essays-1-第54章
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rate。
＇16＇ Those who dislike trouble； and feel themselves called upon by duty and honor to take an active part in undertakings for the public good； are extremely apt to endeavour to excuse；to themselves as well as to the world；their inactivity and supineness； by representing the undertaking in question as being so very difficult as to make all hope of success quite chimerical and ridiculous。
＇17＇ The Housekeeper of my friend and countryman； Sir William Pepperel； Bart。 of Upper Seymour Street； Portman Square。
＇18＇ Molasses imported from the French West India Islands into the American States is commonly sold there from 12d。 to 14d。 the gallon。
＇19＇ This gentleman； who is as remarkable for his good fortune at sea； as he is respectable on account of his private character and professional knowledge； has crossed the Atlantic Ocean the almost incredible number of ONE HUNDRED AND TEN TIMES！ and without meeting with the smallest accident。 He is now on the seas in his way to North America； and this voyage； which is his HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH； he intends should be his last。 May he arrive safe；and may he long enjoy in peace and quite the well…earned fruits of his laborious life！ Who can reflect on the innumerable storms he must have experienced； and perils he has escaped； without feeling much interested in his preservation and happiness？
＇20＇ This maccaroni would not probably have cost one quarter of that sum at Naples。Common maccaroni is frequently sold there as low as fourteen grains； equal to five pence halfpenny sterling the rottolo； weighing twenty…eight ounces and three quarters Avoirdupois； which is three pence sterling the pound Avoirdupois。 An inferiour kind of maccaroni； such as is commonly sold at Naples to the Poor； costs not more than two pence sterling the pound Avoirdupois。
＇21＇ If maccaroni could be made in this country as cheap as it is made in Naples； that is to say； so as to be afforded for three pence sterling the pound Avoirdupois； for the best sort； （and I do not see why it should not；） as half a pound of dry maccaroni weighs when boiled very nearly two pounds； each pound of boiled maccaroni would cost only three farthings； and the cheese necessary for giving it a relish one farthing more； making together one penny； which is certainly a very moderate price for such good and wholesome Food。
CONTENTS of ESSAY IV。
of CHIMNEY FIRE…PLACES； with PROPOSALS for improving them to save FUEL； to render dwelling…houses more COMFORTABLE and SALUBRIOUS； and effectually to prevent CHIMNIES from SMOKING。
ADVERTISEMENT
CHAPTER。 I。 Fire…places for burning coals； or wood； in an open chimney； are capable of great improvement。 Smoking chimnies may in all cases be completely cured。 The immoderate size of the throats of chimnies the principal cause of all their imperfections。 Philosophical investigation of the subject。 Remedies proposed for all the defects that have been discovered in chimnies and their open fire…places。 These remedies applicable to chimnies destined for burning wood； or turf； as well as those constructed for burning coals。
CHAPTER。 II。 Practical directions designed for the use of workmen； showing how they are to proceed in making the alterations necessary to improve chimney fire…places； and effectually to cure smoking chimnies。
CHAPTER。 III。 Of the cause of the ascent of smoke。 Illustration of the subject by familiar comparisons and experiments。 Of chimnies which affect and cause each other to smoke。 Of chimnies which smoke from want of air。 Of the eddies of wind which sometimes blow down chimnies； and cause them to smoke。 Explanation of the figures。
ESSAY IV。
ADVERTISEMENT
The Author thinks it his duty to explain the reasons which have induced him to change the order in which the publication of his Essays has been announced to the Public。Being suddenly called upon to send to Edinburgh a person acquainted with the method of altering Chimney Fire…places； which has lately been carried into execution in a number of houses in London； in order to introduce these improvements in Scotland； he did not think it prudent to send any person on so important an errand without more ample instruction than could well be given verbally； and being obliged to write on the subject； he thought it best to investigate the matter thoroughly； and to publish such particular directions respecting the improvements in question as may be sufficient to enable all those； who may be desirous of adopting them； to make； or direct the necessary alterations in their Fire…places without any further assistance。
The following Letter； which the Author received from Sir John Sinclair； Baronet； Member of Parliament； and President of the Board of Agriculture； will explain this matter more fully：
You will hear with pleasure that your mode of altering Chimnies； so as to prevent their smoking； to save fuel； and to augment heat； has answered not only with me； but with many of my friends who have tried it； and that the Lord Provest and Magistrates of Edinburgh have voted a sum of money to defray the expences of a bricklayer； who is to be sent there for the purpose of establishing the same plan in that city。 I hope that you will have the goodness to expedite your paper upon the management of Heat； that the knowledge of so useful an art may be as rapidly and as extensively diffused as possible。With my best wishes for your success in the various important pursuits in which you are now engaged； believe me； with great truth and regard； Your faithful and obedient servant John Sinclair Whitehall； London； 9th February 1796。
CHAPTER。 I。
Fire…places for burning coals； or wood； in an open chimney； are capable of great improvement。 Smoking chimnies may in all cases be completely cured。 The immoderate size of the throats of chimnies the principal cause of all their imperfections。 Philosophical investigation of the subject。 Remedies proposed for all the defects that have been discovered in chimnies and their open fire…places。 These remedies applicable to chimnies destined for burning wood； or turf； as well as those constructed for burning coals。
The plague of a smoking Chimney is proverbial； but there are many other very great defects in open Fire…places； as they are now commonly constructed in this country； and indeed throughout Europe； which； being less obvious； are seldom attended to； and there are some of them very fatal in their consequences to health； and； I am persuaded； cost the lives of thousands every year in this island。
Those cold and chilling draughts of air on one side of the body； while the other side is scorched by a Chimney Fire； which every one who reads this must often have felt； cannot but be highly detrimental to health； and in weak and delicate constitutions must often produce the most fatal effects。I have not a doubt in my own mind that thousands die in this country every year of consumptions occasioned solely by this cause。By a cause which might be so easily removed！by a cause whose removal would tend to promote comfort and convenience in so many ways。
Strongly impressed as my mind is with the importance of this subject； it is not possible for me to remain silent。The subject is too nearly connected with many of the most essential enjoyments of life not to be highly interesting to all those who feel pleasure in promoting； or in contemplating the comfort and happiness of mankind。And without suffering myself to be deterred； either by the fear of being thought to give the subject a degree of importance to which it is not entitled； or by the apprehension of being tiresome to my readers by the prolixity of my descriptions；I shall proceed to investigate the subject in all its parts and details with the utmost care and attention。 And first with regard to smoking Chimnies：
There are various causes by which Chimnies may be prevented from carrying smoke； but there are none that may not easily be discovered and completely removed。This will doubtless be considered as a bold assertion； but I trust I shall be able to make it appear in a manner perfectly satisfactory to my readers that I have not ventured to give t
