c 40)

having thus got a Method to make some-thing of their Slacks, they are quite carelessin making any further Inquiry, or bendingtheir Genius towards gaining any furtherAdvantage or Improvement in an Affairwhich so requires it.

Some in London , and others here inWales, have endeavoured, by what may becalled a mathematical Contrivance, to maltean Improvement upon these Furnaces, byconveying Water and Air upon them, andso, by these Instruments, f rcing and in-creasing the Strength of the Fire. InLondon, it was attempted by bringing theAir from the River Thames through aChannel under Ground, and arched withBrick, made like a Sewer or Drain to theBottom of the Furnace ; but this did noxanswer the Success intended, for they hadthe Mortification to fee, that both Metaland Fire made the quicker Exit or Pasiagethrough the Chimney ; and how could itbe otherwise, for there is not any thingin the Creation, but what will avoid or styfrom its Enemies if possible ? And whatcan be greater Enemies in Nature, thanAir and Water are to Fire and fluxed Me-tal, when brought in upon them in such aviolent Rapidity"? One of my Acquaintance,a Man of good Understanding in mostThings, was concerned in this Contri-vance j but he coujd not, by any Means,

conceivq