142 Of the Management of Fire 



where the heat is greatest, the steam, being by this cov- 

 ering prevented from giving off its heat to the air 

 through the tube, will go on farther and warm those 

 parts of the hall which otherwise would be not suffi- 

 ciently heated. The steam tube, which is constructed of 

 very thin sheet lead, is about 3 inches in diameter, and, 

 instead of being laid exactly in a horizontal position, 

 slopes a little upwards, just so much that the water which 

 results from the condensation of the steam may return 

 into the boiler.* 



The horizontal flue through which the smoke passes 

 is a round tube of sheet iron, about 7 inches in diame- 

 ter, divided, for the facility of cleaning it, in lengths 

 of 12 or 15 feet, fixed nearly horizontally at different 

 heights from the floor, or, in an interrupted line, in 

 hollow pilasters or square columns of brick-work. A 

 common hothouse flue constructed of bricks and mor- 

 tar would have answered equally well for warming the 

 hall, but would have taken up too much room, which 

 is the only reason it was not preferred to these iron 

 tubes. 



* I contrived a fire-place for heating one of the principal churches in Dub- 

 lin on these principles with steam (but without making use of the smoke) ; and 

 I promised to give a plan (which, I am ashamed to say, I have not yet been able 

 to finish) for heating the superb new building destined for the meeting of the 

 Irish House of Commons. 



One of the two chimney fire-places, which I fitted up in the hall in which 

 the meetings of the Royal Irish Academy are held, will, I imagine, be found to 

 answer very well for heating high rooms and large halls in private houses. In 

 this fire-place I have endeavoured, and I believe successfully, to unite the ad- 

 vantages of an open fire with those of a German stove. The grate used in 

 fitting up this fire-place, and which is of cast iron, and far from being unelegant 

 in its form, and which cost only seven shillings and sixpence sterling, is decidedly 

 the best adapted for open chimney fire-places, where coals are used as fuel, of 

 any I have yet seen. By a letter I lately received from a friend in Ireland, I 

 had the satisfaction to learn that these grates are coming very fast into general 

 use in that country. 



