522 Of Chimney Fireplaces. 



coals will burn than could possibly be made to burn in 

 a grate where they would be more exposed to be cooled 

 by the surrounding air, or to have their heat carried off 

 by being in contact with iron, or with any other sub- 

 stance through which heat passes with greater facility 

 than through fire-stone. 



Being persuaded that, if the improvements in chimney 

 fireplaces here recommended should be generally adopted 

 (which I cannot help flattering myself will be the case), 

 it will become necessary to reduce, very considerably, 

 the sizes of grates, I was desirous of showing how this 

 may, with the greatest safety and facility, be done. 



Where grates, which are designed for rooms of a 

 middling size, are longer than 14 or 15 inches, it will 

 always be best, not merely to diminish their lengths, by 

 filling them up at their two ends with fire-stone, but, 

 forming the back of the chimney of a proper width, 

 without paying any regard to the length of the grate, to 

 carry the covings through the two ends of the grate in 

 such a manner as to conceal them, or at least to conceal 

 the back corners of them in the walls of the covings. 



I cannot help flattering myself that the directions 

 here given in regard to the alterations which it may be 

 necessary to make in fireplaces, in order to introduce 

 the improvements proposed, will be found to be so 

 perfectly plain and intelligible that no one who reads 

 them will be at any loss respecting the manner in which 

 the work is to be performed; but as order and arrange- 

 ment tend much to facilitate all mechanical operations, 

 I shall here give a few short directions respecting the 

 manner of laying out the work, which may be found use- 

 ful, and particularly to gentlemen who may undertake 

 to be their own architects, in ordering and directing the 



