* 



liije and writings of Count Rumford, 



XIX 



former he was not always original, and some of his conclusions 

 have not stood the test of subsequent examination. In the latter 

 however his genius was fertile and efticient. His plans of utility 

 have been so well conceived and happily executed, that they have 

 carried conviction of their importance to every examiner ; they 

 have been almost universally adopted, and are now silently ope- 

 rating in most parts of the civilized world. The . management 

 and economy of heat, whether for the purpose of warming. Iiabita- 

 tions or of conducting manufacturing and culinary processes ; 

 formed the subject of many interesting essays, which it is not 

 practicable to analyze in this place. It is well known that his 

 fire places afford the most perfect form for radiating the heat of the 

 fire into apartments to be warmed ; that his boilers, ovens, §*c. 

 concentrate and direct the lieg.t with great effect, and with won- 



derful economv of 



He has availed himself of the smoke 



of his fuel, and of the steam of water, to effect what was fo 

 ly done by the combustion of fresh materials. So importai 

 his improvements, that in some cases the amount of fuel cor 

 ed to answer a given purpose is reduced to a fourth and 



an eighth part of what was before necessary, 



i support of tl 



H 



establishments for th 



poor at Munich 



which he has described in his essays, are undoubtedly among 

 the most successful attempts at ameliorating the condition of & 

 wretched class of society, with the least expense to those on whom 

 their support devolves. His account of the arransiements made 



poor at 



3 



for accommodating clothing, feeding and employing the 

 Munich, occupies nearly a volume of his essays. He particularly 

 details the manner in which the paupers and mendicants of that 

 city were arrested, the disposal of them in the house of industry. 



