space of six minutes, if we except some inconsiderable fire which appeared remaining in the crevices and corners of the building, as well as amongst the faggots, which was afterwards quenched with water. About 28 kans

[lefs than half a hoghead] of the fire extinguishing ingredients were used for this experiment.

Afterwards another trial was made with six tar barrels which were set in full blaze; and this fire was extinguished with such alertnefs. by two other particular mixtures, that no sooner did the solutions reach these tar barrels than the extinction of the fire was at once completely ef

fected.

"These facts are attested by A. P. IGGELSTROM, JEREMIA MOBERG preses of the corporation of merchants, ANDERS BILLSTON preses of the corporation of tradesmen and handi"crafts."

Again, Mr Nystrom having advertised in the newspapers that he was to make another experiment of the same sort on the 16th Oct. 1793, the following preparations were previously made.

“A house 16 feet square was raised of well seasoned and dry timber; the height of the walls under the roof was ten feet; the elevation of the roof five teet perpendicular, and the doors and windows of this building, were so placed, one opposite to another, that the air had free accefs. It was tarred all over, both inside and out, and filled with faggots and tar barrels: moreover, the outside of this house was covered with bunches of tarred. faggots. The building thus erected was set on fire under a violent storm of wind, by which means the power of the flames was double, and had acquired much additional force. When it was in full blaze, the extinction of the fire was begun with a small engine, whose leather pipe was only one fourth of an inch diameter, which ne

Dec 11. vertheless produced such an effect, that the fire extinguifhing solution no sooner reached the house than the force of the fire was immediately diminished. The engine during the operation broke, and had to be repaired, which occasioned a delay of four minutes; for which reason the complete extinction of the fire was not effected till the expiry of fourteen minutes: but if we deduct the four minutes lost, the time taken in extinguishing this fire was really no more than ten minutes.

"The composition used on this occasion consisted of 15 kans herring pickle; 15 kans red ochre, or the residuum of aqua fortis, to which were added 71⁄2 kans of water. Of this composition 60 kans [two thirds of a hogfhead] were expended.

"Afterwards fire was set to 18 barrels, tarred both without and within, which, in the same way as the house, burned with the greatest violence; notwithstanding which the extinction thereof was carried into execution with a composition consisting of 1 part herring pickle to 1 part gray lime, without the addition of any water. And this composition appeared so powerful that the fire of the 18 tarred barrels was extinguished in the space of about half a minute of time. That all these transactions as above recited, really and truly passed in our presence

hereby certify.

C. A. WACHTMEISTER, Lieutenant Col. Marchal, (Signed) T. G. STROMFELDT, Governor of the province. N. F. JERNFELDTZ, Lt. Col. in his maj. service"

Norrkoping 16 Oct. 1793.

Facts so well authenticated as the above seem to admit of no doubt.

With regard to the compositions that may be employ ed for this purpose, the patriotic Nystrom gives a long detailed list of them, which our limits prevent us from enu

231 merating, and for which and other particulars we refer to the pamphlet itself. The general result of the whole of his experiments is, that all saline solutions may be considered as nearly of equal power; and that of course the cheapest that can be got in every place is the best. In Sweden, herring pickle, or a saturated solution of common salt are, he thinks, the cheapest that can be there found. In Scotland, especially in Edinburgh, we should suppose that the cheapest saline solution that can be obtained is that which in the manufacture of common salt is called bittern, or a solution of magnesia glaubers salt; which is often thrown away as of no value.

But the power of all these saline impregnations in extinguishing fire be finds is greatly augmented by mixing them with any sort of earthy substance that admits of of being reduced to a fine state, and easily suspended in the watery solution, so as to bring the whole to a thickih consistence and it will readily occur, that of all earthy matters, clay is the easiest to be found, and consequently the best for this purpose. Care must be taken that this clay be freed from all stones and other heterogeneous matter that might tend to cleg up the pipes. As to the other qualities of the clay, whether brown, grey, or white, these are of no sort of consequence.

This is certainly a discovery of so much importance as to deserve to have the power of these very simple and cheap ingredients for extinguifhing fire, very thoroughly ascertained by actual experiments in this very country. With this view, it is hereby suggested whether it would not be proper for the different insurance offices in this place to join and make one fair experiment at their joint expence. After which they would each of them be enabled to judge how far it was for their interest to have always in readiness a quantity of this composition rightly prepared and fit for use on a moments warning. At the

Dec. II. present time, when the wood of old houses row taking down in this place can be bought at a trifling price, this experiment might be made at a very small expence; and if it shall be found to succeed, it is farther submitted whether it might not be becoming in them to make some proper present to the translator of this work, who had the misfortune to lose the greatest part of his property by the fire that so lately destroyed such a great part of Gothenburg. "I hope, says he in his addrefs to Sir John Sinclair, this method of extinguithing fire, may. by God's blefsing, be the means of saving the lives and properties of mankind: a circumstance which will afford the translator infinite satisfaction, though he claims no other merit, than being perhaps the first, who has given a particular account of so useful a discovery, to his countrymen."

On the whole this seems to be a discovery of much utility to mankind, and deserves to be particularly attended to by the public in general, and by the insurance offices against lofses from fire in particular. It is also of much importance to sea faring men; not only because it may enable them to extinguith accidental fires on ship board, with much greater certain y than heretofore; but also because it appears from some experiments we have not room to particularize, that wood soaked in these saline solutions becomes much less susceptible of being inflamed than if left in its natural state.

O CORRESPONDENTS.

The observations of Alexis are deserving a place;—but perhaps many persons would deem them rather complimentary; and, being on a subject that many readers are at present rather tired of, they will fall to be deferred for some time.

The Lady's wish is rather in imperfect measure to bear the public eye in its present drefs.

Hitherto the Editor has witheld his own observations on innumerable occasions, to make room for those of others; but, in compli ance with the request of this, and many other correspondents, he thall sert a few papers in the succeeding parts of this volume,-though partly promised to the public.

160.

THE BEE,

OR

LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENcer,

FOR

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18. 1793.

ON THE BEST METHOD OF HEATING DWELLING HOUSES.

Continued from p. 200.

IT is commonly remarked, that cold air is healthy, refreshing, and invigorating. This is undoubtedly true of a degree of cold that does not produce chilluefs, but the mode of exprefsion commonly used on this occasion, leads to very wrong conclusions, by attributing to cold what is due to a proper temperature produced by exercise. And in this way may be explained the increase of appetite, which many people enjoy in cold weather, and which they attribute to the power of cold, though it is evidently dependant on circumstances connected with this state of the atmosphere. To judge of this matter. properly, it would be necefsary to compare their feelings in spring and autumn; and not to attend only to what pafses in the warm summer months, in which they are generally too inactive to take exer VOL. Xviii.

G G