MAN AND NATURE. 281 



the sun, if not in other more distant stars ; and on our 

 own earth subserving to the purposes and power of 

 Man more largely than any other. The chief function 

 of gold and silver is to represent the value of human 

 commodities in exchange. The great function of iron 

 is as an instrument to create these commodities, and to 

 facilitate and perfect their use. But it would be mere 

 declamation to expatiate here on the value of this 

 metal to mankind. Our business is only to state 

 briefly what England has done, and is yet doing, in 

 raising iron ores from beneath her soil, and giving 

 them by her furnaces and forges those several forms of 

 commercial value which are every day becoming more 

 various and more perfect in adaptation. A short 

 statement, given in round numbers, will best show the 

 progress of this great branch of national industry. In 

 1740, about 17,000 tons of iron were produced in 

 England, from 60 furnaces. In 1808, about 200,000 

 tons; in 1820, about 400,000; in 1827, 690,000 tons, 

 from 284 furnaces. In 1848, nearly two millions of 

 tons, of which more than a quarter were derived from 

 South Wales. The increase has continued, with only 

 transient interruptions, to the present time, when we 

 believe we may safely rate the amount at more than 

 four and a half million tons of annual produce, to 

 supply our own and the demands of the world an 

 amount, translated into money, of from ten to twelve 

 millions sterling. Had we space for statistics we 

 might speak of the great extent of the older iron-fields 

 in South Wales, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and Scotland ; 

 and of the several recent discoveries of iron^ ore in 



