to the sufferings of the poor in their 

 miserable habitations, pinched with cold and starving 

 with hunger can form no idea of the importance to 

 them of the subject which I propose to treat in this 

 Essay. 



To all those who take pleasure in doing good to man- 

 kind by promoting useful knowledge, and facilitating 

 the means of procuring the comforts and conveniencies 

 of life, these investigations cannot but be very inter- 

 esting. 



Though it is generally acknowledged that there is a 

 great waste of fuel in all countries, arising from igno- 

 rance and carelessness in the management of fire, yet 

 few very few, I believe are aware of the real 

 amount of this waste. 



