DERBY. 



669 



Berby. drop Into the groove above mentioned. The steam is 

 ~-~~ let in at the middle of the table or plate, and the con- 



}ene ln " densed water runs off at an opening in the groove. 



The boilers, in which the soup and milk pottage are 

 made, have no fire places, being all heated with steam. 

 The scullery is supplied with hot water from a large 

 vessel, which, by the agency of steam, is kept always 

 hot, and by another contrivance always full. 



The most important part of this establishment is, 

 the means of keeping that part of the house destined 

 for the patients, at an uniform temperature throughout 

 the year. This is effected by a current of warm air 

 passing through the rooms in winter, and a supply of 

 cool air during the hot months of the summer, accom- 

 plishing by the same means perfect ventilation, which 

 is so essential to places of this description. 



The air which passes through the rooms at all times, 

 enters through a subterraneous channel, the opening to 

 which from the atmosphere, is distant about 100 yards 

 from the building. This channel, from its depth below 

 the surface, is so near the mean temperature of the 

 earth, that the air of winter is partially warmed, whilst 

 that of summer is considerably cooled. In the greatest 

 heat of summer at this place, the temperature of the air 

 is lowered in its passage as much as 20° of Fahrenheit's 

 scale. In winter, the same air, after it escapes from 

 the channel, passes through a stove on very superior 

 principles, the invention of the ingenious philosopher 

 before mentioned. The fire is made to act upon the in- 

 terior of an inverted dome-shaped vessel, constructed 

 of iron, while cold air is plentifully supplied on the out- 

 side to carry off the heat given to it by the fire. This 

 is effected in so complete a manner, that the largest 

 fire which could be made under the dome would not 

 heat it to redness, provided that the communication of 

 the air to the room in which the stove is placed, re- 

 mained uninterrupted. 



The writer of this article is, at present, preparing a 

 work for the public, in which, all the inventions con- 

 nected with this establishment will be particularly de- 

 scribed. It may be observed, in addition to the above, 

 that in this infirmary, the wash-house and laundry are 

 so contrived, that much manual labour is saved, and 

 the utmost cleanliness insured. The principal part of 

 the washing is performed by a machine which is turned 

 by the steam engine. The drying is effected, in bad 

 weather, by a stove, on principles similar to that used 

 for warming the rooms. This also serves at any time 

 for airing linen and beds. 



In most infirmaries and hospitals, the construction 

 of the water-closets in common use, is so extremely bad, 

 as to be the occasion of great and deserved complaint. 

 This inconvenience is entirely obviated here. It would 

 be improper to enter into particulars of the construc- 

 tion of them in this place, but it may be stated general- 

 ly, that they are so contrived, that the oftener they are 

 used the less smell will be perceived. Every time the 

 closet is entered, the whole of its contaminated air is 

 changed for fresh air, and every source of nuisance at 

 the same time washed away, independent of any care 

 of the person who uses it. 

 Ordnance Not far from the Infirmary, and about the same dis- 

 iepot, tance from the town, is an ordnance depot, erected by 



the Board of Ordnance in 1803, according to a plan by 

 Mr Wyatt. It consists of an armory in the centre, cal- 

 culated to contain 1 5,000 stand of arms. Above this is 

 a room of the same proportions, containing accoutre- 

 ments for the use of the army. On the north and 



south sides, are two magazines, capable of containing Derby. 

 1200 barrels of ammunition. Four dwellings are " — iT""" 

 situated in the angles of the exterior wall ; two of 

 which are barracks, and the other two are the residences 

 of officers in the civil department. 



Concerning the trade of Derby, old authors are near- Trade, 

 ly silent. It is thought, that the oldest carried on in 

 the tOAvn was that of a dyer. Wool and malt were also 

 among the articles of its early commerce. Trade was 

 confined to these articles, until the commencement of 

 the eighteenth century, when the stocking- frame ma- 

 chine was introduced into the town. This was a con- 

 siderable addition to the commercial interests of the 

 place ; but what gave it a pre-eminence in this respect, 

 was the erection of the first mill in this country for the 

 manufacture of silk. 



This silk mill, the first and largest of the kind ever Silk mill, 

 built in England, stands upon an island in the river 

 Derwent, adjoining the town. At the commencement 

 of the last century, a person of the name of Crotchet, 

 erected a small mill near the present works, with the 

 intention of introducing the Italian method of spinning 

 into this country. About the year 1715, a similar plan 

 was in the contemplation of a mechanic and draughts- 

 man, named John Lombe, who travelled into Italy, to 

 procure drawings, and models of the machines neces- 

 sary for the undertaking. After remaining some time 

 in that country, and gaining as much information as 

 the jealousy and precautions of the merchants of Italy 

 would allow, he returned with two natives, accustom- 

 ed to the manufacture, into this country; and fixed 

 upon Derby as a proper place to establish his works. 

 He agreed with the corporation, for an island, or rather 

 swamp, in the river 500 feet long, and fifty-two wide, 

 at a rent of about eight pounds yearly. Here he esta- 

 blished his silk mill : and in 1718 procured a patent to 

 enable him to secure the profits for fourteen years. But 

 Lombe did not live much longer ; for the Italians, ex- 

 asperated at the injury done to their trade, by its in- 

 troduction into England, sent an artful woman over, 

 who associated with the parties in the character of a 

 friend ; and having gained over one of the natives 

 who had originally accompanied Mr Lombe, adminis- 

 tered a poison to him, of which, it is said, he ultimately- 

 died. His death, however, did not prove fatal to his 

 patriotic scheme ; for his brother, and afterwards his 

 cousin, carried on the business with energy, and em- 

 ployed more than 300 people. A little before the ex- 

 piration of the patent, Sir Thomas Lombe petitioned for 

 a renewal of it ; but this was refused, and insteod of it, 

 £ 14,000 was granted him, on condition that he should 

 suffer a complete model of the works to be taken : this 

 was accordingly done, and afterwards deposited in the 

 town for public inspection. The property now wholly 

 belongs to the corporation. The present occupier cm- 

 ploys about 240 hands. 



This extensive mill stands upon huge piles of oak, 

 double planked, and covered with stone work, on which 

 are turned thirteen stone arches, which sustain the 

 walls. Its length is 110 feet, its breadth 39; and its 

 height 55 feet. It contains five stories : in the three 

 upper, are the Italian winding engines, which are pkced 

 in a regular manner across the apartments, and furnish- 

 ed with many thousand swifts and spindles, and en- 

 gines for working them. In the two lower rooms, are 

 the spinning and twist mills, which are all of a cir- 

 cular form, and are turned by upright shafts passing 

 through their centres, and communicating with shafts 



