in closed Fire-places. 497 



that they can hardly be too often recommended, nor 

 can too much pains be taken to show why they are so 

 necessary. 



In all cases where a fire-place is very large, and where, 

 in consequence of the large quantity of coals consumed 

 in it, the frre -place door is necessarily kept open a great 

 deal, I would earnestly recommend the adoption of a 

 contrivance which I think could not fail to turn out 

 a complete remedy for the evil we have been describ- 

 ing ; viz., the entrance of a torrent of cold air into the 

 fire-place through its door-way. 



The contrivance is this : to construct the floor or 

 pavement of the area before the fire-place door in such 

 a manner as to cut off all direct communication, with- 

 out the fire-place in front of it, between the ash-pit and 

 the fire-place door-way ; and, when this is done, to build 

 a porch, well closed above and on every side, imme- 

 diately before the fire-place door, and in such a manner 

 that the fire-place door may open into it. 



This porch must have a door belonging to it, sit- 

 uated on the side opposite to the fire-place door, which 

 door (that belonging to the porch) must open outwards, 

 and must fit its door-frame with considerable nicety. 

 There must also be a glass window either in this door 

 or over it, or on one side of it, or in one of the side 

 walls of the porch ; and there must be sufficient room 

 in the porch to allow of a certain provision of coals 

 being lodged there and kept ready for use. 



When fresh coals are to be thrown into the fire- 

 place (as also when the door of the fire-place is to be 

 opened for the purpose of stirring the fire, or for any 

 other purpose), the person who is charged with the care 

 of the fire enters the porch, and then, carefully shutting 



VOL. III. 32 



