382 
On Brick-making. 
[Dec. 
grease ; but the latter is not essential, though advantageous. Having thoroughly 
kneaded the paste, and cut it through repeatedly with a knife, to ascertain thatthe 
materials be perfectly blended, spread it out thinly on a firm table or clean floor, 
&c. and spreading the shot over it, mix them up together perfectly with the hands 
or a smooth piece of wood (but not any thing to batter the shot) until the whole 
becomes perfectly well mixed, so that the shot come in contact with each other, as 
it not mixed with the paste, which should merely fill up the otherwise vacant 
spaces. 
J be next operation is to mould the composition close and tight into tin or other 
tubes of a size according to the gun they are intended for, and of a length accord* 
ing to the weight of the charge, which will be better ascertained by a few judicious 
trials than by any particular rules that could be set down. One tube (which may be a 
piece of gun-barrel) only may be used; in that case, the moulded charges must be 
put gently into a Dutch-oven, or on the hob of a fire place, or any where near a 
fire, or in a slow oven, so that they may be slowly baked, scarcely to discolour 
them, but so that they become perfectly dry and hard throughout. lb e ) T , • 
be slightly brushed over with gum-water, and when the gum is sticky, ^ 10 e 
bran, pollard, or flour, which will make them fit with the utmost nicety , a ° 
down the gun pleasantly, and will more effectually prevent any of the lea co o 
in contact with the barrel. faC _ 
To add more particular directions would be useless, as the principle of '^j^ing 
ture being clearly understood (which the writer trusts it now must be), s0 
must always he left to the judgment and cleverness of the manufacture 1 - ta g C s 
The writer does not consider that he has in the least exaggerated the a w0U ld 
stated, of which he fully satisfied himself by repeated trials last y ei ) r ’ . j t total- 
have taken a patent had not disappointments and misfortunes at leng r “ P. ra thef 
ly out of his power ; which now induces him to give publicity to tn e Fi lOU o-h with 
than it should remain unknown ; and in the hope of seeing it adopted, n taneou s 
little prospect of any substantial benefit to himself, unless through ^-invention 5 * 
liberality of gentlemen who may approve of this and the writer’s soD ie aSS * st * 
and may consider his exertions and misfortunes altogether nierit lD £ 
ance. 
V . — On Brick -in aking. 
The Bulletin Universal of February, 1829, contains an 
, a work by 
~ — — J, ™ abstract °f ra i usefu 1 
M. J. F. Clere, on the art of Brick-making, which makes koo' v ^ r j ca tion, aDt 
particulars, in regard to the nature of the material, the mode of . 
above all, the manner of loading and tiring the kilns with sea c °. a ’0 ^ 
As this fuel has been recently introduced, with success, inB r * cK ” 0 ve * ntere t j,e 
at Patna, and in Calcutta, we think a translation of the article jj. l; w ^ ier ^here 
ing to such of our readers as are engaged in public works, in - e n , uen ce, l 41 
builder is, in most cases, also the Brick-maker, and where, in c ° ,1S ia tric s 
is not the same pbanrp nf t.llP art. arriViruf at r>prfppHr»n lie ill CO 
is not the same chance of the art arriving ?t perfection, as in 
forms an exclusive trade. 
of 
of 
rv' S l ‘ ost 
It, indeed, surprises us not a little, to find, from the prelim i n 7'he » et of 
Mr. Clere, that the price of Bricks, in Flanders, is only^ths 0 * . e c beaP ne 
them here, notwithstanding the advantages we should enjoy i° 
labour, and fuel. 
The work is divided into 4 sections : 
1st. On choosing and preparing the earth. 
2nd. On mixing the ingredients. 
3rd. On drying the bricks, and 
4th. On firing the kilns. 
We shall pursue the subject in the same order. 
1. A good 
silica. 
iin a > 
too 
jflO 
ich 
brick earth should contain neither too much alutf 1 *' in 
V— curf^Vas t0<> 
1 be effect of an excess of alumina is to produce an uneri?? . 
neks, which thus lose their shape, and crack in every dir °° 
See Obs* S °^ rea * importance that a cartridge or wadding should * ° 
