第8章
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  ——Theonlyquestionthereforeis,howfaritshouldbebroughtforward?——Theanswerisshort,andeasytobeunderstood;——bringitforwardasfaraspossible,withoutdiminishingtoomuchthepassagewhichmustbeleftforthesmoke。Nowasthispassage,which,initsnarrowestpart,IhavecalledtheTHROATOFTHE

  CHIMNEY,ought,forreasonswhicharefullyexplainedintheforegoingChapter,tobeimmediately,orperpendicularlyovertheFire,itisevidentthatthebackoftheChimneymustalwaysbebuiltperfectlyupright——Todeterminethereforetheplaceforthenewback,orhowfarpreciselyitoughttobebroughtforward,nothingmoreisnecessarythantoascertainhowwidethethroatoftheChimneyoughttobeleft,orwhatspacemustbeleft,betweenthetopofthebreastoftheChimney,wheretheuprightcanaloftheChimneybegins,andthenewbackoftheFire-placecarriedupperpendicularlytothatheight。

  InthecourseofmynumerousexperimentsuponChimnies,Ihavetakenmuchpainstodeterminethewidthpropertobegiventothispassage,andIhavefound,that,whenthebackoftheFire-placeisofaproperwidth,thebestwidthforthethroatofaChimney,whentheChimneyandtheFire-placeareattheusualformandsize,isFOURINCHES——Threeinchesmightsometimesanswer,especiallywheretheFire-placeisverysmall,andtheChimneygood,andwellsituated:butasitisalwaysofmuchimportancetopreventthoseaccidentalpuffsofsmokewhicharesometimesthrownintoroomsbythecarelessnessofservantsinputtingonsuddenlytoomanycoalsatonceuponthefire,andasIfoundtheseaccidentssometimeshappenedwhenthethroatsofChimneysweremadeverynarrow,Ifoundthat,uponthewhole,allcircumstancesbeingwellconsidered,andadvantagesanddisadvantagescomparedandbalanced,FOURINCHESisthebestwidththatcanbegiventothethroatofachimney;andthis,whethertheFire-placebedestinedtoburnwood,coals,turf,oranyotherfuelcommonlyusedforheatingroomsbyanopenfire。

  InFire-placesdestinedforheatingverylargehalls,andwhereverygreatfiresarekeptup,thethroatoftheChimneymay,ifitshouldbethoughtnecessary,bemadefourinchesandanhalf,orfiveincheswide;——butIhavefrequentlymadeFire-placesforhallswhichhaveansweredperfectlywellwherethethroatsoftheChimnieshavenotbeenwiderthanfourinches。

  Itmayperhapsappearextraordinary,uponthefirstviewofthematter,thatFire-placesofsuchdifferentsizesshouldallrequirethethroatoftheChimneytobeofthesamewidth;butwhenitisconsideredthattheCAPACITYofthethroatofaChimneydoesnotdependonitswidthalone,butonitswidthandLENGTHtakentogether;andthatinlargeFire-places,thewidthoftheback,andconsequentlythelengthofthethroatoftheChimney,isgreaterthaninthosewhicharesmaller,thisdifficultyvanishes。

  AndthisleadsustoconsideranotherimportantpointrespectingopenFire-places,andthatis,thewidthwhichitwill,ineachcase,bepropertogivetotheback——InFire-placesastheyarenowcommonlyconstructed,thebackisofequalwidthwiththeopeningoftheFire-placeinfront;——butthisconstructionisfaultyontwoaccounts——First,inaFire-place,soconstructed,thesidesoftheFire-place,orCOVINGS,astheyarecalled,areparalleltoeachother,andconsequentlyill-contrivedtothrowoutintotheroomtheheattheyreceivefromthefireintheformofrays;——andsecondly,thelargeopencornerswhichareformedbymakingthebackaswideastheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontoccasioneddiesofwind,whichfrequentlydisturbthefire,andembarrassthesmokeinitsascentinsuchamannerasoftentobringitintotheroom——BoththesedefectsmaybeentirelyremediedbydiminishingthewidthofthebackoftheFire-place——

  Thewidthwhich,inmostcases,itwillbebesttogiveit,isONETHIRDofthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront——Butitisnotabsolutelynecessarytoconformrigorouslytothisdecision,norwillitalwaysbepossible——ItwillfrequentlyhappenthatthebackofaChimneymustbemadewiderthan,accordingtotheruleheregiven,itoughttobe——Thismaybe,eithertoaccommodatetheFire-placetoastove,whichbeingalreadyonhand,must,toavoidtheexpenseofpurchasinganewone,beemployed;orforotherreasons;——andanysmalldeviationfromthegeneralrulewillbeattendedwithnoconsiderableinconvenience——Itwillalwaysbebest,however,toconformtoitasfarascircumstanceswillallow。

  WhereaChimneyisdesignedforwarmingaroomofamiddlingsize,andwherethethicknessofthewalloftheChimneyinfront,measuredfromthefrontofthemantletothebreastoftheChimney,isnineinches,IshouldsetofffourinchesmoreforthewidthofthethroatoftheChimney,which,supposingthebackoftheChimneytobebuiltupright,asitalwaysoughttobe,willgivethirteeninchesforthedepthoftheFire-place,measureduponthehearth,fromtheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront,totheback——Inthiscasethirteenincheswouldbeagoodsizeforthewidthoftheback;andthreetimesthirteeninches,orthirty-nineinches,forthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront;andtheanglemadebythebackoftheFire-placeandthesidesofit,orcovings,wouldbejust135

  degrees,whichisthebestpositiontheycanhaveforthrowingheatintotheroom。

  ButIwillsupposethatinalteringsuchaChimneyitisfoundnecessary,inordertoaccommodatetheFire-placetoagrateorstovealreadyonhand,tomaketheFire-placesixteenincheswide——Inthatcase,Ishouldmerelyincreasethewidthoftheback,tothedimensionsrequired,withoutalteringthedepthoftheChimney,orincreasingthewidthoftheopeningoftheChimneyinfront——Thecovings,itistrue,wouldbesomewhatreducedintheirwidth,bythisalteration;andtheirpositionwithrespecttotheplaneofthebackoftheChimneywouldbealittlechanged;butthesealterationswouldproducenobadeffectsofanyconsiderableconsequence,andwouldbemuchlesslikelytoinjuretheFire-place,thananattempttobringtheproportionsofitspartsnearertothestandard,byincreasingthedepthoftheChimney,andthewidthofitsopeninginfront;——orthananattempttopreservethatparticularobliquityofthecovingswhichisrecommendedasthebest,135degrees,

  byincreasingthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-place,withoutincreasingitsdepth。

  Inordertoillustratethissubjectmorefully,wewillsupposeonecasemore——WewillsupposethatintheChimneywhichistobealtered,thewidthoftheFire-placeinfrontiseitherwiderornarrowerthanitoughttobe,inorderthatthedifferentpartsoftheFire-place,afteritisaltered,maybeoftheproperdimensions。Inthiscase,IshoulddeterminethedepthoftheFire-place,andthewidthofthebackofit,withoutanyregardtothewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront;

  andwhenthisisdone,iftheopeningofFire-placeshouldbeonlytwoorthreeinchestoowide,thatistosay,onlytwoorthreeincheswiderthanisnecessaryinorderthatthecovingsmaybebroughtintotheirproperpositionwithrespecttotheback,Ishouldnotalterthewidthofthisopening,butshouldaccommodatethecovingstothiswidth,byincreasingtheirbreadth,andincreasingtheangletheymakewiththebackoftheFire-place;butiftheopeningoftheFire-placeshouldbemorethanthreeinchestoowide;——Ishouldreduceittotheproperwidthbyslipsofstone,orbybricksandmortar。

  WhenthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-place,infront,isverygreat,comparedwiththedepthoftheFire-place,andwiththewidthoftheback,thecovingsinthatcasebeingverywide,andconsequentlyveryoblique,andtheFire-placeveryshallow,anysuddenmotionoftheairinfrontoftheFire-place,thatmotion,forinstance,whichwouldbeoccasionedbytheclothesofawomanpassinghastilybeforethefire,andverynearit,

  wouldbeapttocauseeddiesintheair,WITHINTHEOPENINGOF

  THEFIRE-PLACE,bywhichpuffsofsmokemighteasilybebroughtintotheroom。ShouldtheopeningoftheChimneybetoonarrow,whichhoweverwillveryseldombefoundtobethecase,itwill,ingeneral,beadvisabletoletitremainasitis,andtoaccommodatethecovingstoit,rathertoattempttoincreaseitswidth,whichwouldbeattendedwithagooddealoftrouble,andprobablyaconsiderableexpence。

  Fromallthathasbeensaiditisevident,thatthepointsofthegreatestimportance,andwhichoughtmostparticularlytobeattendedto,inalteringFire-placesupontheprincipleshererecommended,are,thebringingforwardthebacktoitsproperplace,andmakingitofaproperwidth——ButitistimethatI

  shouldmentionanothermatteruponwhichitisprobablethatmyreaderisalreadyimpatienttoreceiveinformation——ProvisionmustbemadeforthepassageoftheChimney-sweeperuptheChimney——Thismayeasilybedoneinthefollowingmanner:——

  InbuildingupthenewbackoftheFire-place;whenthiswall,whichneedneverbemorethanthewidthofasinglebrickinthickness,isbroughtupsohighthatthereremainsnomorethanabouttenoreleveninchesbetweenwhatisthenthetopofit,andtheinsideofthemantle,orlowerextremityofthebreastoftheChimney,anopening,ordoor-way,elevenortwelveincheswide,mustbebeguninthemiddleoftheback,andcontinuedquitetothetopofit,which,accordingtotheheighttowhichitwillcommonlybenecessarytocarryuptheback,willmaketheopeningabouttwelveorfourteenincheshigh;whichwillbequitesufficienttoallowtheChimney-sweepertopass。WhentheFire-placeisfinished,thisdoor-wayistobeclosedbyafewbricks,byatile,orafitpieceofstone,placedinit,dry,orwithoutmortar,andconfinedinitsplacebymeansofarabbetmadeforthatpurposeinthebrick-work——AsoftenastheChimneyisswept,theChimney-sweepertakesdownthistemporarywall,whichisveryeasilydone,andwhenhehasfinishedhiswork,heputsitagainintoitsplace——TheannexeddrawingNo。6。willgiveaclearideaofthiscontrivance;andtheexperienceIhavehadofithasprovedthatitanswersperfectlywellthepurposeforwhichitisdesigned。

  Iobservedabove,thatthenewback,whichitwillalwaysbefoundnecessarytobuildinordertobringthefiresufficientlyforward,inalteringaChimneyconstructedonthecommonprinciples,needneverbethickerthanthewidthofacommonbrick——Imaysaythesameofthethicknessnecessarytobegiventothenewsides,orcovings,oftheChimney;orifthenewbackandcovingsareconstructedofstone,oneinchandthreequarters,ortwoinchesinthicknesswillbesufficient——Careshouldbetakeninbuildingupthesenewwallstounitethebacktothecovingsinasolidmanner。

  Whetherthenewbackandcovingsareconstructedofstone,orbuiltofbricks,thespacebetweenthem,andtheoldbackandcovingsoftheChimneyoughttobefilledup,togivegreatersoliditytothestructure——Thismaybedonewithlooserubbish,orpiecesofbrokenbricks,orstonesprovidedtheworkbestrengthenedbyafewlayersorcoursesofbrickslaidinmortar;

  butitwillbeindispensablynecessarytofinishthework,wherethesenewwallsend,thatistosay,atthetopofthethroatoftheChimney,whereitendsabruptlyintheopencanaloftheChimneybyahorizontalcourseofbrickswellsecuredwithmortar——

  Thiscourseofbrickswillbeuponalevelwiththetopofthedoor-wayleftfortheChimney-sweeper。

  FromthesedescriptionsitisclearthatwherethethroatoftheChimneyhasanend,thatistosay,whereitentersintothelowerpartoftheopencanaloftheChimney,THEREthethreewallswhichformthetwocovingsandthebackoftheFire-placeallendabruptly——Itisofmuchimportancethattheyshouldendinthismanner;forweretheytobeslopedoutwardandraisedinsuchamannerastoswellouttheupperextremityofthethroatoftheChimneyintheformofatrumpet,andincreaseitbydegreestothesizeofthecanaloftheChimney,thismannerofunitingthelowerextremityofthecanaloftheChimneywiththethroatwouldtendtoassistthewindswhichmayattempttoblowdowntheChimney,inforcingtheirwaythroughthethroat,andthrowingthesmokebackwardintotheroom;butwhenthethroatoftheChimneyendsabruptly,andtheendsofthenewwallsformaflathorizontalsurface,itwillbemuchmoredifficultforanywindfromabove,tofind,andforceitswaythroughthenarrowpassageofthethroatoftheChimney。

  AsthetwowallswhichformthenewcovingsoftheChimneyarenotparalleltoeachother;butinclined,presentinganobliquesurfacetowardsthefrontoftheChimney,andastheyarebuiltperfectlyuprightandquiteflat,fromthehearthtothetopofthethroat,wheretheyend,itisevidentthatanhorizontalsectionofthethroatwillnotbeanoblongsquare;butitsdeviationfromthatformisamatterofnoconsequence;andnoattemptsshouldeverbemade,bytwistingthecovingsabove,wheretheyapproachthebreastoftheChimney,tobringittothatform——Alltwists,bends,prominences,excavations,andotherirregularitiesofform,inthecovingsofaChimney,neverfailtoproduceeddiesinthecurrentofairwhichiscontinuallypassinginto,andthroughanopenFire-placeinwhichafireisburning;——andallsucheddiesdisturb,eitherthefire,ortheascendingcurrentsofsmoke,orboth;andnotunfrequentlycausethesmoketobethrownbackintotheroom——Henceitappears,thatthecovingsofChimneysshouldneverbemadecircular,orintheformofanyothercurve;butalwaysquiteflat。

  Forthesamereason,thatistosay,topreventeddies,thebreastoftheChimney,whichformsthatsideofthethroatthatisinfront,ornearesttotheroom,shouldbenearlycleanedoff,anditssurfacemadequiteregularandsmooth。

  Thismayeasilybedonebycoveringitwithacoatofplaster,whichmaybemadethickerorthinnerindifferentpartsasmaybenecessaryinordertobringthebreastoftheChimneytobeoftheproperform。

  WithregardtotheformofthebreastofaChimney,thisisamatterofverygreatimportance,andwhichoughtalwaystobeparticularlyattendedto——Theworstformitcanhaveisthatofaverticalplane,oruprightflat;——andnexttothistheworstformisaninclinedplane——Boththeseformscausethecurrentofwarmairfromtheroom,whichwill,inspiteofeveryprecaution,sometimesfinditswayintotheChimney,tocrossuponthecurrentofsmoke,whichrisesfromthefire,inamannermostlikelytoembarrassitinitsascent,anddriveitback——

  TheinclinedplanewhichisformedbyaflatregisterplacedinthethroatofaChimneyproducesthesameeffects;andthisisonereason,amongmanyothers,whichhaveinducedmetodisapproveofregisterstoves。

  Thecurrentofair,which,passingunderthemantle,getsintotheChimney,shouldbemadeGRADUALLYTOBENDITSCOURSEUPWARDS,bywhichmeansitwillbeQUIETLYwiththeascendingcurrentofsmoke,andwillbelesslikelytocheckit,orforceitbackintotheroom——Nowthismaybeeffectedwiththegreatesteaseandcertainty,merelybyROUNDINGOFFthebreastoftheChimneyorbackpartofthemantle,insteadofleavingitflat,orfullofholesandcorners;andthisofcourseoughtalwaystobedone。

  Ihavehithertogivennoprecisedirectionsinregardtotheheighttowhichthenewbackandcovingsoughttobecarried:——

  Thiswilldependnotonlyontheheightofthemantle,butalso,andmoreespecially,ontheheightofthebreastoftheChimney,orofthatpartoftheChimneywherethebreastendsandtheuprightcanalbegins——Thebackandcovingsmustriseafewinches,fiveorsixforinstance,higherthanthispart,otherwisethethroatoftheChimneywillnotbeproperlyformed:——butIknowofnoadvantagesthatwouldbegainedbycarryingthemupstillhigher。

  Imentionedabove,thatthespacebetweenthewallswhichformthenewbackandcovings,andtheoldbackandsidesoftheFire-place,shouldbefilledup:——butthismustnotbeunderstoodtoapplytothespacebetweenthewallofdrybricks,orthetilewhichclosesthepassagefortheChimney-sweeper,andtheoldbackoftheChimney;forthatspacemustbeleftvoid,otherwise,thoughthistilewhichatmostwillnotbemorethantwoinchesinthickness,weretakenaway,therewouldnotbeanyroomsufficientforhimtopass。

  Informingthisdoor-way,thebestmethodofproceedingistoplacethetileorflatpieceofstonedestinedforclosingit,initsproperplace;andtobuildroundit,orratherbythesidesofit;takingcarenottobringanymortarnearit,inorderthatitmaybeeasilyremovedwhenthedoor-wayisfinished——Withregardtotherabbetwhichshouldbemadeinthedoor-waytoreceiveitandfixitmorefirmlyinitsplace,thismayeitherbeformedatthesametimewhenthedoor-wayisbuilt,oritmaybemadeafteritisfinished,byattachingtoitsbottomandsides,withstrongmortar,piecesofthinrooftiles。Suchasareabouthalfaninchinthicknesswillbebestforthisuse;

  iftheyarethicker,theywilldiminishtoomuchtheopeningofthedoor-way,andwilllikewisebemoreliabletobetornawaybytheChimney-sweeperinpassingupanddowntheChimney。

  Itwillhardlybenecessaryformetoadd,thatthetile,orflatstone,orwallofdrybricks,whichisusedforclosingupthedoor-way,mustbeofsufficientheighttoreachquiteuptoalevelwiththetopofthewallswhichformthenewbackandcovingsoftheChimnies。

  Iought,perhaps,toapologizeforhavingbeensoveryparticularinthesedescriptionandexplanations,butitmustberememberedthatthischapteriswrittenprincipallyfortheinformationofthosewho,havinghadfewopportunitiesofemployingtheirattentioninabstrusephilosophicalresearches,arenotsufficientlypractisedintheseintricateinvestigations,toseize,withfacility,newideas;——andconsequently,thatIhavefrequentlybeenobligedTOLABOURtomakemyselfunderstood。

  IhaveonlytoexpressmywishesthatmyreadermaynotbemoreFATIGUEDwiththislabourthanIhavebeen;——forweshallthemmostcertainlybesatisfiedwitheachother——Buttoreturnoncemoretothecharge。

  ThereisoneimportantcircumstancerespectingChimneyFire-places,destinedforburningcoals,whichstillremainstobefartherexamined;——andthatistheGrate。

  AlthoughtherearefewgratesthatmaynotbeusedinChimneysconstructedoralteredupontheprincipleshererecommended,yettheyarenot,byanymeans,allequallywelladaptedforthatpurpose——Thosewhoseconstructionisthemostsimple,andwhichofcoursearethecheapest,arebeyondcomparisonthebest,ONALLACCOUNTS——NothingbeingwantedintheseChimniesbutmerelyagrateforcontainingthecoals,andinwhichtheywillburnwithaclearfire;——andalladditionalapparatusbeing,notonlyuseless,butverypernicious,allcomplicatedandexpensivegratesshouldbelaidaside,andsuchasmoresimplesubstitutedintheroomofthem——Andinthechoiceofagrate,asineverythingelse,BEAUTYandELEGANCEmayeasilybeunitedwiththeMOSTPERFECTSIMPLICITY——Indeedtheyareincompatiblewitheverythingelse。

  Inplacingthegrate,thethingprincipallytobeattendedtois,tomakethebackofitcoincidewiththebackoftheFire-place;——

  butasmanyofthegratesnowincommonusewillbefoundtobetoolarge,whentheFire-placesarealteredandimproved,itwillbenecessarytodiminishtheircapacitiesbyfillingthemupatthebackandthesideswithpiecesoffire-stone。Whenthisisdone,itisthefrontoftheflatpieceoffire-stonewhichismadetoformanewbacktothegrate,whichmustbemadetocoincidewith,andmakepartoftheback,oftheFire-place——

  Butindiminishingthecapacitiesofgrateswithpiecesoffire-stone,caremustbetakennottomakethemTOONARROW。

  Theproperwidthforgratesdestinedforroomsofamiddlingsizewillbefromsixtoeightinches,andtheirlengthmaybediminishedmoreorless,accordingastheroomisheatedwithmoreorlessdifficulty,orastheweatherismoreorlesssevere——

  Butwherethewidthofagrateisnotmorethanfiveinches,itwillbeverydifficulttopreventthefirefromgoingout。

  Itgoesoutforthesamereasonthatalivecoalfromthegratethatfallsuponthehearthsoonceasestoberedhot;——itiscooledbythesurroundingcoldairoftheatmosphere——

  Theknowledgeofthecausewhichproducesthiseffectisimportant,asitindicatesthemeanswhichmaybeusedforpreventingit——

  ButofthissubjectIshalltreatmorefullyhereafter。

  Itfrequentlyhappensthattheironbacksofgratesarenotvertical,orupright,butinclinedbackwards——Whenthesegratesaresomuchtoowideastorenderitnecessarytofillthemupbehindwithfire-stone,theinclinationofthebackwillbeoflittleconsequence;forbymakingthepieceofstonewithwhichthewidthofthegrateistobediminishedintheformofawedge,orthickerabovethanbelow,thefrontofthisstone,whichineffectwillbecomethebackofthegrate,maybemadeperfectlyvertical;andtheironbackofthegratebeinghidinthesolidworkofthebackoftheFire-place,willproducenoeffectwhatever;butifthegratebealreadysonarrowasnottoadmitofanydiminutionofitswidth,inthatcaseitwillbebesttotakeawaytheironbackofthegrateentirely,andfixingthegratefirmlyinthebrick-work,causethebackoftheFire-placetoserveasabacktothegrate——ThisIhaveveryfrequentlydone,andhavealwaysfoundittoanswerperfectlywell。

  Whereitisnecessarythatthefireinagrateshouldbeverysmall,itwillbebest,inreducingthegratewithfire-stone,tobringitscavity,destinedforcontainingthefuel,totheformofonehalfofahollowhemisphere;thetwosemicircularopeningsbeingoneabove,toreceivethecoals,andtheotherinfront,ortowardsthebarsofthegrate;forwhenthecoalsareburntinsuchaconfinedspace,andsurroundedonallsides,exceptinthefrontandabove,byfire-stone,asubstancepeculiarlywelladaptedforconfiningheat,theheatofthefirewillbeconcentrated,andthecoldairoftheatmospherebeingkeptatadistance,amuchsmallerquantityofcoalswillburn,thancouldpossiblybemadetoburninagratewheretheywouldbemoreexposedtobecooledbythesurroundingair,ortohavetheirheatcarriedoffbybeingincontactwithiron,orwithanyothersubstancethroughwhichheatpasseswithgreaterfacilitythanthroughfire-stone。

  BeingpersuadedthatiftheimprovementsinChimneyFire-placeshererecommendedshouldbegenerallyadopted,whichIcannothelpflatteringmyselfwillbethecase,thatitwillbecomenecessarytoreduce,veryconsiderably,thesizesofgrates,Iwasdesirousofshowinghowthismay,withthegreatestsafetyandfacility,bedone。

  Wheregrates,whicharedesignedforroomsofamiddlingsize,arelongerthan14or15inches,itwillalwaysbebest,notmerelytodiminishtheirlengths,byfillingthemupattheirtwoendswithfire-stone,but,formingthebackoftheChimneyofaproperwidth,withoutpayinganyregardtothelengthofthegrate,tocarrythecovingsthroughthetwoendsofthegrateinsuchamannerastoconcealthem,oratleasttoconcealthebackcornersoftheminthewallsofthecovings。

  IcannothelpflatteringmyselfthatthedirectionsheregiveninregardtothealterationswhichitmaybenecessarytomakeinFire-places,inordertointroducetheimprovementsproposed,willbefoundtobesoperfectlyplainandintelligiblethatnoonewhoreadsthemwillbeatanylossrespectingthemannerinwhichtheworkistobeperformed;——butasorderandarrangementtendmuchtofacilitateallmechanicaloperations,IshallheregiveafewshortdirectionsrespectingthemannerofLAYINGOUT

  THEWORK,whichmaybefounduseful,andparticularlytogentlemenwhomayundertaketobetheirownarchitects,inorderinganddirectingthealterationstobemadefortheimprovementoftheirFire-places。

  DirectionsforlayingouttheWork。

  IftherebeagrateintheChimneywhichistobealtered,itwillalwaysbebesttotakeitaway;andwhenthisisdone,therubbishmustberemoved,andthehearthsweptperfectlyclean。

  SupposetheannexedfigureNo。1。torepresentthegroundplanofsuchaFire-place;ABbeingtheopeningofitinfront,ACandBDthetwosidesorcovings,andCDtheback。

  Figure2。showstheelevationofthisFire-place。

  Firstdrawastraitline,withchalk,orwithaleadpencil,uponthehearth,fromonejambtotheother,——evenwiththefrontofthejambs。ThedottedlineAB,figure3,mayrepresentthisline。

  FromthemiddleCofthisline,ABanotherlinecd,istobedrawnperpendiculartoit,acrossthehearth,tothemiddled,ofthebackoftheChimney。

  ApersonmustnowstanduprightintheChimney,withhisbacktothebackoftheChimney,andholdaplumb-linetothemiddleoftheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimneyd,fig。5,orwherethecanaloftheChimneybeginstoriseperpendicularly;——

  takingcaretoplacethelineaboveinsuchamannerthattheplumbmayfallonthelinecd,drawonthehearthfromthemiddleoftheopeningoftheChimneyinfronttothemiddleoftheback,andanassistantmustmarkthepreciseplacee,onthatlinewheretheplumbfalls。

  Thisbeingdone,andthepersonintheChimneyhavingquittedhisstation,fourinchesaretobesetoffthelinecd,frome,towardsd;andthepointf,wherethesefourinchesend,whichmustbemarkedwithchalk,orwithapencil,willshowhowfarthenewbackistobebroughtforward。

  Throughf,drawthelinegh,paralleltothelineAB,andthislineghwillshowthedirectionofthenewback,orthegroundlineuponwhichitistobebuilt。

  ThelinecfwillshowthedepthofthenewFire-place;andifitshouldhappenthatcfisequaltoaboutONE-THIRDofthelineAB;

  andifthegratecanbeaccommodatedtotheFire-placeinsteadofitsbeingnecessarytoaccommodatetheFire-placetothegrate,inthatcase,halfthelengthofthelinecf,istobesetofffromfonthelinegfh,ononesidetok,andontheothertoi,andthelineikwillshowthegroundlineoftheforepartofthebackoftheChimney。

  InallcaseswherethewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontABhappenstobenotgreater,ornotmorethantwoorthreeinchesgreaterthanTHREETIMESthewidthofthenewbackoftheChimneyik,thisopeningmaybeleft,andlinesdrawnfromitoA,andfromktoB,willshowthewidthandpositionofthefrontofthenewcovings;——butwhentheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontisstillwider,itmustbereduced;whichistobedoneinthefollowingmanner:

  Fromc,themiddleofthelineAB,caandcb,mustbesetoffequaltothewidthofthebackik,addedtohalfitswidthfi,andlinesdrawnfromitoa,andfromktob,willshowthegroundplanofthefrontsofthenewcovings。

  Whenthisisdone,nothingmorewillbenecessarythantobuildupthebackandcovings;andiftheFire-placeisdesignedforburningcoals,tofixthegrateinitsproperplace,accordingtothedirectionsalreadygiven——WhenthewidthoftheFire-placeisreduced,theedgesofthecovingsaAandbBaretomakeafinishwiththefrontofthejambs——Andingeneralitwillbebest,notonlyforthesakeoftheappearanceoftheChimney,butforotherreasonsalso,tolowertheheightoftheopeningoftheFire-place,wheneveritswidthinfrontisdiminished。

  Fig。4。showsafrontviewoftheChimneyafterithasbeenalteredaccordingtothedirectionsheregiven——Bycomparingitwithfig。2。whichshowsafrontviewofthesameChimneybeforeitwasaltered,themannerinwhichtheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontisdiminishedmaybeseen——Infig。4。theunderpartofthedoor-waybywhichtheChimney-sweepergetsuptheChimneyisrepresentedbywhitedottedlines。Thedoor-wayisrepresentedclosed。

  Ishallfinishthischapterwithsomegeneralobservationsrelativetothesubjectunderconsideration;withdirectionshowtoproceedwheresuchlocalcircumstancesexistasrendermodificationsofthegeneralplanindispensablynecessary。

  WhetheraChimneybedesignedforburningwooduponthehearth,orwood,orcoalsinagrate,theformoftheFire-placeisinmyopinion,mostperfectwhenTHEWIDTHOFTHEBACKisequaltotheDEPTHOFTHEFIRE-PLACE,andtheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontequaltoTHREETIMESthewidthoftheback,or,whichisthesamething,toTHREETIMESTHEDEPTHOFTHEFIRE-PLACE。

  ButiftheChimneybedesignedforburningwooduponthehearth,uponhandirons,ordogs,astheyarecalled,itwillsometimesbenecessarytoaccommodatethewidthofthebacktothelengthofthewood;andwhenthisisthecase,thecovingsmustbeaccommodatedtothewidthoftheback,andtheopeningoftheChimneyinfront。

  WhenthewalloftheChimneyinfront,measuredfromtheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimneytothefrontofthemantle,isverythin,itmayhappen,andespeciallyinChimniesdesignedforburningwooduponthehearth,orupondogs,thatthedepthoftheChimney,determinedaccordingtothedirectionsheregiven,maybetoosmall。

  Thus,forexample,supposingthewalloftheChimneyinfront,fromtheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimneytothefrontofthemantle,tobeonlyfourinches,whichissometimesthecase,particularlyinroomssituatednearthetopofahouse,inthiscase,ifwetakefourinchesforthewidthofthethroat,thiswillgiveeightinchesonlyforthedepthoftheFire-place,whichwouldbetoolittle,evenwerecoalstobeburntinsteadofwood——InthiscaseIshouldincreasethedepthoftheFire-placeatthehearthto12or13inches,andshouldbuildthebackperpendiculartotheheightofthetopoftheburningfuel,whetheritbewoodburntuponthehearth,orcoalsinagrate,

  andthen,slopingthebackbyagentleinclinationforward,bringittoitsproperplace,thatistosay,PERPENDICULARLYUNDERTHE

  BACKOFTHETHROATOFTHECHIMNEY。Thisslope,whichwillbringthebackforwardfourorfiveinches,orjustasmuchasthedepthoftheFire-placeisencreased,thoughitoughtnottobetooabrupt,yetitoughttobequitefinishedattheheightofeightorteninchesabovethefire,otherwiseitmayperhapscausetheChimneytosmoke;butwhenitisverynearthefire,theheatofthefirewillenablethecurrentofrisingsmoketoovercometheobstaclewhichthisslopewillopposetoitsascent,whichitcouldnotdosoeasilyweretheslopesituatedatagreaterdistancefromtheburningfuel[2]。

  Fig。7,8,and9,showaplan,elevation,andsectionofaFire-placeconstructedoraltereduponthisprincipal——ThewalloftheChimneyinfrontata,fig。9,beingonlyfourinchesthick,fourinchesmoreaddedtoitforthewidthofthethroatwouldhaveleftthedepthoftheFire-placemeasureduponthehearthbconlyeightinches,whichwouldhavebeentoolittle;——anichecande,wasthereforemadeinthenewbackoftheFire-placeforreceivingthegrate,whichnichewassixinchesdeepinthecenterofit,below13incheswide,orequalinwidthtothegrate,and23incheshigh;finishingabovewithasemicirulararch,which,initshighestpart,roseseveninchesabovetheupperpartofthegrate——Thedoor-wayfortheChimney-sweeper,whichbeginsjustabovethetopoftheniche,maybeseendistinctlyinboththefigures8and9——Thespacemarkedg,fig。9,behindthisdoor-way,mayeitherbefilledwithloosebricks,ormaybeleftvoid——Themannerinwhichthepieceofstonef,fig。9,whichisputunderthemantleoftheChimneytoreducetheheightoftheopeningoftheFire-place,isroundedoffontheinsideinordertogiveafairruntothecolumnofsmokeinitsascentthroughthethroatoftheChimney,isclearlyexpressedinthisfigure。

  Theplanfig。7,andelevationfig。8,showhowmuchthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontisdiminished,andhowthecovingsinthenewFire-placeareformed。

  AperfectideaoftheformanddimensionoftheFire-placeinitsoriginalstate,asalsoafteritsalteration,maybehadbycarefulinspectionofthesefigures。

  Ihaveaddedthedrawingfig。10,merelytoshowhowafault,whichIhavefoundworkmeningeneralwhomIhaveemployedinalteringFire-placesareveryapttocommit,istobeavoided——

  InChimneyslikethatrepresentedinthisfigure,wherethejambsAandBprojectfarintotheroom,andwherethefrontedgeofthemarbleslab,owhichformsthecoving,doesnotcomesofarforwardasthefrontofthejambs,theworkmeninconstructingthenewcovingsareveryapttoplacethem,——notinthelinecA,whichtheyoughttodo,——butinthelineco,whichisagreatfault——ThecovingsofaChimneyshouldneverrangeBEHINDthefrontofthejambs,howeverthosejambsmayprojectintotheroom;——butitisnotabsolutelynecessarythatthecovingsshouldMAKEAFINISHwiththeinternalfrontcornersofthejambs,orthattheyshouldbecontinuesfromthebackc,quitetothefrontofthejambsatA——Theymayfinishinfrontataandb,andsmallcornersA,o,a,maybeleftforplacingtheshovels,tongs,etc。

  Werethenewcovingtorangewiththefrontedgeoftheoldcovingo,theobliquityofthenewcovingwouldcommonlybetoogreat;——ortheangledcowouldexceed135degrees,WHICHIT

  NEVERSHOULDDO,——oratleastneverbymorethanaveryfewdegrees。

  NoinconvenienceofanyimportancewillarisefrommakingtheobliquityofthecovingsLESSthanwhatishererecommended;

  butmanycannotfailtobeproducedbymakingitmuchgreater;——

  andasIknowfromexperiencethatworkmenareveryapttodothis,Ihavethoughtitnecessarytowarnthemparticularlyagainstit。

  Fig。11。showshowthewidthandobliquityofthecovingsofaChimneyaretobeaccommodatedtothewidthoftheback,andtotheopeninginfrontanddepthoftheFire-place,wherethewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeislessthanthreetimesthewidthofthenewback。AsallthosewhomaybeemployedinalteringChimneysmaynot,perhaps,knownhowtosetoffanangleofanycertainnumbersofdegrees,——ormaynothaveathandtheinstrumentsnecessaryfordoingit,——Ishallhereshowhowaninstrumentmaybemadewhichwillbefoundtobeveryusefulinlayingouttheworkforthebricklayers。

  Uponaboardabout18incheswideandfourfeetlong,oruponthefloororatable,drawthreeequalsquaresA,B,C,fig。12。ofabout12or14incheseachside,placedinastraitline,andtouchingeachother——FromthebackcornercofthecentersquareB,drawadiagonallineacrossthesquareA,toitsoutwardfrontcornerf,andtheadjoiningangleformedbythelinesdcandcfwillbeequalto135degrees,——theanglewhichtheplaneofthebackofaChimneyFire-placeoughttomakewiththeplaneofitscovings——Andabevelm,n,beingmadetothisanglewiththinslipsofhardwood,thislittleinstrumentwillbefoundtobeveryusefulinmarkingoutonthehearth,withchalk,theplansofthewallswhicharetoformthecovingsofFire-places。

  AsChimneyswhichareapttosmokewillrequirethecovingstobeplacedlessobliquelyinrespecttothebackthanotherswhichhavenotthatdefect,itwouldbeconvenienttobeprovidedwithseveralbevels;——threeorfour,forinstance,formingdifferentangles——Thatalreadydescribed,whichmaybecalledNo。1。willmeasuretheobliquityofthecovingswhentheFire-placecanbemadeofthemostperfectform:——anotherNo。2。maybemadetoasmallerangle,dce,——andanotherNo。3。forChimnieswhichareveryapttosmokeatthestillsmallerangledci——Orabevelmaybesocontrived,bymeansofajoint,andanarch,properlygraduated,astoserveforallthedifferentdegreesofobliquitywhichitmayeverbenecessarytogivetothecovingsofFire-places。

  Anotherpointofmuchimportance,andparticularlyinChimneyswhichareapttosmoke,istoformthethroatoftheChimneyproperly,bycarryingupthebackandcovingstoaproperheight。This,workmenareapttoneglecttodo,probablyonaccountofthedifficultytheyfindinworkingwheretheopeningofthecanaloftheChimneyissomuchreduced——ButitisabsolutelynecessarythatthesewallsshouldbecarriedupfiveorsixinchesatleastabovetheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimney,ortothatpointwherethewallwhichformsthefrontofthethroatbeginstoriseperpendicularly——IftheworkmanhasintelligenceenoughtoavailhimselfoftheopeningwhichisformedinthebackoftheFire-placetogiveapassagetotheChimney-sweeper,hewillfindlittledifficultyinfinishinghisworkinapropermanner。

  Inplacingtheplumb-lineagainstthebreastoftheChimney,inordertoascertainhowfarthenewbackistobebroughtforward,greatcaremustbetakentoplaceitattheverytopofthebreast,wherethecanaloftheChimneyBEGINSTORISE

  PERPENDICULARLY;otherwise,whentheplumb-lineisplacedtoolow,oragainsttheslopeofthebreast,whenthenewbackcomestoberaisedtoitsproperheight,thethroatoftheChimneywillfoundtobetoonarrow。

  Sometimes,andindeedveryoftenthetopofthebreastofaChimneyliesveryhigh,orfarabovethefireseethefigures13

  and14,wheredshowsthetopofthebreastoftheChimney;

  whenthisisthecaseitmustbebroughtlower,otherwisetheChimneywillbeveryapttosmoke——SomuchhasbeensaidintheFirstChapterofthisEssayoftheadvantagestobederivedfrombringingthethroatofaChimneyneartotheburningfuel,thatI

  donotthinkitnecessarytoenlargeontheminthisplace,——

  takingitforgrantedthattheutilityandnecessityofthatarrangementhavealreadybeenmadesufficientlyevident;——

  butafewdirectionsforworkmen,toshowthemhowthebreastandconsequentlythethroatofaChimneycanmostreadilybelowered,maynotbesuperfluous。

  WherethetoogreatheightofthebreastofaChimneyisowingtothegreatheightofthemantle,seefig。13,or,whichisthesamething,oftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront,whichwillcommonlybefoundtobethecase;theonlyremedyfortheevilwillbetobringdownthemantlelower;——orrather,tomaketheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontlower,bythrowingacrossthetopofthisopening,fromonejambtotheother,andimmediatelyunderthemantle,averyflatarch;——awallofbricksandmortar,supportedonstraightbarsofiron;——orapieceofstoneh,fig。13——Whenthisisdone,theslopeoftheoldthroatoftheChimney,orofthebacksideofthemantle,istobefilledupwithplaster,soastoformonecontinuedflat,vertical,oruprightplanesurfacewiththelowerpartofthewallofthecanaloftheChimney,andanewbreastistobeformedlowerdown,carebeingtakentorounditoffproperly,andmakeitfinishatthelowersurfaceofthenewwallbuiltunderthemantle;——whichwallformsinfactanewmantle。

  Theannexeddrawingfig。13,whichrepresentsthesectionofaChimneyinwhichthebreasthasbeenloweredaccordingtothemethodheredescribed,willshowthesevariousalterationsinaclearandsatisfactorymanner。Inthisfigure,aswellasinmostoftheothersinthisEssay,theoldwallsaredistinguishedfromthenewonesbythemannerinwhichtheyareshaded;——

  theoldwallsbeingshadedbydiagonallines,andthenewonesbyverticallines。Theadditions,whichareformedofplaster,areshadedbydotsinsteadoflines。

  WherethetoogreatheightofthebreastofaChimneyisoccasioned,notbytheheightofthemantle,butbythetoogreatwidthofthebreast,inthatcase,whichhoweverwillseldombefoundtooccur,thisdefectmayberemediedbycoveringthelowerpartofthebreastwithathickcoatingofplaster,supported,ifnecessary,bynailsorstuds,drivenintothewallwhichformsthebreast,andproperlyroundedoffatthelowerpartofthemantle——Seefig。14。

  CHAPTER。III。

  Ofthecauseoftheascentofsmoke。

  Illustrationofthesubjectbyfamiliarcomparisonsandexperiments。

  Ofchimnieswhichaffectandcauseeachothertosmoke。

  Ofchimnieswhichsmokefromwantofair。

  Oftheeddiesofwindwhichsometimesblowdownchimnies,andcausethemtosmoke。

  Explanationofthefigures。

  ThoughitwasmywishtoavoidallabstrusephilosophicalinvestigationsinthisEssay,yetIfeelthatitisnecessarytosayafewwordsuponasubjectgenerallyconsideredasdifficulttobeexplained,whichistoointimatelyconnectedwiththematterunderconsiderationtobepassedoverinsilence——

  AknowledgeofthecauseoftheascentofSmokebeingindispensablynecessarytothosewhoengageintheimprovementofFire-places,orwhoaredesirousofformingjustideasrelativetotheoperationsoffire,andthemanagementofheat,Ishalldevoteafewpagestotheinvestigationofthatcuriousandinterestingsubject——Andasmanyofthosewhomayderiveadvantagefromtheseinquiriesarenotmuchaccustomedtophilosophicaldisquisitions,andwouldnotreadilycomprehendeitherthelanguageorthediagramscommonlyusedbyscientificwriterstoexplainthephaenomenainquestion,Ishalltakepainstoexpressmyselfinthemostfamiliarmanner,andtousesuchcomparisonsforillustrationasmayeasilybeunderstood。

  Ifsmallleadenbullets,orlargegooseshot,bemixedwithpeas,andthewholewellshakeninabushel,theshotwillseparatefromthepeas,andwilltakeitsplaceatthebottomofthebushel;forcingbyitsgreaterweightthepeaswhicharelighter,tomoveupwards,contrarytotheirnaturaltendency,andtaketheirplacesabove。

  Ifwaterandlinseedoil,whichislighterthanwater,bemixedinavesselbyshakingthemtogether,uponsufferingthismixturetoremainquite,thewaterwilldescendandoccupythebottomofthevessel,andtheoil,beingforcedoutofitsplacebythegreaterpressuredownwardsoftheheavierliquid,willbeobligedtoriseandswimonthesurfaceofthewater。

  Ifabottlecontaininglinseedoilbeplungedinwaterwithitsmouthupwards,andopen,theoilwillascentoutofthebottle,andpassingupwardsthroughthemassofwater,inacontinuedstream,willspreaditselfoveritssurface。

  Inlikemannerwhentwofluidsofanykind,ofdifferentdensities,comeintocontact,oraremixedwitheachother,thatwhichisthelightestwillbeforcedupwardsbythatwhichistheheaviest。

  Andasheatrarefiesallbodies,fluidsaswellassolids,airaswellaswater,ormercury,——itfollowsthattwoportionsofthesamefluid,atdifferenttemperatures,beingbroughtintocontactwitheachother,thatportionwhichisthehottestbeingmorerarefiedorspecificallyLIGHTERthanthatwhichiscolder,mustbeforcedupwardsbythislast——Andthisiswhatalwayshappensinfact。

  Whenhotwaterandcoldwateraremixed,thehottestpartofthemixturewillbefoundtobeatthesurfaceabove;——andwhencoldairisadmittedintoawarmedroom,itwillalwaysbefoundtotakeitsplaceatthebottomoftheroom,thewarmerairbeinginpartexpelled,andinpartforcedupwardstothetopoftheroom。

  Bothairandwaterbeingtransparentandcolourlessfluids,theirinternalmotionsarenoteasilydiscoveredbythesight,andwhenthesemotionsareveryslow,theymakenoimpressionwhateveronanyofoursenses,consequentlytheycannotbedetectedbyuswithouttheaidofsomemechanicalcontrivance:——

  Butwherewehavereasontothinkthatthosemotionsexist,meansshouldbesought,andmayoftenbefound,forrenderingthemperceptible。

  Ifabottlecontaininghotwatertingedwithlog-wood,oranyothercolouringdrug,beimmersed,withitsmouthopen,andupwards,intoadeepglassjarfilledwithcoldwater,theascentofthehotwaterfromthebottlethroughthemassofcoldwaterwillbeperfectlyvisiblethroughtheglass——

  Nownothingcanbemoreevidentthanthatbothofthesefluidsareforced,orPUSHED,andnotDRAWNupwards——SmokeisfrequentlysaidtobedrawnuptheChimney;——andthataChimneydrawswell,orill;——butthesearecarelessexpressions,andleadtoveryerroneousideasrespectingthecauseoftheascentofSmoke;

  andconsequentlytendtopreventtheprogressofimprovementsinthemanagementoffires——Theexperimentjustmentionedwiththecolouredwaterisverystrikingandbeautiful,anditiswellcalculatedtogiveajustideaofthecauseoftheascentofSmoke。Thecoldwaterinthejar,which,inconsequenceofitssuperiorweightordensity,forcestheheatedandrarefiedwaterinthebottletogiveplacetoit,andtomoveupwardsoutofitsway,mayrepresentthecoldairoftheatmosphere,whiletherisingcolumnofcolouredwaterwillrepresentthecolumnofSmokewhichascendsfromafire。

  IfSmokerequiredaChimneytoDRAWitupwards,howhappensitthatSmokerisesfromafirewhichismadeintheopenair,wherethereisnoChimney?

  Ifatube,openatbothends,andofsuchalengththatitsupperendbebelowthesurfaceofthecoldwaterinthejar,beheldverticallyoverthemouthofthebottlewhichcontainsthehotcolouredwater,thehotwaterwillriseupthroughit,justasmokerisesinaChimney。

  Ifthetubebepreviouslyheatedbeforeitisplungedintothecoldwater,theascentofthehotcolouredwaterwillbefacilitatedandaccelerated,inlikemannerasSmokeisknowntorisewithgreaterfacilityinaChimneywhichishot,thaninoneinwhichnofirehasbeenmadeforalongtime——Butinneitherofthesecasescanit,withanypropriety,besaid,thatthehotwaterisDRAWNupthetube——Thehotterthewaterinthebottleis,andthecolderthatinthejar,thegreaterwillbethevelocitywithwhichthehotwaterwillbeforcedupthroughthetube;andthesameholdsoftheascentofhotSmokeinaChimney——Whenthefireisintense,andtheweatherverycold,theascentoftheSmokeisveryrapid;andundersuchcircumstancesChimneysseldomsmoke。

  Asthecoldwaterofthejarimmediatelysurroundingthebottlewhichcontainsthehotwater,willbeheatedbythebottlewhiletheotherpartsofthewaterinthejarwillremaincold,thiswatersoheated,becomingspecificallylighterthanthatwhichsurroundsit,willbeforcedupwards;andifitfindsitswayintothetubewillriseupthroughitwiththecolouredhotwater——ThewarmedairofaroomheatedbyanopenChimneyFire-placehasalwaysatendencytorise,ifImayusethatinaccurateexpression,andfindingitswayintotheChimneyfrequentlygoesoffwiththeSmoke。

  Whathasbeensaid,will,Iflattermyself,besufficienttoexplainandillustrate,inaclearandsatisfactorymanner,thecauseoftheascentofSmoke;andjustideasuponthatsubjectareabsolutelynecessaryinordertojudge,withcertainty,ofthemeritofanyschemeproposedfortheimprovementofFire-places;ortotakeeffectualmeasures,inallcases,forcuringsmokingChimnies——Forthoughtheperpetualchangesandalterationswhichareproducedbyaccident,whim,andcaprice,dosometimesleadtousefuldiscoveries,yettheprogressofimprovementundersuchguidancemustbeexceedinglyslow,fluctuating,anduncertain。

  AstothecausesofthesmokingofChimnies,theyareverynumerous,andvarious;butasageneralideaofthemmaybeacquiredfromwhathasalreadybeensaiduponthatsubjectinvariouspartsofthisEssay,andastheymay,inallcases,averyfewonlyexcepted,becompletelyremediedbymakingthealterationsinFire-placesherepointedout;Idonotthinkitnecessarytoenumeratethemallinthisplace,ortoenterintothoselongdetailsandinvestigationswhichwouldberequiredtoshowtheprecisemannerinwhicheachofthemoperates,eitheralone,orinconjunctionwithothers。

  ThereishoweveronecauseofsmokingChimnieswhichIthinkitisnecessarytomentionmoreparticularly——Inmodernbuilthouses,wherethedoorsandwindowsaregenerallymadetoclosewithsuchaccuracythatnocreviceisleftforthepassageoftheairfromwithout,theChimniesinroomsadjoiningtoeachother,orconnectedbyclosepassages,arefrequentlyfoundtoaffecteachother,andthisiseasytobeaccountedfor——WhenthereisafireburninginoneoftheChimnies,astheairnecessarytosupplythecurrentuptheChimneywherethefireburnscannotbehadinsufficientquantitiesfromwithout,throughtheverysmallcrevicesofthedoorsandwindows,theairintheroombecomesrarefied,notbyheat,butbysubtractionofthatportionofairwhichisemployedinkeepingupthefire,orsupportingthecombustionofthefuel,andinconsequenceofthisrarefaction,itselasticityisdiminished,andbeingatlastovercomebythepressureoftheexternalairoftheatmosphere,thisexternalairrushesintotheroombytheonlypassageleftforit,namely,bytheopenChimneyoftheneighbouringroom:——AndtheflowofairintotheFire-place,anduptheChimneywherethefireisburningbeingconstant,thisexpenceofairissuppliedbyacontinuedcurrentdowntheotherChimney。

  IfanattemptbemadetolightfiresinbothChimniesatthesametime,itwillbefoundtobeverydifficulttogetthefirestoburn,andtheroomswillbothbefilledwithSmoke。

  Oneofthefires,——thatwhichismadeintheChimneywheretheconstructionoftheFire-placeisbestadaptedtofacilitatetheascentoftheSmoke,——orifbothFire-placesareonthesameconstruction,——thatwhichhasthewindmostfavourable,orinwhichthefirehappenstobesoonestkindled,——willovercometheother,andcauseitsSmoketobebeatbackintotheroombythecoldairwhichdescendsthroughtheChimney——ThemostobviousremedyinthiscaseistoprovideforthesupplyoffreshairnecessaryforkeepingupthefiresbyopeningapassagefortheexternalairintotheroombyashorterroadthandownoneoftheChimnies;andwhenthisisdone,bothChimnieswillbefoundtobeeffectuallycured。

  ButChimniessocircumstancedmayveryfrequentlybepreventedfromsmokingevenwithoutopeninganynewpassagefortheexternalair,merelybydiminishingthedraught,asitiscalled,uptheChimnies;whichcanbestbedonebyalteringbothFire-placesupontheprinciplesrecommendedandfullyexplainedintheforegoingChaptersofthisEssay。

  Shouldthedoorsandwindowsofaroombeclosedwithsomuchnicetyastoleavenocrevicesbywhichasupplyofaircanentersufficientformaintainingthefire,AFTERTHECURRENTOFAIRUP

  THECHIMNEYHASBEENDIMINISHEDASMUCHASPOSSIBLEBY

  DIMINISHINGTHETHROATOFTHEFIRE-PLACE;inthatcasetherewouldbenootherwayofpreventingtheChimneyfromsmokingbutbyopeningapassagefortheadmissionoffreshairfromwithout;——butthis,Ibelieve,willveryseldombefoundtobethecase。

  AcasemorefrequentlytobemetwithiswherecurrentsofairsetdownChimniesinconsequenceofadiminutionandrarefactionoftheairinaroom,occasionedbythedoorsoftheroomopeningintopassagesorcourtswheretheairisrarefiedbytheactionofsomeparticularwinds。Insuchcasestheevilmayberemedied,eitherbycausingthedoorsinquestiontoclosemoreaccurately,——or,whichwillbestillmoreeffectual,bygivingasupplyofairtothepassageorcourtwhichwantsit,bysomeotherway。

  WherethetopofaChimneyiscommandedbyhighbuildings,byclifts,orbyhighgrounds,itwillfrequentlyhappen,inwindyweather,thattheeddiesformedintheatmospherebytheseobstacleswillblowdowntheChimney,andbeatdownthesmokeintotheroom——ThisitistruewillbemuchlesslikelytohappenwhenthethroatoftheChimneyiscontractedandproperlyformedthanwhenitisleftquiteopen,andtheFire-placebadlyconstructed;butasitisPOSSIBLEthataChimneymaybesomuchexposedtotheseeddiesinveryhighwindsastobemadetosmokesometimeswhenthewindblowswithviolencefromacertainquarter,itisnecessarytoshowhowtheeffectsofthoseeddiesmaybeprevented。

  VariousmechanicalcontrivanceshavebeenimaginedforpreventingthewindfromblowingdownChimnies,andmanyofthemhavebeenfoundtobeuseful;——thereare,however,manyoftheseinventions,which,thoughtheypreventthewindfromblowingdowntheChimney,aresoill-contrivedonotheraccountsastoobstructtheascentoftheSmoke,anddomoreharmthangood。

  OfthisdescriptionareallthoseChimney-potswithflathorizontalplatesorroofsplaceduponsupportersjustabovetheopeningofthepot;——andmostofthecapswhichturnwiththewindarenotmuchbetter——Oneofthemostsimplecontrivancesthatcanbemadeuseof,andwhichinmostcaseswillbefoundtoanswerthepurposeintendedaswellorbetterthanmorecomplicatedmachinery,istocoverthetopoftheChimneywithahollowtruncatedpyramidorcone,thediameterofwhichabove,oropeningforthepassageoftheSmoke,isabout10or11inches——

  Thispyramid,orcone,foreitherwillanswer,——shouldbeofearthenware,orofcastiron;——itsperpendicularheightmaybeequaltothediameterofitsopeningabove,andthediameterofitsopeningbelowequaltothreetimesitsheight——ItshouldbeplaceduponthetopoftheChimney,anditmaybecontrivedsoastomakeahandsomefinishtothebrick-work——Whereseveralflewscomeoutneareachother,orinthesamestackofChimnies,theformofapyramidwillbebetterthanthatofaconeforthesecovers。

  Theintentionofthiscontrivanceis,thatthewindsandeddieswhichstrikeagainsttheobliquesurfaceofthesecoversmaybereflectedupwardsinsteadofblowingdowntheChimney——

  Theinventionisbynomeansnew,butithasnothithertobeenoftenputinpractice——AsoftenasIhaveseenittriedithasbeenfoundtobeofuse;Icannotsay,however,thatIwaseverobligedtohaverecoursetoit,ortoanysimilarcontrivance;

  andifIforbeartoenlargeuponthesubjectoftheseinventions,itisbecauseIampersuadedthatwhenChimniesareproperlyconstructedINTHENEIGHBOURHOODOFTHEFIRE-PLACElittlemorewillbenecessarytobedoneatthetopoftheChimneythantoleaveitopen。

  IcannotconcludethisEssaywithoutagainrecommending,inthestrongestmanner,acarefulattentiontothemanagementoffiresinopenChimnies;fornotonlythequantityofheatproducedonthecombustionoffueldependsmuchonthemannerinwhichthefireismanaged,butevenoftheheatactuallygeneratedaverysmallpartonlywillbesaved,orusefullyemployed,whenthefireismadeinacarelessandslovenlymanner。

  Inlightingacoalfiremorewoodshouldbeemployedthaniscommonlyused,andfewercoals;andassoonasthefireburnsbright,andthecoalsarewelllighted,andNOTBEFORE,morecoalsshouldbeaddedtoincreasethefiretoitspropersize[3]。

  TheenormouswasteoffuelinLondonmaybeestimatedbythevastdarkcloudwhichcontinuallyhangsoverthisgreatmetropolis,andfrequentlyovershadowsthewholecountry,farandwide;

  forthisdensecloudiscertainlycomposedalmostentirelyofUNCONSUMEDCOAL,whichhavingstolenwingsfromtheinnumerablefiresofthisgreatcityhasescapedbytheChimnies,andcontinuestosailaboutintheair,tillhavinglosttheheatwhichgaveitvolatility,itfallsinadryshowerofextremelyfineblackdusttotheground,obscuringtheatmosphereinitsdescent,andfrequentlychangingthebrightestdayintomorethanEgyptiandarkness。

  Ineverviewfromadistance,asIcomeintotown,thisblackcloudwhichhangsoverLondon,withoutwishingtobeabletocomputetheimmensenumberofchaldronsofcoalsofwhichitiscomposed;forcouldthisbeascertained,Iampersuadedsostrikingafactwouldawakenthecuriosity,andexcitetheastonishmentofallranksoftheinhabitants;andPERHAPSturntheirmindstoanobjectofeconomytowhichtheyhavehithertopaidlittleattention。

  Conclusion。

  ThoughthesavingoffuelwhichwillresultfromtheimprovementsintheformsofCHIMNEYFIRE-PLACEShererecommendedwillbeveryconsiderable,yetIhopetobeabletoshowinafutureEssay,thatstillgreatersavingsmaybemade,andmoreimportantadvantagesderivedfromtheintroductionofimprovementsIshallproposeinKITCHENFIRE-PLACES。

  IhopelikewisetobeabletoshowinanEssayonCOTTAGEFIRE-PLACES,whichIamnowpreparingforpublication,thatTHREEQUARTERS,atleast,ofthefuelwhichcottagersnowconsumeincookingtheirvictuals,andinwarmingtheirdwellings,maywithgreatease,andwithoutanyexpensiveapparatus,besaved。

  ENDOFTHEFOURTHESSAY。

  EXPLANATIONOFTHEFIGURES

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。1。

  TheplanofaFire-placeonthecommonconstruction。

  AB,theopeningoftheFire-placeinfront。

  CD,thebackoftheFire-place。

  ACandBD,thecovings。

  Seepage341。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。2。

  Thisfigureshowstheelevation,orfrontviewofaFire-placeonthecommonconstruction。Seepage341。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。3。

  ThisFigureshowshowtheFire-placerepresentedbytheFig。1,istobealteredinordertoitsbeingimproved。

  ABistheopeninginfront,——CD,theback,andACandBD,thecovingsoftheFire-placeinitsoriginalstate。

  ab,itsopeninginfront,——ik,itsback,——andaiandbk,itscovingsafterithasbeenaltered,eisapointuponthehearthuponwhichaplumsuspendedfromthemiddleoftheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimneyfalls。Thesituationforthenewbackisascertainedbytakingthelineefequaltofourinches。

  Thenewbackandcovingsarerepresentedasbeingbuiltofbricks;——andthespacebetweentheseandtheoldbackandcovingsasbeingfilledupwithrubbish。Seepage342。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。4。

  ThisFigurerepresentstheelevationorfrontviewoftheFire-placeFig。3。afterithasbeenaltered。Thelowerpartofthedoor-wayleftfortheChimney-sweeperisshowninthisFigurebywhitedottedlines。Seepage344。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。5。

  ThisFigureshowsthesectionofaChimneyFire-placeandofapartofthecanaloftheChimney,onthecommonconstruction。

  abistheopeninginfront;bc,thedepthoftheFire-placeatthehearth;d,thebreastoftheChimney。

  de,thethroatoftheChimney,anddf,ge,apartoftheopencanaloftheChimney。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。6。

  ShowsasectionofthesameChimneyafterithasbeenaltered。

  klisthenewbackoftheFire-place;li,thetileorstonewhichclosesthedoor-wayfortheChimney-sweeper;di,thethroatoftheChimney,narrowtofourinches;a,themantle,andh,thenewwallmadeunderthemantletodiminishtheheightoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront。

  N。B。ThesetwoFiguresaresectionsofthesameChimneywhichisrepresentedineachofthefourprecedingFigures。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。7。

  ThisFigurerepresentsthegroundplanofaChimneyFire-placeinwhichthegrateisplacedinaniche,andinwhichtheoriginalwidthABoftheFire-placeisconsiderablydiminished。

  abistheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontafterithasbeenaltered,anddisthebackofthenicheinwhichthegrateisplaced。Seepage347。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。8。

  ShowsafrontviewofthesameFire-placeafterithasbeenaltered;wheremaybeseenthegrate,andthedoor-wayfortheChimney-sweeper。Seepage347。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。9。

  ShowsasectionofthesameFire-place,cdebeingasectionoftheniche,gthedoor-wayfortheChimney-sweeper,closedbyapieceofthefire-stone,andfthenewwallunderthemantlebywhichtheheightoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontisdiminished。Seepage347。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。10。

  ThisFigureshowshowthecovingsaretobeplacedwhenthefrontofthecovingsaandbdonotcomesofarforwardasthefrontoftheopeningoftheFire-place,orthejambsAandB。

  Seepage348。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。11。

  ThisFigureshowshowthewidthandobliquityofthecovingsaretobeaccommodatedtothewidthofthebackofaFire-place,incaseswhereitisnecessarytomakethebackverywide。

  Seepage349。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。12。

  ThisFigureshowshowaninstrumentcalledabevelmn,usefulinlayingoutthework,inalteringChimneyFire-places,maybeconstructed。Seepage349。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。13。

  Thisshowshow,whenthebreastofaChimneydistoohigh,itmaybebroughtdownbymeansofawallhplacedunderthemantle,andacoatingofplaster,whichinthisFigureisrepresentedbythepartmarkedbydots。Seepage351。

  [IMAGE]

  Fig。14。

  ThisshowshowthebreastofaChimneymaybebroughtdownmerelybyacoatingofplaster。Seepage351。

  FootnotesforessayIV。

  [1]

  EvesandSutton,bricklayers,BroadSanctuary,Westminster,havealonealteredabove90Chimnies——TheexperimentwasfirstmadeinLondonatLordPalmerston’shouseinHanover-square;——thentwoChimnieswerealteredinthehouseofSirJohnSinclair,Baronet,PresidentoftheBoardofAgriculture;oneintheroominwhichtheBoardmeets,andtheotherintheSecretary’sroom;whichlastbeingmuchfrequentedbypersonsfromallpartsofGreatBritain,itwashopedthatcircumstanceswouldtendmuchtoexpeditetheintroductionoftheseimprovementsinvariouspartsofthekingdom。SeveralChimnieswerealteredinthehouseofSirJosephBanks,Baronet,K。B。PresidentoftheRoyalSociety。

  AfterwardsanumberwerealteredinDevonshire-house;——inthehouseofEarlBesborough,inCavendish-square,andathisseatatRoehampton;——atHolywell-house,nearSt。Alban’s,theseatoftheCountessDowagerSpencer:——atMelbourne-house;——atLadyTempleton’sinPortland-place;——atMrsMontagu’sinPortman-square;——

  atLordSudley’s,inDover-street:——attheMarquisofSalisbury’sseatatHatfield,andathishouseintown;——atLordPalmerston’sseatatBroadlands,nearSouthampton,andatseveralgentlemen’shousesinthatneighbourhood;——andagreatmanyothers;butitwouldbetiresometoenumeratethemall;andeventhesearementionedmerelyforthesatisfactionofthosewhomaywishtomakeinquiriesrespectingthesuccessoftheexperiments。

  [2]

  HavingbeenobligedtocarrybackwardtheFire-placeinthemannerheredescribed,inordertoaccommodateittoaChimneywhosewallsinfrontwereremarkablythin,——IwassurprisedtofinduponlightingthefirethatitappearedtogiveoutmoreheatintotheroomthananyFire-placeIhadeverconstructed——

  Thiseffectwasquiteunexpected;butthecauseofitwastooobviousnottobeimmediatelydiscovered——Theflamerisingfromthefirebrokeagainstthepartofthebackwhichslopedforwardoverthefire,andthispartofthebackbeingsoonverymuchheated,andinconsequenceofitsbeingveryhot,andwhenthefireburntbrightitwasfrequentlyquiteredhot,itthrewoffintotheroomagreatdealofradiantheat——ItisnotpossiblethatthisobliquesurfacetheslopeofthebackoftheFire-place

  couldhavebeenheatedred-hotMERELYbytheradiantheatprojectedbytheburningfuel,forotherpartsoftheFire-placenearerthefire,andbettersituatedforreceivingradiantheat,wereneverfoundtobesomuchheated;——andhenceitappearsthatthecombinedheatinthecurrentofsmokeandhotvapourwhichrisesfromanopenfireMAYBE,atleastINPART,stoppedinitspassageuptheChimney,changingintoradiantheat,andafterwardsthrownintotheroom——Thisopensupanewandveryinterestingfieldforexperiment,andbidsfairtoleadtoimportantimprovementsintheconstructionofFire-places——I

  haveoflatebeenmuchengagedintheseinvestigations,andamnowactuallyemployeddailyinmakingavarietyofexperimentswithgratesandFire-places,upondifferentconstructions,intheroomIinhabitintheRoyalHotelinPallMall;——andMr。HopkinsofGreek-streetSoho,IronmongertohisMajesty,andMrs。Hempel,atherPotteryatChelsea,arebothatworkintheirdifferentlinesofbusiness,undermydirection,intheconstructionofFire-placesuponaprincipleentirelynew,andwhich,Iflattermyself,willbefoundtobenotonlyelegantandconvenient,butveryeconomical——ButasImeansoontopublishaparticularaccountoftheseFire-places,——withdrawingsandampledirectionsforconstructingthem,Ishallnotenlargefartheronthesubjectinthisplace——Itmayhowevernotbeamissjusttomentionhere,thatthesenew-inventedFire-placesnotbeingfixedtothewallsoftheChimney,butmerelysetdownuponthehearth,maybeusedinanyopenChimney:andthatChimniesalteredorconstructedontheprincipleshererecommendedareparticularlywelladaptedforreceivingthem。

  ThePublicingeneral,andmoreparticularlythoseTradesmenandManufacturerswhomitmayconcern,arerequestedtoobserve,thatastheAuthordoesnotintenttotakeouthimself,ortosufferotherstotakeout,anypatentforanyinventionofhiswhichmaybeofpublicutility,allpersonsareatfulllibertytoimitatethem,andvendthem,fortheirownemolument,whenandwhere,andinanywaytheymaythinkproper;andthosewhomaywishforanyfurtherinformationrespectinganyofthoseinventionsorimprovementswillreceivegratisalltheinformationtheycanrequirebyapplyingtotheAuthor,whowilltakepleasureingivingthemeveryassistanceinhispower。

  [3]

  Kindlingballscomposedofequalpartsofcoal,——charcoal,——andclay,thetwoformerreducedtoafinepowder,wellmixedandkneadedtogetherwiththeclaymoistenedwithwater,andthenformedintoballsofthesizeofhenseggs,andthoroughlydried,mightbeusedwithgreatadvantageinsteadofwoodforkindlingfires。Thesekindlingballsmaybemadesoinflammableastotakefireinaninstantandwiththesmallestspark,bydippingtheminastrongsolutionofnitreandthendryingthemagain,andtheywouldneitherbeexpensivenorliabletobespoiledbylongkeeping。Perhapsaquantityofpurecharcoalreducedtoaveryfinepowderandmixedwiththesolutionofnitreinwhichtheyaredippedwouldrenderthemstillmoreinflammable。

  IhaveoftenwonderedthatnoattemptsshouldhavebeenmadetoimprovethefireswhicharemadeintheopenChimniesofelegantapartments,bypreparingthefuel;fornothingsurelywasevermoredirty,inelegant,anddisgustingthanacommoncoalfire。

  Fireballsofthesizeofgooseeggs,composedofcoalandcharcoalinpowder,mixedupwithadueproportionofwetclay,andwelldried,wouldmakeamuchmorecleanly,andinallrespectsapleasanterfirethancanbemadewithcrudecoals;

  andIbelievewouldnotbemoreexpensivefuel。InFlandersandinseveralpartsofGermany,andparticularintheDutchiesofJuliersandBergen,wherecoalsareusedasfuel,thecoalsarealwayspreparedbeforetheyareused,bypoundingthemtoapowder,andmixingthemupwithanequalweightofclay,andsufficientquantityofwatertoformthewholeintoamasswhichiskneadedtogetherandformedintocakes;whichcakesareafterwardswelldriedandkeptinadryplaceforuse。

  Andithasbeenfoundbylongexperiencethattheexpenseattendingthispreparationisamplyrepaidbytheimprovementofthefuel。Thecoals,thusmixedwiththeclay,notonlyburnlonger,butgivemuchmoreheatthanwhentheyareburntintheircrudestate。

  Itwilldoubtlessappearextraordinarytothosewhohavenotconsideredthesubjectwithsomeattention,thatthequantityofheatproducedinthecombustionofanyquantityofcoalsshouldbeincreasedbymixingthecoalswithclay,whichiscertainlyanincombustiblebody;——butthephenomenonmay,Ithink,beexplainedinasatisfactorymanner。

  Theheatgeneratedinthecombustionofanysmallparticleofcoalexistingundertwodistinctforms,namely,inthatwhichisCOMBINEDwiththeflameandsmokewhichrisefromthefire,andwhichifmeansarenotfoundtostopit,goesoffimmediatelybytheChimneyandislost,——andtheRADIANTHEATwhichissentofffromthefire,inalldirectionsinrightlines:——Ithinkitreasonabletoconclude,thattheparticlesofclaywhicharesurroundedonallsidesbytheflamearrestapartatleastofthecombinedheat,andpreventitsescape;andthiscombinedheat,soarrested,heatingtheclayredhot,isretainedinit,andbeingchangedbythisoperationtoradiantheat,isafterwardsemitted,andmaybedirected,andemployedtousefulpurposes。

  Incomposingfireballs,Ithinkitprobablethatacertainproportionofchaff——ofstrawcutveryfine,orevensawdust,mightbeemployedwithgreatadvantage。Iwishthosewhohaveleisurewouldturntheirthoughtstothissubject,forIampersuadedthatveryimportantimprovementswouldresultfromathoroughinvestigationofit。

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