572 European Scientific Intelligence. [Dec. 



when smelted by the old process, and in this respect has much resemblance to the 

 Silesian iron of the first fusion. The value of this happy application in an econo- 

 mical point of view may be seen from the following circular drawn up by the 

 patentee. 



" Comparative view of the quantity of materials required at Clyde Iron Works 

 to smelt a ton of foundery pig-iron, and of the quantity of foundery pig-iron 

 smelted from each furnace weekly : 



Weekly 

 produce 

 Iron- Lime- in pig- 

 Coals, stone, stone, iron, 

 tons. cwts. cwts. tons. 



1, with air not heated and coke, 7 3f 15 45 



2, with air heated and coke 4| 3| 10 60 



3, with air heated and coals, 2\ 3f 7£ 65 



Note. 1. To the 2nd and 3rd lines there must be added five cwts. of small coals 

 required to heat the air, in iron pipes, carried several times through the oven, so 

 that the air may arrive at the furnace at a heat of between 600 and 700 ; it should 

 melt lead at three inches from the orifice. 



2. The expence of the apparatus is from a£200 to £300 for each furnace. 



No coals are now used at the Clyde works : and we learn that Messrs. Jessop 

 and Co. at the Butterly works, have successfully adopted the same plan. The fur- 

 naces are blown by a double-powered steam-engine, with a steam cylinder 40 inches 

 in diameter, and a blowing cylinder of 80 inches, which compresses the air so as 

 to carry 2§ lbs. per square inch. The muzzles are 3g inch in diameter. Edin. 

 Jour. xii. 



3. — Price as measured by Money . 



Political economists have been reproached with two small a use of facts, and too 

 lar^e an employment of theory. If facts are wanting, let it be remembered, that the 

 closet-philosopher is unfortunately too little acquainted with the admirable arrange- 

 ments of the factory ; and that no class of persons can supply so readily, and with 

 so little sacrifice of time, the data on which all the reasonings of political econo- 

 mists are founded, as the merchant and manufacturer : and unquestionably, to no 

 class are the deductions to which they give rise so important. Nor let it be feared, 

 that erroneous deductions may be made from such recorded facts : the errors which 

 arise from the absence of facts are far more numerous and more durable than 

 those which result from unsound reasoning respecting true data. 



The great diminution in price of all articles within these few yean may have 

 arisen from several causes : 



1st. The alteration hi the value of the currency. 2nd. The increased value of gold, 

 in consequence of the increased demand for coin. The first of these causes may have 

 had some influence : and the second may have had a very small effect upon the 

 two first quotations of prices, but none at all upon the two latter ones. 3rd. The 

 diminished rate of profit produced by capital however employed. This may be estimat- 

 ed by the average price of three per cents, at the periods stated. 4th. The diminished 

 price of the raw materials, out of which these articles were manufactured. The raw 

 material is principally brass and iron, and the reduction upon it may, in some mea- 

 sure, be estimated by the diminished price of iron and brass wire, in the cost of 

 which articles the labour bears a less proportion than it does in many of the others 

 6th. The smaller quantity of raw material employed, and perhaps, in some instances. 



