very ill contrived for throwing into the room by reflection the rays from the fire which fall on them。
To have a clear and perfect idea of the alterations I propose in the forms of Fire…places； the reader need only observe； that； whereas the backs of Fire…places； as they are now commonly constructed； are as wide as the opening of the Fire…place in front； and the sides of it are of course perpendicular to it； and parallel to each other；in the Fire…places I recommend； the back （i k； Fig。 3） is only about one…third of the width of the opening of the Fire…place in front （a；b）； and consequently that the two sides of covings of the Fire…place （a i and b k）； instead of being perpendicular to the back； are inclined to it at an angle of about 135 degrees； and in consequence of this position； instead of being parallel to each other； each of them presents an oblique front towards the opening of the Chimney； by means of which the rays which they reflect are thrown into the room。 A bare inspection of the annexed drawings （Fig。 1。 and Fig。 3。） will render this matter perfectly clear and intelligible。
In regard to the materials which it will be most advantageous to employ in the construction of Fire…places； so much light has； I flatter myself； already been thrown on the subject we are investigating； and the principles adopted have been established on such clear and obvious facts； that no great difficulty will attend the determination of that point。As the object in view is to bring radiant heat into the room； it is clear that that material is best for the construction of a Fire…place which reflects the most； or which ABSORBS THE LEAST of it； for that heat which is ABSORBED cannot be REFLECTEDNow as bodies which absorb radiant heat are necessarily heated in consequence of that absorption； to discover which of the various materials that can be employed for constructing Fire…places are best adapted for that purpose； we have only to find out by an experiment； very easy to be made； what bodies acquire LEAST HEAT when exposed to the direct rays of a clear fire；for those which are least heated； evidently absorb the least； and consequently reflect the most radiant heat。 And hence it appears that iron； and； in general； metals of all kinds； which are well known to GROW VERY HOT when exposed to the rays projected by burning fuel； are to be reckoned among the VERY WORST materials that it is possible to employ in the construction of Fire…places。
The best materials I have hitherto been able to discover are fire…stone； and common bricks and mortar。 Both these materials are； fortunately； very cheap； and as to their comparative merits； I hardly know to which of them the preference ought to be given。
When bricks are used they should be covered with a thin coating of plaster； which； when it is become perfectly dry； should be white…washed。 The fire…stone should likewise be white washed； when that is used； and every part of the Fire…place； which is not exposed to being soiled and made black by the smoke； should be kept as white and clean as possible。 As WHITE reflects more heat； as well as more light than any other colour； it ought always to be preferred for the inside of a Chimney Fire…place； and BLACK； which reflects neither light nor heat should be most avoided。
I am well aware how much the opinion I have have ventured to give； respecting the unfitness of iron and other metals to be employed in the construction of open Fire…places； differs from the opinion generally received upon that subject；and I even know that the very reason which； according to my ideas of the matter； renders them totally unfit for the purpose； is commonly assigned for making use of them； namely； that they soon grow very hot。 But I would beg leave to ask what advantage is derived from heating them？
I have shown the disadvantage of it； namely； that the quantity of radiant heat thrown into the room is diminished；and it is easy to show that almost the whole of that absorbed by the metal is ultimately carried up the Chimney by the air； which； coming into contact with this hot metal； is heated and rarefied by it； and forcing its way upwards； goes off with the smoke； and as no current of air ever sets from any part of the opening of a Fire…place into the room； it is impossible to conceive how the heat existing in the metal composing any part of the apparatus of the Fire…place； and situated within its cavity； can come； or be brought into the room。
This difficulty may be in part removed； by supposing； what indeed seems to be true in a certain degree； that the heated metal sends off rays； the heat it acquires from the fire； even when it is not heated red hot； but still； as it never can be admitted that the heat； absorbed by the metal and afterwards thrown off by it in rays； is INCREASED by this operation； nothing can be gained by it； and as much must necessary be lost in consequence of the great quantity of heat communicated by the hot metal to the air in contact with it； which； as has already been shown； always makes its way up the Chimney； and flies off into the atmosphere； the loss of heat attending the use of it is too evident to require being farther insisted on。
There is； however； in Chimney Fire…places destined for burning coals； one essential part； the grate； which cannot well be made of any thing else but iron； but there is no necessity whatever for that immense quantity of iron which surrounds grates as they are now commonly constructed and fitted up； and which not only renders them very expensive； but injures very essentially the Fire…place。 If it should be necessary to diminish the opening of a large Chimney in order to prevent its smoking； it is much more simple； economical； and better in all respects； to do this with marble； fire…stone； or even with bricks and mortar； than to make use of iron； which； as has already been shown； is the very worst material that can possibly be employed for that purpose； and as to registers； they not only are quite unnecessary； where the throat of a Chimney is properly constructed； and of proper dimensions； but in that case would do much harm。 If they act at all； it must be by opposing their flat surfaces to the current of rising smoke in a manner which cannot fail to embarrass and impede its motion。 But we have shown that the passage of the smoke through the throat of a Chimney ought to be facilitated as much as possible； in order that it may be enabled to pass by a small aperture。
Register…stoves have often been found to be of use； but it is because the great fault of all Fire…places constructed upon the common principles being the enormous dimensions of the throat of the Chimney； this fault has been in some measure corrected by them； but I will venture to affirm； that there never was a Fire…place so corrected that would not have been much more improved； and with infinitely less expence； by the alterations here recommended； and which will be more particularly explained in the next Chapter。
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。
All Chimney Fire…places； without exception； whether they are designed for burning wood or coals； and even those which do not smoke； as well as those which do； may be greatly improved by making the alterations in them here recommended； for it is by no means MERELY to prevent Chimnies from smoking that these improvements are recommended； but it is also to make them better in all other respects as Fire…places； and when the alterations proposed are properly executed； which may be very easily be done with the assistance of the following plain and simple directions； the Chimnies will never fail to answer； I will venture to say； even beyond expectation。 The room will be heated much more equally and more pleasantly with LESS THAN HALF THE FUEL used before； the fire will be more cheerful and more agreeable； and the general appearance of the Fire…place more neat and elegant； and the Chimney WILL NEVER SMOKE。
The advantages which are derived from mechanical inventions and contrivances are； I know； frequently accompanied by disadvantages which it is not always possible to avoid； but in the case in question； I can say with truth； that I know of no disadvantage whatever that attends the Fire…places constructed upon the principles here recommended。 But to proceed in giving directions for the construction of these Fire…places。
That what I have to offer on this subject may be the more easily understood； it will be proper to begin by explaining the precise meaning of all those technical words and expressions which I may find it necessary or convenient to use。
By the THROAT of a Chimney； I mean the lower extremity of its canal； where it unites with the upper part of its open Fire…place。 This throat is commonly found about a foot above the level of the lower part of the mantle； and it is sometimes contracted to a smaller size than the rest of the canal of the Chimney； and sometimes not。
Fig。 5。 shows the section of a Chimney on the common construction； in which d e is the throat。
Fig。 6。 shows the section of the same Chimney altered and improved； in which d i is the reduced throat。
The BREAST of a Chimney； is that part of it which is immediately behind the mantle。It is the wall which forms the entrance from below into the throat of the Chimney in front； or towards the room。It is opposite to the upper extremity of the back of the open Fire…place； and parallel to it； in short it may said to be the back part of the mantle itself。In the figures 5 and 6； it is marked by the letter d。 The WIDTH of the throat of Chimney （d e fig。 5； and d i fig。 6；） is taken from the breast of the Chimney to the back； and its LENGTH is taken at right angles to its width； or in a line parallel to the mantle （a fig。 5。 and 6。）。
Before I proceed to give particular directions respecting the exact forms and dimensions of the different parts of a Fire…place； it may be useful to make such general an practical observations upon the subject as can be clearly understood without the assistance of drawings； for the more complete the knowledge of any subjec