252 



A DISCOURSE 



HOOK III. by Dr. Keffler, for tlie incomparably baking of bread, &c. would be' an 

 ''"^'"^y"^ extraordinary expedient of husbanding our fuel, as well as the right 

 mingling, and making up of charcoal-dust and loam, as it is liinted to 

 us by Sir Hugh Piatt, and is generally used in Maestricht, Liege, and 

 the country about it ; than which there is not a more sweet, lasting, 

 and beautiful fuel. The manner of it is thus : 



Take about one-third part of the smallest of any coal, (pit, sea, or char- 

 coal,) and commixing it very well with loam, (Avhereof there is in some 

 places to be found a sort somewhat more combustible,) make it up into 

 balls (moistened with a little urine of man or beast) as big as an ordinary 

 goose-egg, or somewhat bigger ; or, if you will, in any other form, like 

 brick-bats, &c. Expose these in the air till they are thoroughly dry ; they 

 may be built into the most orderly fires you can imagine, will burn very 

 clear, give a wonderful heat, and continue a very long time. But first 

 you must make the fire of charcoal, or small-coal, covering it with your 

 eggs, hot-shots, or hovilles, as they are called, and building them up in 

 pyramids, or what shape you please; they will continue a glowing, 

 solemn, and constant fire for seven or eight hours, without being stirred ; 

 then encourage and recruit the innermost with a few fresh eggs, and 

 turn the rest, which are not yet quite reduced to cinders. This mix- 

 ture is devised to slacken the impetuous devouring of the fire, and to 

 keep the coals from consuming too fast 



* About Bristol, Brislington, and other places of the west of England, they make coal- 

 balls of their culm, or small refuse-coal, which would not otherwise be saleable. The 

 way in which these balls are prepared, is to take a certain quantity of the culm, to which 

 they add an equal quantity of sleech, or mud, which the tide leaves on the sea-shore. 

 After mixing them grossly with shovels, they blend them with their hands more perfectly, 

 and mould them into balls of six inches in diameter. And in making them up, they work 

 as much culm into the sleech with their hands, as they possibly can, without making them 

 crumbly. These balls may be burnt immediately, or they may be laid up and kept as 

 long as the owner pleases. This kind of fuel makes a pleasant, fierce, and good fire, and 

 emits no disagreeable fumes. Coal-balls are made in Wales, particularly about Car- 

 marthen, in another way. Instead of sleech, they there use clay, allowing two parts 

 culm to one of clay. To the heap they add a sufficient quantity of water, tempering all 

 together in the manner of mortar. When sufficiently mixed they form the whole into balls. 

 These last-mentioned balls, made with clay, do not make so pleasant a fuel as those made 

 with sleech, because the clay is apt to send forth a stinking smoke, especially if the balls 

 are burnt before they are dry ; yet notwithstanding this inconvenience, they make a cheap 

 and good fuel. 



