722 REPORT—1863. 
Lead Ore. Lead. Silver. 
Year. tons. cwt. tons. cwt. OZ. 
US 7e eseceses Zag oON ae tesmsctses 17,072 "Tat ateremeees 74,091 
RSSSME ate .ct 19;999 2 —sseeeeere 165776. “78 CT 78,238 
EOS Ot -s pbs TO;57% BO ty Sustege oct 14,568 o Salsas 745222. 
TR OG Be asn-c anv, 20,200 12 E5180 20 bee enero 84,254 
TOUR ase esos 19,536 15 15,252 17) 0” sssusers 78,265 
iy Giriame tt ns Sees Se 21.177 18 TO,AEA. On eres 82,854 
Produce of Lead in the years 1845 to 1862, inclusive, in the counties of 
Cumberland, Durham, and Northumberland. 
Cumberland. Durham and Northumberland. 
Year. tons. cwt. Year. tons. cwt- 
1845 ssesssecoeee 5,861 0 T8459 sisssds..cse BO,24S, 0 
TBAOip fies. eac2-- ASSES IG 1846  s-eeccerrees 10j284. 0 
TBAT. inet sevedies. 5,702. 0 TSAF os bacesst¥es con, poe A nee 
US49)" ssancocesse 5.0840 0 LOAD» sasievp cons=oai Ral game 
E849 s--ssecceeee 65327. 7 T849 -<s-.00ve-s- 4,000 2G 
TB50" n.d ..c8s 6,850 *4. ISSO” Wiiviivete) TSyegoeg 
UBHI  40.,2255s--5 | 6,533) 2 D8GR Aches. ik Lh Sees 
TB52, | cocnrgseres. 05:877 1S F852. -cdssstsraves pees OT OMe 
1853 0 ---eeeerreee 6,019 9 1853 15,041 § 
USGA, vesepesacsese + 0,002 6 1854. 16,684 4 
1855 sseseeeeeeee 6,929 17 T8656" cecccocsctce “€6;G0Qhag 
T9560 ease onsets. ssugigon lia TSEG os. ceestcbe7pO7A ae 
ESET | ---ctestsaee 4700) FE ISS7. «lou wavgueete)  DOOTR RO 
IRR auscsfeann, SILOS E 2 ER5S.  sclsspassae a0, Aes 
TS5Q  vsesrceseees | 5,250 14. LO5Q: veresnsceeeal Sq SOa eee 
RSGGhN. wtiastt.. a6 Tro) an. L366) 4%. 15e. ee cower 
BOOT gids vasnesstsypuqsG StS TS6X. sevens est vee ER 2BOND 
1862 6,241 10 YS 62r sus,s ease 16,454 0 
In concluding this part of the subject, one prominent feature may be men- 
tioned, namely, the work called the Blackett Level, commenced by W. B. 
Beaumont, Esq., M.P.,in East Allendale. The shafts on this work were com- 
menced in 1855, and the Adit Level, near Allendale Town, was begun in 
1859. The entire length, when completed, will be nearly seven miles. At 
three of the shafts, and also at the Allenheads mines, are extensive adapta- 
tions of the improved hydraulic engines invented by Sir William Armstrong, 
and particularly described by him at the meeting in. Newcastle of the Me- 
chanical Engineers. 
Smelting Processes.—Various important improvements haye been intro- 
duced into the treatment of lead ores, among which we may mention the 
substitution of the Spanish Economico furnace for the slag hearth, by means 
of which a better"produce of lead is obtained from the refuse products of the 
mills, ‘This Spanish furnace is a miniature blast-furnace, covered at the 
top, from which a flue conveys the fumes to the condensing chambers or 
chimney. 
Another improvement, introduced since 1839, is the celebrated desilver- 
izing process of the late Mr. H. L. Pattinson, by which large quantities of 
both lead and silver have been saved. This process is so well known that 
we do not think it necessary to describe it on the present occasion, especially 
as it was fully explained in a previous Report to the British Association. 
A third improvement is the conversion of hard into soft lead by the pro- 
cess of calcining introduced by Dr. Richardson, at Blaydon, in 1840. This 
process consists in exposing the hard lead in a melted state to a current of 
hot air, by which the antimony and other impurities are oxidized. The 
oxides float on the surface of the molten lead, and are skimmed off from 
time to time. This operation is continued until a sample of the lead drawn 
from the furnace is found to be soft and malleable. The late Mr, George 
ey IO: oy, 
