”andwithoutacausebeingassigned，Iwasstoppedshort。Myfurnaces，attheorderofthemanager，werepulledinpieces，andanedictwaspassedthattheyshouldneverbeerectedagain。ThusterminatedmyresearchesattheClydeIronWorks。IthappenedatatimewhenIwasinterested——andIhadbeentwoyearspreviouslyoccupied——inanattempttoconvertcast-ironintosteel，withoutfusion，byaprocessofcementation，whichhadforitsobjectthedispersionorabsorptionofthesuperfluouscarboncontainedinthecast-iron，——anobjectwhichatthattimeappearedtomeofsogreatimportance，that，withtheconsentofafriend，IerectedanassayandcementingFurnaceatthedistanceofabouttwomilesfromtheClydeWorks。ThitherIrepairedatnight，andsometimesatthebreakfastanddinnerhoursduringtheday。Thisplanofoperationwasperseveredinforthewholeofonesummer，butwasfoundtoouncertainandlaborioustobecontinued。Atthelatterendoftheyear1798Ileftmychambers，andremovedfromtheClydeWorkstothedistanceofaboutamile，whereIconstructedseveralfurnacesforassayingandcementing，capableofexcitingagreatertemperaturethananytowhichIbeforehadaccess；andthusfornearlytwoyearsIcontinuedtocarryonmyinvestigationsconnectedwithironandthealloysofthemetals。”Thoughoperatinginaretiredmanner，andholdinglittlecommunicationwithothers，myviewsandopinionsupontheRATIONALEofiron-makingspreadovertheestablishment。Iwasconsideredforwardinaffectingtoseeandexplainmattersinadifferentwayfromotherswhoweremuchmyseniors，andwhowerecontenttobesatisfiedwitholdmethodsofexplanation，orwithnoexplanationatall……Notwithstandingtheseearlyreproaches，Ihavelivedtoseethenomenclatureofmyyouthfurnishavocabularyoftermsintheartofiron-making，whichisusedbymanyoftheironmastersofthepresentdaywithfreedomandeffect，incommunicatingwitheachotheronthesubjectoftheirrespectivemanufactures。Prejudicesseldomoutlivethegenerationtowhichtheybelong，whenopposedbyamorerationalsystemofexplanation。Inthisrespect，TimeasmyLordBaconsaysisthegreatestofallinnovators。”Inasimilarmanner，TimeoperatedinmyfavourinrespecttotheBlackBandIronstone。*
[footnote……
ThisvaluabledescriptionofironorewasdiscoveredbyMr。Mushet，asheafterwardsinformsusPapersonIronandSteel，121，intheyear1801，whencrossingtheriverCalder，intheparishofOldMonkland。Havingsubjectedaspecimenwhichhefoundintheriver-bedtothetestofhiscrucible，hesatisfiedhimselfastoitsproperties，andproceededtoascertainitsgeologicalpositionandrelations。Heshortlyfoundthatitbelongedtotheupperpartofthecoal-formation，andhencehedesignateditcarboniferousironstone。
Heprosecutedhisresearches，andfoundvariousrichbedsofthemineraldistributedthroughoutthewesterncountiesofScotland。Onanalysis，itwasfoundtocontainalittleover50percent。ofprotoxideofiron。Thecoalymatteritcontainedwasnotitsleastvaluableingredient；forbytheaidofthehotblastitwasafterwardsfoundpracticabletosmeltitalmostwithoutanyadditionofcoal。SeamsofblackbandhavesincebeendiscoveredandsuccessfullyworkedinEdinburghshire，Staffordshire，andNorthWales。
Thediscoveryofthiswasmadein1801，whenIwasengagedinerectingformyselfandpartnerstheCalderIronWorks。GreatprejudicewasexcitedagainstmebytheironmastersandothersofthatdayinpresumingtoclasstheWILDCOALSofthecountryasBlackBandwascalledwithironstonefitandproperfortheblastfurnace。YetthatdiscoveryhaselevatedScotlandtoaconsiderablerankamongtheiron-makingnationsofEurope，withresourcesstillinstorethatmaybeconsideredinexhaustible。ButsucharetheconsolatoryeffectsofTime，thatthediscovererof1801isnolongerconsideredtheintrusivevisionaryofthelaboratory，buttheacknowledgedbenefactorofhiscountryatlarge，andparticularlyofanextensiveclassofcoalandmineproprietorsandironmasters，whohavederived，andarestillderiving，greatwealthfromthisimportantdiscovery；andwho，inthespiritofgratefulacknowledgment，havepronounceditworthyofacrownofgold，oramonumentalrecordonthespotwherethediscoverywasfirstmade。”Atanadvancedperiodoflife，suchconsiderationsaresoothingandsatisfactory。Manyundersimilarcircumstanceshavenot，intheirownlifetime，hadthatmeasureofjusticeawardedtothembytheircountrytowhichtheywereequallyentitled。Iacceptit，however，asaboonjustlyduetome，andasanequivalentinsomedegreeforthatlaboriouscourseofinvestigationwhichIhadprescribedformyself，andwhich，inearlylife，wascarriedonundercircumstancesofpersonalexposureandinconvenience，whichnothingbutaframeofironcouldhavesupported。Theyatonealso，inpart，forthatdisappointmentsustainedinearlylifebythespeculativehabitsofonepartner，andtheconstitutionalnervousnessofanother，whicheventuallyoccasionedmyseparationfromtheCalderIronWorks，andlostmethepossessionofextensivetractsofBlackBandiron-stone，whichIhadsecuredwhilethevalueofthediscoverywasknownonlytomyself。”
Mr。MushetpublishedtheresultsofhislaboriousinvestigationsinaseriesofpapersinthePhilosophicalMagazine，——afterwardsreprintedinacollectedformin1840underthetitleof”PapersonIronandSteel。”Thesepapersareamongthemostvaluableoriginalcontributionstotheliteratureoftheiron-manufacturethathaveyetbeengiventotheworld。Theycontainthegermsofmanyinventionsanddiscoveriesinironandsteel，someofwhichwereperfectedbyMr。Mushethimself，whileotherswereadoptedandworkedoutbydifferentexperimenters。In1798someoftheleadingFrenchchemistswereendeavouringtoprovebyexperimentthatsteelcouldbemadebycontactofthediamondwithbar-ironinthecrucible，thecarbonofthediamondbeingliberatedandenteringintocombinationwiththeiron，formingsteel。Intheanimatedcontroversywhichoccurredonthesubject，Mr。Mushet’snamewasbroughtintoconsiderablenotice；
oneofthesubjectsofhispublishedexperimentshavingbeentheconversionofbar-ironintosteelinthecruciblebycontactwithregulatedproportionsofcharcoal。Theexperimentswhichhemadeinconnectionwiththiscontroversy，thoughinthemselvesunproductiveofresults，ledtotheimportantdiscoverybyMr。Mushetofthecertainfusibilityofmalleableironatasuitabletemperature。
AmongtheotherimportantresultsofMr。Mushet’slifelonglabours，thefollowingmaybesummarilymentioned：Thepreparationofsteelfrombar-ironbyadirectprocess，combiningtheironwithcarbon；
thediscoveryofthebeneficialeffectsofoxideofmanganeseonironandsteel；theuseofoxidesofironinthepuddling-furnaceinvariousmodesofappliance；theproductionofpig-ironfromtheblast-furnace，suitableforpuddling，withouttheinterventionoftherefinery；andtheapplicationofthehotblasttoanthracitecoaliniron-smelting。Fortheprocessofcombiningironwithcarbonfortheproductionofsteel，Mr。MushettookoutapatentinNovember，1800；
andmanyyearsafter，whenhehaddiscoveredthebeneficialeffectsofoxideofmanganeseonsteel，Mr。JosiahHeathfoundeduponithiscelebratedpatentforthemakingofcast-steel，whichhadtheeffectofraisingtheannualproductionofthatmetalinSheffieldfrom3000
to100，000tons。Hisapplicationofthehotblasttoanthracitecoal，afteraprocessinventedbyhimandadoptedbytheMessrs。HillofthePlymouthIronWorks，SouthWales，hadtheeffectofproducingsavingsequaltoabout20，000L。ayearatthoseworks；andyet，strangetosay，Mr。Mushethimselfneverreceivedanyconsiderationforhisinvention。
ThediscoveryofTitaniumbyMr。Mushetinthehearthofablast-furnacein1794wouldnowberegardedasamereisolatedfact，inasmuchasTitaniumwasnotplacedinthelistofrecognisedmetalsuntilDr。Wollaston，manyyearslater，ascertaineditsqualities。Butinconnectionwiththefact，itmaybementionedthatMr。Mushet’syoungestson，Robert，reasoningonthepeculiarcircumstancesofthediscoveryinquestion，ofwhichamplerecordisleft，hasfoundeduponithisTitaniumprocess，whichisexpectedbyhimeventuallytosupersedeallothermethodsofmanufacturingsteel，andtoreduceverymateriallythecostofitsproduction。
Whilehelived，Mr。MushetwasaleadingauthorityonallmattersconnectedwithIronandSteel，andhecontributedlargelytothescientificworksofhistime。BesideshispapersinthePhilosophicalJournal，hewrotethearticle”Iron”forNapiersSupplementtotheEncyclopaediaBritannica；andthearticles”BlastFurnace”and”BlowingMachine”forRees’sCyclopaedia。Thetwolatterarticleshadaconsiderableinfluenceontheoppositiontotheintendedtaxuponironin1807，andwerefrequentlyreferredtointhediscussionsonthesubjectinParliament。Mr。Mushetdiedin1847。
CHAPTERIX。
INVENTIONOFTHEHOTBLAST——JAMESBEAUMONTNEILSON。”Whilsttheexploitsoftheconquerorandtheintriguesofthedemagoguearefaithfullypreservedthroughasuccessionofages，theperseveringandunobtrusiveeffortsofgenius，developingthebestblessingsoftheDeitytoman，areoftenconsignedtooblivion。”——
DavidMushet。
TheextraordinaryvalueoftheBlackBandironstonewasnotatfirstdulyrecognised，perhapsnotevenbyMr。Mushethimself。Forseveralyearsafteritsdiscoverybyhim，itsusewasconfinedtotheCalderIronWorks，whereitwasemployedinmixturewithotherironstonesoftheargillaceousclass。ItwasafterwardspartiallyusedattheClydeIronWorks，butnowhereelse，astrongfeelingofprejudicebeingentertainedagainstitonthepartoftheirontradegenerally。Itwasnotuntiltheyear1825thattheMonklandCompanyuseditalone，withoutanyothermixturethanthenecessaryquantityoflimestoneforaflux。”ThesuccessofthisCompany，”saysMr。Mushet，”soongaverisetotheGartsherrieandDundyvanfurnaces，inthemidstofwhichprogresscametheuseofrawpit-coalandtheHotBlast——thelatteroneofthegreatestdiscoveriesinmetallurgyofthepresentage，and，aboveeveryotherprocess，admirablyadaptedforsmeltingtheBlackbandironstone。”Fromtheintroductionofthisprocesstheextraordinarydevelopmentoftheiron-manufactureofScotlandmaybesaidtodate；andweaccordinglyproposetodevotethepresentchaptertoanaccountofitsmeritoriousinventor。
JamesBeaumontNeilsonwasbornatShettleston，aroadsidevillageaboutthreemileseastwardofGlasgow，onthe22ndofJune，1792。Hisparentsbelongedtotheworkingclass。Hisfather’searningsduringmanylaboriousyearsofhislifedidnotexceedsixteenshillingsaweek。Hehadbeenbredtothetradeofamill-wright，andwasforsometimeintheemploymentofDr。Roebuckasanengine-wrightathiscollierynearBoroughstoness。HewasnextemployedinalikecapacitybyMr。Beaumont，themineral-managerofthecollieriesofMrs。
CunninghamofLainshaw，nearIrvineinAyrshire；afterwhichhewasappointedengine-wrightatAyr，andsubsequentlyattheGovanCoalWorksnearGlasgow，whereheremaineduntilhisdeath。ItwaswhileworkingattheIrvineWorksthathefirstbecameacquaintedwithhisfuturewife，MarionSmith，thedaughterofaRenfrewshirebleacher，awomanremarkablethroughlifeforherclever，managing，andindustrioushabits。ShehadthechargeofMrs。Cunningham’schildrenforsometimeafterthemarriageofthatladytoMr。Beaumont，anditwasincomplimenttoherformermistressandherhusbandthatshenamedheryoungestsonJamesBeaumontafterthelatter。
Theboy’seducationwasconfinedtothecommonelementsofreading，writing，andarithmetic，whichhepartlyacquiredattheparishschoolofStrathbungonearGlasgow，andpartlyattheChapelSchool，asitwascalled，intheGorbalsatGlasgow。Hehadfinallyleftschoolbeforehewasfourteen。Sometimebeforeheleft，hehadbeenpartiallysettowork，andearnedfourshillingsaweekbyemployingapartofeachdayindrivingasmallcondensingenginewhichhisfatherhadputupinaneighbouringquarry。Afterleavingschool，hewasemployedfortwoyearsasagigboyononeofthewindingenginesattheGovancolliery。Hisparentsnowconsideredhimoffitagetobeapprenticedtosomespecialtrade，andasBeaumonthadmuchofhisfather’stastesformechanicalpursuits，itwasdeterminedtoputhimapprenticetoaworkingengineer。HiselderbrotherJohnwasthenactingasenginemanatOakbanknearGlasgow，andBeaumontwasapprenticedunderhimtolearnthetrade。Johnwasapersonofastudiousandseriousturnofmind，andhadbeenstronglyattractedtofollowtheexampleofthebrothersHaldane，whowerethenexcitinggreatinterestbytheirpreachingthroughouttheNorth；buthisfathersethisfaceagainsthisson’s”preachingatthebacko’
dikes，”ashecalledit；andsoJohnquietlysettleddowntohiswork。Theenginewhichthetwobrothersmanagedwasaverysmallone，andthemasterandapprenticeservedforenginemanandfireman。Heretheyouthworkedforthreeyears，employinghisleisurehoursintheeveningsinremedyingthedefectsofhisearlyeducation，andendeavouringtoacquireaknowledgeofEnglishgrammar，drawing，andmathematics。
Ontheexpiryofhisapprenticeship，Beaumontcontinuedforatimetoworkunderhisbrotherasjourneymanataguineaaweek；afterwhich，in1814，heenteredtheemploymentofWilliamTaylor，coal-masteratIrvine，andhewasappointedengine-wrightofthecollieryatasalaryoffrom70L。to80L。ayear。Oneoftheimprovementswhichheintroducedintheworkingofthecolliery，whileheheldthatoffice，wasthelayingdownofanedgerailwayofcast-iron，inlengthsofthreefeet，fromthepittotheharbourofIrvine，adistanceofthreemiles。Attheageof23hemarriedhisfirstwife，BarbaraMontgomerie，anIrvinelass，witha”tocher”of250L。Thislittleprovisionwasallthemoreserviceabletohim，ashismaster，Taylor，becomingunfortunateinbusiness，hewassuddenlythrownoutofemployment，andthelittlefortuneenabledthenewly-marriedpairtoholdtheirheadsabovewatertillbetterdayscameround。Theytookahumbletenement，consistingofaroomandakitchen，intheCowcaddens，Glasgow，wheretheirfirstchildwasborn。
Aboutthistimeagas-work，thefirstinGlasgow，wasprojected，andthecompanyhavingbeenformed，thedirectorsadvertisedforasuperintendentandforeman，towhomtheyoffereda”liberalsalary。”
ThoughBeaumonthadneverseengaslightbefore，exceptattheilluminationofhisfather’scollieryofficeafterthePeaceofAmiens，whichwasaccomplishedinaverysimpleandoriginalmanner，withouteithercondenser，purifier，orgas-holder，andthoughheknewnothingoftheartofgas-making，hehadthecouragetoapplyforthesituation。Hewasoneoftwentycandidates，andthefortunateone；
andinAugust，1817，wefindhimappointedforemanoftheGlasgowGasworks，forfiveyears，atthesalaryof90L。ayear。Beforetheexpiryofhistermhewasreappointedforsixyearsmore，attheadvancedsalaryof200L。，withthestatusofmanagerandengineeroftheworks。Hissalarywasgraduallyincreasedto400L。ayear，withafreedwelling-house，until1847，when，afterafaithfulserviceofthirtyyears，duringwhichhehadlargelyextendedthecentralworks，anderectedbranchworksinTradestonandPartick，hefinallyresignedthemanagement。
ThesituationofmanageroftheGlasgowGas-workswasinmanyrespectswellsuitedforthedevelopmentofMr。Neilson’speculiarabilities。InthefirstplaceitaffordedhimfacilitiesforobtainingtheoreticalaswellaspracticalknowledgeinChemicalScience，ofwhichhewasadiligentstudentattheAndersonianUniversity，aswellasofNaturalPhilosophyandMathematicsintheirhigherbranches。Inthenextplaceitgavefreescopeforhisingenuityinintroducingimprovementsinthemanufactureofgas，theninitsinfancy。Hewasthefirsttoemployclayretorts；andheintroducedsulphateofironasaself-actingpurifier，passingthegasthroughbedsofcharcoaltoremoveitsoilyandtarryelements。