[ 278 J 
May it not hence be reafonably inferr’d, that, 
when a Houfe is on Fire, it may be a probable 
Means confiderably to retard the Progrefs of the 
Fire, to cover with Earth the Floors of the adjoin- 
ing and more diftant BouFcs, which hand in the 
Courfe of the Progrefs of the Flames ? 
The thicker the Earth is laid, fo much the better: 
But if Time will not permit to lay it more than an 
Inch thick, then fuppofing 27 Men to carry each a 
cubic Foot of Earth, which will be a cubic Yard of 
Earth 5 then that cubic Yard of Earth will cover 3 6 
fquare Yards of Flooring ; which repeated feveral 
times, would foon cover all the Floors of a Houfe. 
And as the Fire probably mounts with great Fierce- 
nefs up the Stair-Cafe, it will be well to lay much 
Earth on the Stairs 5 which will help to give feme 
Check, efpecially as the Earth on the Floor and 
Stairs may be wetted by the Fire-Engine j w-hich 
Moifture will be much the longer retained by 
means of the Earth ; whereas Water, when not 
thus- retained, foon glides away. 
. And as Fires often catch from Houfe to Houfe at 
their upper Parts, an upper Floor cover'd with Earth, 
with the Rafters burning on it, will be longer in 
burning to fuch a degree as to fall on the next 
Floor, fo, when fallen • there, it will alfo be the 
longer in burning, and will flame the lefs, on ac- 
count of the Earth on that next Floor 5 and, con- 
sequently, will not be fo apt to fire the next Houfe, 
as in the common Cafe of Floors without Earth, 
which muft needs therefore burn the more fiercely. 
Earth may be had either in back Yards, or Cel- 
lars, or Streets. 
l A 
Thefe 
