492 Life of Count Rumford. 



This Essay treats of the more common imperfections 

 in the plan, construction, and machinery of kitchen 

 fireplaces, and of the means for remedying them ; gives 

 descriptions of many kitchens, public and private, then 

 in operation, made under his own oversight and direc- 

 tions, that on which he prided himself most being 

 in the house of Baron de Lerchenfield, at Munich, and 

 suggests the necessary alterations and improvements 

 that may be made in open fireplaces, for cooking, and 

 the superiority of closed ones, and of nests of ovens, 

 with a condemnation of smoke-jacks as fearfully waste- 

 ful. Then we have a full description of his famous 

 roasters, with improvements. He had found, on his 

 return to England, that this invention of his had in 

 some places fallen into discredit on trial, and that its 

 use had not in all cases vindicated its advantages for 

 promised convenience and economy. These failures he 

 ascribed to a neglect of the rules which he had so care- 

 fully given for its construction, and to the heedlessness 

 or prejudices of cooks. He sets himself resolutely to 

 maintain its value, and to expose the errors of its con- 

 struction or use. He took pains to instruct an iron- 

 monger, Mr. Summers, of New Bond Street, and his 

 cook, how to set a roaster, and to make daily use of it 

 in his kitchen, to show to his customers in the presence 

 of other cooks. He also prevailed on an intelligent 

 bricklayer to be taught how to set roasters properly, 

 and to follow directions without deviation ; everything 

 depending upon accuracy in this matter. Nearly a 

 thousand of these roasters appear, as the result of the 

 Count's efforts, to have been set up in the next two 

 years. As he always positively refused to take out a 

 patent, or in any way to restrict the freest use of any of 



