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series of papers in the Philosophical Magazine；afterwards reprinted
in a collected form in 1840 under the title of 〃Papers on Iron and
Steel。〃 These papers are among the most valuable original
contributions to the literature of the iron…manufacture that have yet
been given to the world。 They contain the germs of many inventions
and discoveries in iron and steel； some of which were perfected by
Mr。 Mushet himself； while others were adopted and worked out by
different experimenters。 In 1798 some of the leading French chemists
were endeavouring to prove by experiment that steel could be made by
contact of the diamond with bar…iron in the crucible； the carbon of
the diamond being liberated and entering into combination with the
iron； forming steel。 In the animated controversy which occurred on
the subject； Mr。 Mushet's name was brought into considerable notice；
one of the subjects of his published experiments having been the
conversion of bar…iron into steel in the crucible by contact with
regulated proportions of charcoal。 The experiments which he made in
connection with this controversy； though in themselves unproductive
of results； led to the important discovery by Mr。 Mushet of the
certain fusibility of malleable iron at a suitable temperature。
Among the other important results of Mr。 Mushet's lifelong labours；
the following may be summarily mentioned： The preparation of steel
from bar…iron by a direct process； combining the iron with carbon；
the discovery of the beneficial effects of oxide of manganese on iron
and steel； the use of oxides of iron in the puddling…furnace in
various modes of appliance； the production of pig…iron from the
blast…furnace； suitable for puddling； without the intervention of the
refinery； and the application of the hot blast to anthracite coal in
iron…smelting。 For the process of combining iron with carbon for the
production of steel； Mr。 Mushet took out a patent in November； 1800；
and many years after； when he had discovered the beneficial effects
of oxide of manganese on steel； Mr。 Josiah Heath founded upon it his
celebrated patent for the making of cast…steel； which had the effect
of raising the annual production of that metal in Sheffield from 3000
to 100；000 tons。 His application of the hot blast to anthracite coal；
after a process invented by him and adopted by the Messrs。 Hill of
the Plymouth Iron Works； South Wales； had the effect of producing
savings equal to about 20；000L。 a year at those works； and yet；
strange to say； Mr。 Mushet himself never received any consideration
for his invention。
The discovery of Titanium by Mr。 Mushet in the hearth of a
blast…furnace in 1794 would now be regarded as a mere isolated fact；
inasmuch as Titanium was not placed in the list of recognised metals
until Dr。 Wollaston； many years later； ascertained its qualities。 But
in connection with the fact； it may be mentioned that Mr。 Mushet's
youngest son； Robert； reasoning on the peculiar circumstances of the
discovery in question； of which ample record is left； has founded
upon it his Titanium process； which is expected by him eventually to
supersede all other methods of manufacturing steel； and to reduce
very materially the cost of its production。
While he lived； Mr。 Mushet was a leading authority on all matters
connected with Iron and Steel； and he contributed largely to the
scientific works of his time。 Besides his papers in the Philosophical
Journal； he wrote the article 〃Iron〃 for Napiers Supplement to the
Encyclopaedia Britannica； and the articles 〃Blast Furnace〃 and
〃Blowing Machine〃 for Rees's Cyclopaedia。 The two latter articles had
a considerable influence on the opposition to the intended tax upon
iron in 1807； and were frequently referred to in the discussions on
the subject in Parliament。 Mr。 Mushet died in 1847。
CHAPTER IX。
INVENTION OF THE HOT BLASTJAMES BEAUMONT NEILSON。
〃Whilst the exploits of the conqueror and the intrigues of the
demagogue are faithfully preserved through a succession of ages； the
persevering and unobtrusive efforts of genius； developing the best
blessings of the Deity to man； are often consigned to oblivion。〃
David Mushet。
The extraordinary value of the Black Band ironstone was not at first
duly recognised； perhaps not even by Mr。 Mushet himself。 For several
years after its discovery by him； its use was confined to the Calder
Iron Works； where it was employed in mixture with other ironstones of
the argillaceous class。 It was afterwards partially used at the Clyde
Iron Works； but nowhere else； a strong feeling of prejudice being
entertained against it on the part of the iron trade generally。 It
was not until the year 1825 that the Monkland Company used it alone；
without any other mixture than the necessary quantity of limestone
for a flux。 〃The success of this Company；〃 says Mr。 Mushet； 〃soon
gave rise to the Gartsherrie and Dundyvan furnaces； in the midst of
which progress came the use of raw pit…coal and the Hot Blastthe
latter one of the greatest discoveries in metallurgy of the present
age； and； above every other process； admirably adapted for smelting
the Blackband ironstone。〃 From the introduction of this process the
extraordinary development of the iron…manufacture of Scotland may be
said to date； and we accordingly propose to devote the present
chapter to an account of its meritorious inventor。
James Beaumont Neilson was born at Shettleston； a roadside village
about three miles eastward of Glasgow； on the 22nd of June； 1792。 His
parents belonged to the working class。 His father's earnings during
many laborious years of his life did not exceed sixteen shillings a
week。 He had been bred to the trade of a mill…wright； and was for
some time in the employment of Dr。 Roebuck as an engine…wright at his
colliery near Boroughstoness。 He was next employed in a like capacity
by Mr。 Beaumont； the mineral…manager of the collieries of Mrs。
Cunningham of Lainshaw； near Irvine in Ayrshire； after which he was
appointed engine…wright at Ayr； and subsequently at the Govan Coal
Works near Glasgow； where he remained until his death。 It was while
working at the Irvine Works that he first became acquainted with his
future wife； Marion Smith； the daughter of a Renfrewshire bleacher； a
woman remarkable through life for her clever； managing； and
industrious habits。 She had the charge of Mrs。 Cunningham's children
for some time after the marriage of that lady to Mr。 Beaumont； and it
was in compliment to her former mistress and her husband that she
named her youngest son James Beaumont after the latter。
The boy's education was confined to the common elements of reading；
writing； and arithmetic； which he partly acquired at the parish
school of Strathbungo near Glasgow； and partly at the Chapel School；
as it was called； in the Gorbals at Glasgow。 He had finally left
school before he was fourteen。 Some time before he left； he had been
partially set to work； and earned four shillings a week by employing
a part of each day in driving a small condensing engine which his
father had put up in a neighbouring quarry。 After leaving school； he
was employed for two years as a gig boy on one of the winding engines
at the Govan colliery。 His parents now considered him of fit age to
be apprenticed to some special trade； and as Beaumont had much of his
father's tastes for mechanical pursuits； it was determined to put him
apprentice to a working engineer。 His elder brother John was then
acting as engineman at Oakbank near Glasgow； and Beaumont was
apprenticed under him to learn the trade。 John was a person of a
studious and serious turn of mind； and had been strongly attracted to
follow the example of the brothers Haldane； who were then exciting
great interest by their preaching throughout the North； but his
father set his face against his son's 〃preaching at the back o'
dikes；〃 as he called it；