FOUNDERY. 
of the proposed bell’s diameter. This they 
call a mill-stone. The parts of the mould 
are the core, the model of the bell, and the 
shell. When the outer surface of the core 
is formed, they begin to raise the core, 
which is made of bricks that are laid in 
courses of equal height upon a lay of plain 
earth. At the laying each brick they bring 
near it the branch of the compasses, on 
which the curve of the core is shaped, so as 
that there may remain between it and the 
curve the distance of a line, to be afterwards 
filled up with layers of cement. The work 
is continued to the top, only leaving an open- 
ing for the coals to bake the core. This work 
is covered with a layer of cement, made of 
earth and horse-dung, on which they move 
the compasses of construction, to make it 
of an even smoothness every where. 
The first layer being finished, they put 
the fire to the core, by filling it half with 
coals, through an opening that is kept shut, 
during the baking, with a cake of earth, 
that has been separately baked. The first 
fire consumes the stake, and the fire is left 
in the core half, or sometimes a whole day : 
the first layer being thoroughly dry, they 
cover it with a second, third, and fourth ; 
each being smoothed by the board of the 
compasses, and thoroughly dried before they 
proceed to another. 
The core being completed, they take the 
compasses to pieces, with intent to cut off 
the thickness of the model, and the com- 
passes are immediately put in their place, 
to begin a second piece of the mould. It 
consists of a mixture of earth and hair, ap- 
plied with the hand on the core, in several 
cakes that close together. This work is 
finished by several layers of a thinner ce- 
ment of the same matter, smoothed by the 
compasses, and thoroughly dried, before 
another is laid on. The first layer of the 
model is a mixture of wax and grease spread 
over the whole. After which are applied 
the inscriptions, coats of arms, &c. besmear- 
ed with a pencil dipped in a vessel of wax 
in a chafing-dish : this is done for every 
letter. Before the shell is begun, the com- 
passes are taken to pieces, to cut off all the 
wood that fills the place of the thickness to 
be given to the shell. 
The first layer is the same earth with the 
rest, sifted very fine ; whilst it is tempering 
in water, it is mixed with cow’s hair, to 
make it cohere. The whole being a thin 
cullis, is gently poured on the model, that 
fills exactly all the sinuosities of the figures, 
&c. and this is repeated till the whole is 
two lines thick over the model. When this 
layer is thoroughly dried, they cover it with 
a second of the same matter, but something 
thicker : when this second layer becomes 
of some consistence, they apply the com- 
passes again, and light a fire in the core, 
so as to melt oif the wax of the inscriptions, 
&c. 
After this, they go on with other layers 
of the shell, by means of the compasses. 
Here they add to the cow’s hair a quantity 
of hemp, spread upon the layers, and after- 
wards smoothed by the board of the com-\ 
passes. The thickness of the shell comes 
to four or five inches lower than the mill- 
stone before observed, and surrounds it 
quite close, which prevents the extravasa- 
tion of the metal. The wax should be taken 
out before the melting of the metal. 
The ear of the bel! requires a separate 
work, which is done during the drying of 
the several incrustations of the cement. It 
has seven rings ; the seventh is called the 
bridge, and unites the others, being a per- 
pendicular support to strengthen the curves. 
It has an aperture at the top, to admit a 
large iron peg, bent at the bottom; and 
this is introduced into two holes in the 
beam, fastened with two strong iron keys. 
There are models made of the rings, with 
masses of beaten earth, that are dried in 
the fire, in order to have the hollow of 
them. These rings are gently pressed upon 
a layer of earth and cow’s hair, one half of 
its depth; and then taken out, without 
breaking the mould. This operation is re- 
peated twelve times for twelve half-moulds, 
that two and two united may make the 
hollows of the six rings : the same they do 
for the hollow of the bridge, and bake them 
all, to unite them together. 
Upon the open place left for the coals to 
be put in, are placed the rings that consti- 
tute the ear. They first put into this open 
place the iron ring to support the clapper 
of the bell; then they make a round cake 
of clay, to fill up the diameter of the thick- 
ness of the core. This cake, after baking, 
is clapped upon the opening, and soldered 
with a thin mortar spread over it, which 
binds the cover close to the core. 
The hollow of the model is filled with an 
earth sufficiently moist to fix on the place, 
which is strewed at several times upon the 
cover of the core ; and they beat it gently 
with a pestle, to a proper height ; and a 
workman smooths the earth at top with a 
wooden trowel dipped in water. 
. Upon this cover, to be taken off after- 
P 2 
