162 
opening into it, all of which are kept comfortable aiid pleas* 
ant, in the coldest weather, with less than half the ordinary- 
quantity of fuel. 
Many people, however, dislike even Franklin stotes ; and 
it occurred to Doctor Charles D. Cooper, of Albany, that 
this principle might be applied without difficulty to fire¬ 
places of the ordinary shape and appearance ; he according¬ 
ly had four plates cast, which, when put together, form a 
fire-place on the model of Count Rumford’s. The hearth 
plate is let down on a level with the hearth stone in front of 
it. The ends of this plate and its front edge are supported 
on bricks, and there is a vacuity Under the remainder of it, 
as well as behind the back and sides. From the upper edge 
of these plates the wall of the chimney is carried up, so as 
to close the opening above, and prevent the air behind the 
plates from going up the chimney. The cold external air 
is brought by a tube four or five inches in diameter from 
the nearest window, or any other aperture under the floor of 
the room, and is admitted through an opening under the 
front part of the hearth plate. This air spreads under that 
plate, and behind the back and side plates, and enters the 
room through horizontal perforations about five inches in 
diameter through each of the jambs, two or three feet above 
the floor. This fire-place does not differ in external ap¬ 
pearance from a common Rumford, lined with cast iron 
plates. But the manner of putting it up, so as to bring all 
the heat absorbed by the plates into the room, and at the 
same time to preclude the necessity of cold air being ad¬ 
mitted by the doors and windows, gives it a great and de¬ 
cided preference. Doctor Cooper considered this fire-place 
so valuable and excellent that he has obtainad a patent from 
the United States for its construction. His patent, I am in¬ 
formed, extends also to Coal Grates put up on the same 
principle. A coal fire, you know, usually creates a more 
intense heat at the wall behind it, than in front where the 
cold air enters. While the greatest part of the radient heat 
