254 Mr. Stodart and Mr. Faraday 
never yet found a crucible capable of bearing the high degree 
of temperature required to produce the perfect reduction of 
titanium ; indeed we are rather disposed to question whether 
this metal has ever been so reduced : our furnaces are equal* 
(if any are) to produce this effect, but hitherto we have failed 
in procuring a crucible. 
The metals that form the most valuable alloys with steel 
are silver, platina, rhodium, iridium and osmium, and palla- 
dium ; all of these have now been made in the large way, 
except indeed the last named. Palladium has, for very 
obvious reasons, been used but sparingly ; four pounds of steel 
with part of palladium, has however been fused at once, 
and the compound is truly valuable, more especially for 
making instruments that require perfect smoothness of edge. 
We are happy to acknowledge the obligations due from us 
to Dr. Wollaston, whose assistance we experienced in every 
stage of our progress, and by whom we were furnished with 
all the scarce and valuable metals ; and that with a liberality 
which enabled us to transfer our operations from the labora- 
tory of the chemist, to the furnace of the maker of cast steel. 
In making the alloys on a large scale, we were under the 
necessity of removing our operations from London to a steel 
furnace at Sheffield ; and being prevented by other avocations 
from giving personal attendance, the superintendence of the 
work was consequently intrusted to an intelligent and confi- 
dential agent. To him the steel, together with the alloying 
metals in the exact proportion, and in the most favourable 
state for the purpose, was forwarded, with instructions to see 
# We have succeeded in fusing in these furnaces rhodium, and also, though im- 
perfectly, platinum in crucibles. 
