128 Of the Management of Fire 



machine so very useful that I cannot help flattering 

 myself that it will soon come into general use. The 

 saving of fuel which it occasions is almost incredible, 

 and the meat roasted in it is remarkably well-tasted and 

 high-flavoured. 



One of these roasters, on a large scale, was put up, 

 under my direction, in the kitchen of the Foundling 

 Hospital in London ; and though I could not stay in 

 England to see it finished, I have had the satisfaction 

 to learn, since my arrival at Munich, from my friend, 

 Mr. Bernard (who is treasurer to the hospital), that it 

 has answered even beyond his expectations. He in- 

 forms me, that when 112 Ibs. of beef are roasted in it 

 at once, the expense for fuel amounts to no more than 

 four pence sterling; and this when the coals are reck- 

 oned at an uncommonly high price, namely, at is. ^d. 

 the bushel. 



In the roaster belonging to the kitchen of the Military 

 Academy at Munich I caused 100 Ibs. Bavarian weight 

 (equal to 123.84 Ibs. avoirdupois) of veal, in six large 

 pieces, to be roasted at once, as an experiment ; the fuel 

 consumed was 33 Ibs. Bavarian weight of dry pine-wood 

 (equal to 40.86 Ibs. avoirdupois), which (at 4^ florins 

 the klafter, weighing 2967 Ibs. Bavarian weight) cost 3 

 kreutzers, or about one penny sterling. 



This experiment was made in the year 1 792. Hap- 

 pening to mention the result of it in a large company 

 in London, soon after my arrival there in the autumn of 

 the year 1795, I had the mortification to perceive very 

 plainly by the countenances of my hearers how danger- 

 ous it is to promulgate very extraordinary truths. I 

 afterwards grew more cautious, and should not now 

 have ventured to publish this account, had not the 



