Cast Steel 419 
j of the address and integrity with which they conduct their 
professional labours. 
Among the instances of this kind which have occurred 
j to me during a life of diligent enquiry, I have lately been 
much gratified by the ready assistance and communica- 
tions of Mr. Stodart of the Strand, which enable me at 
present to communicate my own notions on the subject 
of fine cutleiy , with the advantage and support of his suc- 
cessful experience ; which I shall proceed to do without 
further preface. 
It appears to be at present generally agreed, that for all 
works which do not require welding, cast steel is prefera- 
ble to any other- For fine cutlery it undoubtedly is. Mr* 
Stodart uses those bars which are marked Huntsman, 
but does not suppose it to be of a better quality than that 
of Walker, and other manufacturers. He complains, 
that it is much worse in quality now than formerly, which 
complaint I have also heard from other intelligent artists. 
I did not ask him concerning the art of forging, but take 
it for granted, that it consists in little more than the ac- 
quired skill of managing the bar and the hammer, with 
the precautions not to injure the texture by strong ham- 
mering at too low a heat, or to degrade the quality of the 
steel, by too much heat or exposure to the current of air 
from the bellows. 
Cutlers do not use any coating to their work at the har- 
dening heat, as the file cutters do ; and indeed it seems 
evidently unnecessary when the article is intended to be 
tempered and ground. Mr. S. agrees with me, that the 
best rule is to harden as little as possible above the state in- 
tended to be produced by tempering. Work which has 
been overheated has a crumbly edge, and will not afford 
the wire hereafter to be described. The proper heat is 
a cherry red visible by day-light. He has not found that 
any advantage is obtained from the use of salt in the water, 
