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was 1500 tons。  In course of time other iron works were erected; at

Clyde Cleugh; Muirkirk; and Devonthe managers and overseers of

which; as well as the workmen; had mostly received their training and

experience at Carronuntil at length the iron trade of Scotland has

assumed such a magnitude that its manufacturers are enabled to export

to England and other countries upwards of 500;000 tons a…year。  How

different this state of things from the time when raids were made

across the Border for the purpose of obtaining a store of iron

plunder to be carried back into Scotland!



The extraordinary expansion of the Scotch iron trade of late years

has been mainly due to the discovery by David Mushet of the Black

Band ironstone in 1801; and the invention of the Hot Blast by James

Beaumont Neilson in 1828。  David Mushet was born at Dalkeith; near

Edinburgh; in 1772。*

 'footnpote。。。

The Mushets are an old Kincardine family; but they were almost

extinguished by the plague in the reign of Charles the Second。  Their

numbers were then reduced to two; one of whom remained at Kincardine;

and the other; a clergyman; the Rev。 George Mushet ; accompanied

Montrose as chaplain。  He is buried in Kincardine churchyard。

 。。。'

Like other members of his family he was brought up to metal…founding。

At the age of nineteen he joined the staff of the Clyde Iron Works;

near Glasgow; at a time when the Company had only two blast…furnaces

at work。  The office of accountant; which he held; precluded him from

taking any part in the manufacturing operations of the concern。  But

being of a speculative and ingenious turn of mind; the remarkable

conversions which iron underwent in the process of manufacture very

shortly began to occupy his attention。  The subject was much discussed

by the young men about the works; and they frequently had occasion to

refer to Foureroy's well…known book for the purpose of determining

various questions of difference which arose among them in the course

of their inquiries。  The book was; however; in many respects

indecisive and unsatisfactory; and; in 1793; when a reduction took

place in the Company's staff; and David Mushet was left nearly the

sole occupant of the office; he determined to study the subject for

himself experimentally; and in the first place to acquire a thorough

knowledge of assaying; as the true key to the whole art of

iron…making。



He first set up his crucible upon the bridge of the reverberatory

furnace used for melting pig…iron; and filled it with a mixture

carefully compounded according to the formula of the books; but;

notwithstanding the shelter of a brick; placed before it to break the

action of the flame; the crucible generally split in two; and not

unfrequently melted and disappeared altogether。  To obtain better

results if possible; he next had recourse to the ordinary smith's

fire; carrying on his experiments in the evenings after office…hours。

He set his crucible upon the fire on a piece of fire brick; opposite

the nozzle of the bellows; covering the whole with coke; and then

exciting the flame by blowing。  This mode of operating produced

somewhat better results; but still neither the iron nor the cinder

obtained resembled the pig or scoria of the blast…furnace; which it

was his ambition to imitate。  From the irregularity of the results;

and the frequent failure of the crucibles; he came to the conclusion

that either his furnace; or his mode of fluxing; was in fault; and he

looked about him for a more convenient means of pursuing his

experiments。  A small square furnace had been erected in the works for

the purpose of heating the rivets used for the repair of steam…engine

boilers; the furnace had for its chimney a cast…iron pipe six or

seven inches in diameter and nine feet long。  After a few trials with

it; he raised the heat to such an extent that the lower end of the

pipe was melted off; without producing any very satisfactory results

on the experimental crucible; and his operations were again brought

to a standstill。  A chimney of brick having been substituted for the

cast…iron pipe; he was; however; enabled to proceed with his trials。



He continued to pursue his experiments in assaying for about two

years; during which he had been working entirely after the methods

described in books; but; feeling the results still unsatisfactory; he

determined to borrow no more from the books; but to work out a system

of his own; which should ensure results similar to those produced at

the blast…furnace。  This he eventually succeeded in effecting by

numerous experiments performed in the night; as his time was fully

occupied by his office…duties during the day。  At length these patient

experiments bore their due fruits。  David Mushet became the most

skilled assayer at the works; and when a difficulty occurred in

smelting a quantity of new ironstone which had been contracted for;

the manager himself resorted to the bookkeeper for advice and

information; and the skill and experience which he had gathered

during his nightly labours; enabled him readily and satisfactorily to

solve the difficulty and suggest a suitable remedy。  His reward for

this achievement was the permission; which was immediately granted

him by the manager; to make use of his own assay…furnace; in which he

thenceforward continued his investigations; at the same time that he

instructed the manager's son in the art of assaying。  This additional

experience proved of great benefit to him; and he continued to

prosecute his inquiries with much zeal; sometimes devoting entire

nights to experiments in assaying; roasting and cementing iron…ores

and ironstone; decarbonating cast…iron for steel and bar…iron; and

various like operations。  His general practice; however; at that time

was; to retire between two and three o'clock in the morning; leaving

directions with the engine…man to call him at half…past five; so as

to be present in the office at six。  But these praiseworthy

experiments were brought to a sudden end; as thus described by

himself:  



〃In the midst of my career of investigation;〃 says he;*

 'footnote。。。

Papers on Iron and Steel。  By David Mushet。  London; 1840。

 。。。'

〃and without a cause being assigned; I was stopped short。  My

furnaces; at the order of the manager; were pulled in pieces; and an

edict was passed that they should never be erected again。  Thus

terminated my researches at the Clyde Iron Works。  It happened at a

time when I was interestedand I had been two years previously

occupiedin an attempt to convert cast…iron into steel; without

fusion; by a process of cementation; which had for its object the

dispersion or absorption of the superfluous carbon contained in the

cast…iron;an object which at that time appeared to me of so great

importance; that; with the consent of a friend; I erected an assay

and cementing Furnace at the distance of about two miles from the

Clyde Works。  Thither I repaired at night; and sometimes at the

breakfast and dinner hours during the day。  This plan of operation was

persevered in for the whole of one summer; but was found too

uncertain and laborious to be continued。  At the latter end of the

year 1798 I left my chambers; and removed from the Clyde Works to the

distance of about a mile; where I constructed several furnaces for

assaying and cementing; capable of exciting a greater temperature

than any to which I before had access; and thus for nearly two years

I continued to carry on my investigations connected with iron and the

alloys of the metals。



〃Though operating in a retired manner; and holding little

communication with others; my views and opinions upon the RATIONALE

of iron…making spread over the establishment。  I was considered

forward in affecting to see and explain matters in a different way

from others who were much my seniors; and who were content to be

satisfied with old methods of explanation; or with no explanation at

all。。。。。  Notwithstanding these early reproaches; I have lived to see

the nomenclature of my youth furnish a vocabulary of terms in the art

of iron…making; which is used by many of the ironmasters of the

present day with freedom and effect; in communicating with each other

on the subject of their respective manufactures。  Prejudices seldom

outlive the generation to which they belong; when opposed by a more

rational system of explanation。  In this respect; Time (as my Lord

Bacon says) is the greatest of all innovators。



〃In a similar manner; Time operated in my favour in respect to the

Black Band Ironstone。*

 'footnote。。。

This valuable description of iron ore was discovered by Mr。 Mushet;

as he afterwards informs us (Papers on Iron and Steel; 121);in the

year 1801; when crossing the river Calder; in the parish of Old

Monkland。  Having subjected a specimen which he found in the river…bed

to the test of his crucible; he satisfied himself as to its

properties; and pr

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