ene dl Pewlhn song fot, rrbh yoaw dy.) , aos Be STD accesible acm nna oe aX = ila Roystom, Published by 7, Waren. 52 CHAIN PIER BRIGHTON. Vipotp ee hy i Hy HH Al | [NW WaWa. Waa. WoW WW) A VISIT TO THE Regent tron & Brass WOW Dey, THE GAS MANUFACTORY, AND THE Roval Thain Wier, BRIGHTON. [eee BY The Author of the Twin Sisters, School- fellows, Boy’s School &c. &c. ‘Industry approach’d And roused him from his miserable sloth, His faculties unfolded, pointed out Whose lavish nature, the directing hand Of Art demanded ; shewed him how to raise Hie feeble force by the mechanic powers, To drag the mineral from the vaulted earth ; On what to turn the piercing rage of fire ; On what the torrent, and the gather’d blast.’ ‘THOMPSON. ROYSTON: Printed and Published by J. WARREN, Sold also by Longman & Co. Harris & Sons, Souter, & Hodgson & Co. Lunpvon, & Saunders St, ade ‘St. BEIGREONs __ 1824. f | Entered at Stationer’s Hall. SL ASAE REELS LET CREAM TERR oA SETS EN ET NES REESE SPR ES PELE TTL PRET TTS SETUP ERATE EE SES 5 TIT 0, iy Www iw ! | I | ] l mT ] | ! INTRODUCTION: FPS SS { am not presuming to write for the instruction of those who may _ bebetter acquainted with the works carried on in these places than my- self; To the children of my ac_ quaintance I address myself, and, first I would ask them, if they have ever read the story of <‘eyes and no eyes’, as a lesson at school? and if they have, whether it has not made them more attentive to what was passing around them, the next time they went for a walk ? il I freely own this has been tne the case with me; and though it is long since I was a child, I often re- collect the above mentioned tale, and see it illustrated in many ofa riper age than the subjects of it. Curiosity is natural to youth; and necessary also, if they wish to be- come acquainted with what they see and hear, that no parent or friend to children would wish them to be withont it, if restrained within due bounds. I loveto see the attention of young people engaged ; and it is with pleasure T answer their enqui- when they proceed from a desire of attaining knowledge ; but a child who only asks questions that he may be troublesome and imperti- nent deserves no reply. The principal errors of an enqui-. ill ring mind, atan early age, arise from the desire to know every thing, and the idea that because they compre- hend a little of what they see, they understand all. They run from one enquiry to another without due attention to the information they re- ceive, and in a very short time the sight of new objects and a treache- rous memory make them forget all they had known before. This little book would never have been written, but for a Visit I lately made with some young friends to the Iron Foundery, and Gassometer at Brighton. They were both objects of curi- osity to those who had seen no- thing of the kind; and though of small extent, afforded some ideas of what the art and ingenuity of iv man can produce, assisted by the four elements, Fire, Water, Earth and Air; of which it is said every thing in nature is composed. The Story before alluded to came to my mind, when I mention- ed to my acquaintance my intention of visiting these places. Some said they had never heard of an Iron Foundery at Brighton; which seemed to them a sufficient reason for thinking it not worth visiting. Others told me I should assuredly be disappointed, for there was no- thing to be seen there. But I thought that if L only saw the pro- cess of making a Cast Iron Bar, I should know more than I was yet acquainted with: besides I had one or two young friends to whom the iron railing on the Steyne, Vv the ornamental work in Iron round the Lamp-posts, and Gate ways of the several Squares in Brighton, together with the various Balco- nies to the Houses of their ac- quaintances,(which were all cast at this Foundery,) but more particu- larly the Iron-work on the Chain Pier had become objects of atten- tion. They had asked me many questions concerning them, and I was desirous of shewing them the _ shortest way to attain a knowledge of these things, was to go and see them made. : But it must be observed that the sight alone of these places, will not be sufficient. The eyes may wander over black sand, dirty men and a variety of dark and dusty articles without knowing what they Vi are for; or how the men are em- ployed. They may see a large Fire without knowing its use; nor can it then be any wonder that they come away disappointed, and tell others there is nothing to be seen. It is necessary to observe what we see, to enquire into its use and purpose. One question produces another ; we become interested in what we hear, and the more com- municative and intelligent we find our informer, the more are we de- sirous of obtaining information, till we are checked by the fear of being troublesome to him, or of detaining him too long from his employment- itis’ but justice to say that such a person I found in the Foreman of the works ‘at the Tron Foundery, in Brighton; to whom Vil I was obliged for the readiness and civility with which he answered our numerous enquiries. | Among the number of men em- ployed in the Works, I heard no improper language, they were all busily engaged in their different occupations, and no impertinent remarks nor any thing to offend the eye or the ear, passed while I wasthere. This I had ascertained before I ventured to take my young companions ; in my second visit they accompanied me, and it is for their amusement, as well as to assist their recollections, that I haverelated in the following sheeis what passed on that occasion. A VISIT TO THE IRON AND BRASS FOUNDERY, BRIGHTON. Bo} Mrs. N. Come; let us take a walk to the Foundery. Willam. ‘The Regent . Foundery is in North Lane, is it not Sister? Mrs. N. says we are to go up Portland Street to it, which leads out of North Street, and walk on till we see the Building before us, which has that name on its front. A 2 Ann. Weare not far from it now, but I fear it will be scarcely worth seeing, Miss Lennard told me it was a nasty black place, with no- thing but old rusty fron, and dirty pieces of Wood, and rubbish about . it. Wm. Ah! but Mrs. N. says o- therwise, and that we may learn a. great deal there: I am determined to see and know all I can, There it is I see the Regent Iron and Brass Foundery inscribed upon it. Ann. Whata dirty road to get to it: and what a black looking place it is! we shall be like Chimney sweepers before we have been there long. Wm. Oh never mind the dirt, my 3 cloths can be brushed and cleaned, and yours can be washed; anda plunge into the Sea to-morrow morning will completely purify us from the smoke of the place. Mrs. N. Youwill find no smoke there, nor coal dust. The only in- jury your clothes will sustain (if you take care not to tear them,) will be from the sand and dust of Charcoal, with which it is mixed. Ann. How can there be sucha large fire as you told usof, without smoke, Mrs. N.? Mrs. N. The fireis made of Coke, and therefore has none. Wm. What is Coke? Mr. N. Coal reduced to a cinder : 4 from reheals all the sulpherous par- ticles which produce smoke, are burnt out. | Wm. It is like Charcoal then. Mrs. N. . No, Charcoal is made from wood burnt to a cinder, Coke is produced from coal burnt a suffi- cient time : you will see some ma-_ king at the Foundery. Wm. Now we areat the place! Oh sister! it 1s not so very dirty, See what are they domg there with that Pulley? Mrs. N. They are raising . that large piece of [ron with it, either to turn it over or weigh it. Now you see the use of the Pulley. It would be quite impossible for those @ mt 5 few men to move that Iron without i Wm. Is that cast Iron? W hat can it be for? there looks like a door-way in it. Mrs. N. Itis what I saw cast when I was here before, I learnt then it was for the front of a Room to be erected on the Chain-Pier.* But to know what they are going to do with it now, you must ask the Foreman of the works: and he is here very opportunely to answer your question. Wm. Pray Sir, will you be kind * The Chain-Pier was begun in the year 1822, and extends 1200 feet over the water. The distance from Pile to Pile (of which there are four,) being 2590, not including the Piles Three of the stacks of Piles are 36 feet square, the last double that length. wen oe 6 enough to inform me why they are — raising that piece of Iron? Foreman. We raise it thus to clearit from the ‘sand which may adhere toit, and then it will be painted on each side, before it goes on the Pier to prevent its get- ting rusty from the Salt water. Mrs. N. Uthmk Sir, you told me when I was last here, that there would be four such pieces on each of the Piles belonging to the Chain-Pier, to form a Lodge or small apartment. F. Yes Madam, two like these for the entrance to the rooms, the sides will be narrower. On these will be placed four smaller pieces ate ae bite La 7 perpendicularly with windows, which will form another apart- ment, of a similar shape, four still smaller over these, and then what is calleda Saddle which closes over and secures the work, each Saddle weighs eight hundred and ninety- six pounds, and contains the Grooves which are to hold the _ Chains that support the Bridges from one cluster of Piles to the o- ther, and the whole will be sur- ‘mounted by an ornament called a Cap. The weight of one of these largest pieces is thirty four hundred Wm. That is considerably above a Ton, which is twenty hundred weight. F. Yes Sir, two ton of Iron were 3. melted for this piece only. We allow the extra weight of six hun- dred for the runners or cavities into which the metal is poured, and which communicate with the mould to be cast; as well as for that which adheres to the Ladles from which we pour it. Wm. ow I should have liked — to have seen it Cast. F. There is another piece to be cast in about an hour, of the same size and mould. Wm. Oh! Mrs. N. how lucky we are! will not you wait and let us see it. Mrs. N. Certainly, and in the mean time you will find enough to 9 engage your attention: but Ann seems tired already. Ann. No Mrs. N. Iam thinking what a weight of Iron will be on the Chain- Pier when all is finished. fF. It is supposed there will be three hundred ton weight of Cast and Wrought Iron: but this will be its greatest security, as the weight upon them will drive the Piles more firmly into the sand. The Chains which are to sup- port the Bridges are not Cast, and will be wrought in Wales. Wm. 1 would stay to see these men turn that large piece of Iron, did i not want to see something else, I recollect what I read the io. other day about the Lever and Pul- ley, and now see the use of both. Mr. N. It is thus that observa- tion, and the knowledge obtained by reading illustrate each other. Before we go into the Foundery, we will look at the Coke oven: and see the Iron before it is mel- ted. ; | Wm. What a large fire! and how hot the poor men must be who at- tend to it. The mouth of the O- ven is nearly closed. F. ‘That is to assist the operation of making the Coke. Three quar- ters of a Chaldron of coal is put into this Oven every day. In twenty-four hours, a Chaldron of — i il Coke is produced from that quan- tity, when it is drawn out and left to cool and a fresh stock of coal putin, the fire never goes out ex- cept when the oven needs repair- ing. Wm. Then youmake a Chaldron of Coke every day Sir? F. That is not sufficient for our use at present, We have two other Coke Ovens ata little distance from which we are supplied. Wm. And this is Coke which I see here; is it not? It looks like large pieces of Cinder, but does not weigh so light: Feel it Ann; do not be afraid take it in your hand. Ann. I suppose the weight of it 1s depends upon the time it has been — burned; does it not Sir? F. Yes Ma’am. ‘That which is made at the Gas Works is too much burned for our purpose, and is much lighter. Mrs. N. That is right Ann, Iam glad you think of what you are see- ing. By so doing though you may not ask so many questions as your brother, you may probably gain more information than he.. And now let us look at the Iron. Wm. Ah this is heavy indeed! try this Ann, To look at it in this: rough state we should never expect — it to form such pretty things as we have seen made with it. Is this its natural state Sir? Ly Ne NR ee ae ee Ree ees Oe eee i al es F. This is called Pig-Iron It has gone through two processes be- fore it appears in this form; be. fore which itis called Lind Iron. Mrs. N. J dare say Ann can re- collect what these are; as I think she read an account of metals tome the other day, in which Iron was. particularly mentioned. Ann. Yes, it. was considered as more useful than Silver or Gold, as every implement for agriculture is made with it, as wellas every in- strument used in the working of other metals. Steel is only Tron infused with heat for a certain por- tion of time and afterwards well refined and polished. Our princi- pal Tron mines are in Wales, but B 14 they are more considerable in Nor- way and Sweden. Mrs. N. And do younot remem- ber what is done with it when tak- en from the mine. Ann. It is first calcined in a kiln similar to that used for burning Lime, to seperate it from other sub- stances, after which it is put into a large furnace with Coke and Lime stone as a flux, where, when all the rest is consumed the Iron coalesces and hardens asit getscold. Some- times long narrow trenches are cut in the earth, into which the melted Iron runs out of the furnace, and forms bars or pieces of different sizes and length, which is called Pig-Iron. ‘The Lind Iron is first = —e = a ake dioial i 15 broken in a Mill and then well washed in water. — Wm. Is my Sister right Sir? Ff. Yes, Sir, the young Lady’s ac- count is very correct: all rough I- ron Work, and such as requires only strength and solidity, such as Cannon and Mortar Pieces, and Backs of Grates are also cast from _ the first furnace. Wm. Bunt is itnot hammered at all? I have heard people talk of the noise ofthe Tron-Mills which may be heard at three or four miles distance. | F. You are right Sir, after the long bars are formed as your Sister has described, they are run back 16 on rollers to the mouth of the Fur- nace, where the excessive heat gira- dually melts them, then they- are puddled till they become mallea- ble: From these are taken pieces of about sixty pounds weight, which are hammered and cooled by de- grees till they again acquire hard- ness. The oftener this is done, the more the Iron is refined and sepe- rated from dross and other metals which may yet adhere to it. One of these hammers is worked by wa- ter, and has more strength than fif- ty men. The largest of these lron Works is on a small river in Scot- jand, called Carron, whence we have our patterns, which is the rea- son you see Carron inscribed on them. By and bye we shall have 17 time to make our own. The Pig- Tron which we use comes from Wales. Ann. Itisa great way to have to send into Scotland for patterns. Mrs. N. This is nothing to the distance from Norway and Sweden; whence Iron is sent to be cast in England, and returned back to them therenot being workmen sufficient- ly clever to undertake it in those countries. F. Pig-lronisalsosentinto France from England, as though they have both Ironand Coal Mines on the Continent, they are at such a dis- | tance from each other as to make it more expensive to convey the materials from one to the other 1S dian to purchase the Iron in Eng- land. | Wm. What is that man doing Sir? It seems very hard work. F. Heis breaking the large pie- ces of Pig-Iron into smaller ones fit for the furnace: This is done by lifting it above his head, and let- ting it fall heavily upon the anvil which lies at his feet. Ann. Oh! What a dangerous em- ployment! I should fear it would fall upon my head or my toes. And what a weight! he seems scarcely able to lift it. Ff. Itis only by swinging it above — his head that he can do it, and be- ing used to the business he never 19 fails to let it fall on the right place. It is all hard work in this concern, if you except making the moulds, and these require great attention. The men who attend to the Coke Ovens, and draw it out once a day, find it very laborious as well as hot work : but, it is still more labori- ous for those employed at the fur- naces. Wm. Pray Sir what is this build- ing for? F. In this shop we polish our smaller Iron Work. What is done for the Chain Pier is too large to be brought into it. We are but in our Infancy at present, therefore our scale is small, but if we conti- nue to be as much employed as we 20 have hitherto been, we may hope to shew you larger buildings a few years hence. Wm. Ah; when I am tw enty years old, abe come and see you, I shall not know it for the same place, nor will you recollect the troublesome boy who now pesters you with so many questions. fF’. Tshall be happy to shew you our improvements, Sir. We must recollect that Rome was not buil in a day, and that, often the great- est works arise from small begin- ings. At present we do not em- ploy more than fifty men. Mrs. N. 1 have heard, that In- dustry and Perseverance will per- 21. form great things: I hope we shall see the observation verified here. F. Thank you Madam. We will now, if you please goand look at the Furnaces: I should think the Iron for the casting must be nearly melted. We have only two fur- naces heated at present, not having room for another pair of bellows to work behind the third. Ann. What a heat !and the bright-_ ness of the fire almost puts my eyes out. FF. It takes one Chaldron of Coke to melt two tons of Jron, which is about four hours in melting, but we have a larger quantity melted to day as we have other moulds to 22 fill besides the one like that you saw in the yard. If you look in at the holes at the back of the Fur- nace where the mouth of the bel- lows are placed, you may see the melted metal dropping down. Ann. Yes 1 do see it Sir; but what immence Bellows these are! the leather pipes through which the air passes into the furnace, put - me in mind of the Elephant’s trunk. What hard work it is to blow them ! Poor men, how hot they must be standing so near those large Fires ! F. They turn a wheel to blow them ; and there are six men whose business it is to attend to them. Only four men work at a time, two te each bellows ; themen are chang- 25 ed every two hours, but their Ia- bour will soon be dimiminished, as we have it in contemplation to e- rect a Steam Engine, by which the bellows will be worked. There are holes at different heights of the Furnaces, into which the ends of the leather Pipes are put according tothe height of the fluid metal with- in. The Pipes are capped with _Copper to prevent their burning. ‘Mrs. N. How would you de- scribe the furnaces William, if you were asked for a description of them? Wm. I thmk I should say they are like large Iron Butts, with _ their tops taken off; and of dif- _ ferent sizes. i (24 Ff. You may also add, Sir, that — they are lined with a composition — of earth sand taken from the Roads — -of sufficient thickness to prevent — the melting of the outward Iron. ‘We are obliged to extinguishthe fire © once a week to repair this lining, — which is rammed in and beaten to- — gether with a heavy piece of wood — or Iron with great force and labour. © This is called Raking the Furnaces. We shall soon begin to cast now, © as, there is but little lron.to put in ~ of the quantity we intend to melt to day. Perhaps you will like to | examine the moulds which are in ~ the Foundery at the — of. the Furnaces. Sebi a re or a wn) ae I “ | ‘ Ann. If you please Sir: _ all’ these rough pieces of Iron which | | 25 we see laying about here can be melted again and put to use, can they not Sir? ‘ F. Oh yes, but the oftener it is melted the harder it becomes and of inferior quality, the same as in a blacksmith’s shop, the oftener the Iron is heated and put immediate- ly into cold water, it loses its strength and becomes brittle. Wm. Now then. we are come to the moulding work! I see Sir, this piece of wood is exactly the shape of the lron we first saw. _F. Jt is the pattern of it, and of that which we are now going to cast. You see this large wooden frame laying on the ground? with- C in this we put a large quantity of sand mixed with water, to a pro- per consistency, on which was laid this wooden pattern, and closely pressed on the sand, all the vacant places within the outward frame were then filled up with more sand closely pressed till it reached the top of it. After this the wooden pattern is carefully taken off, which leaves a vacancy in the sand of ex- actly the same shape, to be filled up by the melted metal. A flat piece of fron is then laid over all, at each side of whichare left holes into which the metal is poured. Wm. Thank you, Sir, I think } understand you, but here are se- veral other smaller moulds oF F. Yes we fill up all our spare room with moulds and melt enough metal to fill them all. Ann. What a variety of things will be made this afternoon, if all these moulds are filled! here are the sides of a handsome fire grate entirely in Sand. F. The pattern of that is in Iron, It is only of very large things that . we have them of wood as they are not so durable. This has been formed in the same way as the larger work, the pattern on which the flowers are raised or embossed is pressed on the sand and leaves the impression of flowers and fruits to bé filled up by the melted metal and the vacant edges are filled up 28 with sand to the height of the out- ward frame. Ann. I observe they take great pains to press the sand down on each side before they take out the pattern and put on the outward cover. And how careful they are to see the pattern is exactly formed in the sand, before they fill up the frame ! | f’.. The neatness of the work de- pends on this: and, in patterns where the work is raised, like this, the covering frame, instead of being flat, has the same pattern in a hol- low form, which meeting with the other impression, forms the orna- mental work on the sides of grates, otherwise a flat surface is sufficient « 29 to lay over it. Here is apiece of Tron arched in the casting, intend- ed for the lining of a subterranean passage in the Palace ; and another _ pattern for a bowed Balcony, which is pressed into the sand and the va- cancies left accordingly. Wm. I cannot find out what this is for which is formed in so deep a mould. IF’. Itis what we call a shoe for - one of the Timbers which form the piles or stacks of the Chain Pier : This Iron Work is fitted to the bot- tom of it, nearly pointed at the end and fastens it deeper in the sand. The other high mould is for one of the Saddles which I: told you of; and this is the Cap to cover the whole. 30° Ann. We may now say, we have seen the casting of the Iron on the top, the middle and bottom of the Chain Pier. I shall look at the Workmen with greater interest now | ' Iknow something of what they are doing, but here is a flat mould with- out any cover. Whatis this for Sir? i’. It is part ofa trough for Hog’s meat, and as it does not require great smoothness, a cover is not ne- cessary. Wm. Pray Sir, for what are these little pieces of sand rolled in the form of Pegs, put along the sides of it at certain distances? i’. When we wish to leave holes for Iron screws or pegs to go in, by ‘Sl _ which it is to be fastened to some- thing else, we lay these false pegs where the holes are to be, which prevents the metal filling them up. When it is cold they are taken out, and thus the holes are made. Wm. Thatisa very good contri- vance, so there isno boring of holes or noise of hammers beating on the Anvil here. ‘I. No Sir, The only noise ‘we have here is sometimes to flatten the edges of of the Iron, if they are ‘uneven, or extend too far; and this sometimes is enough to deafen those not used to it. ButnowI believe the metal is ready for casting, as they are raising the Crane. An I- ron Trough, or Gutter, is laid from o2 the bottom ofthe furnace, tothe large Caldron which you see sunk ~~ in the ground at a few Yards dis- tance.: This is filled with liquid metal which runs into it through the trough. Themen stand round it with large Ladles and fill smaller Caldrons whichare carried between - Iron Poles, by two or four men, ac- cording to their size, and poured in at the holes at each side of the large mould which we first exami- — ned: All pour in at the same time, and thus the hollow part is filled up. The rest of the melted metal will be carried roundto the different moulds, that you must be careful to stand out of the way, lest any of it should fall upon you. Ann. Thank you Sir, we will be 3D careful; but first tell me, if you please, the use of that Crane, and why that chain is fixed to the large Caldron since it is not to be moved. ff You will presently see the use of both Ma’am, as when they have taken out as muchas they can in ladles, the Caldron is raised out of the ground by the chain, and the | crane swings it round to the place where, what remains in it of the melted metal is wanted; so that none is left at the bottom: Ifthere were it would adhere to theCaldron and prevent its holding so much the next time. For the samereason the men continue to blow the bel- lows while the furnace is raked, af- ter the melted metal has run out of 34 it ; that nothing may remain of it — there. After it has been scraped — out quite clean, fresh coke is put in, ‘which lies and heats till the next morning, when the bellows are a- gain set to work and the metal put’ in with more coke upon that—Now I must leave you and attend to the operation. Ann. ‘Thank you Sir. Oh I see’ the fire running into the trough and thence to the Caldron. Mrs. N. Itlooks like liquid fire indeed, but it is the metal which you see, red hot and in a liquid state. When cold it will be black and hard as other Iron. Wm. How beautifully bright it 35 looks as it runs along! and what pretty sparkles it makes as it falls into the Caldron ; Mrs. N.. We should call those spatters if it were water which we saw poured quickly and inalarge quantity from one vessel to another. Ann. They are like falling stars but the men do not seem to mind their falling onthem. Does it not burn them? Mrs. N. They cannot get ont of the way of them, and, I suppose are too much used to them to bea- fraid as we should be. Besides they are soon extinguished, and their clothes are better fitted to the work than ours, which would probably _ catch fire. Ne 36 Ann. But still, Mrs. N. it is a’ dangerous employment. Only think if one of these Caldrons should sway on one side the metal must kill the men on whom it falls. Mrs. N. Butdoyounot observe the Poles by which they carry it are of such a length that should they hap-_ pen to throw some over, it would fall onthe ground, and not on them: And they carry it so steadily that they are not likely to let any of it fall. Wm, How curious it isto see them pouring in at all four sides to- _ ‘ gether, methinks I should like to. peep, and see the metal running over the sand. But how do they o¢ _know when they have poured in e- nough? Mrs. N. I suppose when it runs over at the holes, in the same way that we know a vessel is full when it will hold nomore. But here are some men coming to fill up some of these other moulds. Let us get out of their way. Wm. Oh! Mrs. N. they are go- ing to put it into this which has no cover! now my curiosity will be sa- tisfied. See it looks likea plain _ of Iron heated red hot: I wonder how long it will keep that colour. A man is shaking a black bag over it, | must ask him what that is for. Man. lt is powdered Charcoal, D ' 30 Sir, and we shake it lightly over, as the heat slackens, to give the Iron its proper colour and assist the po- lishing of it. Wm. Thank you. How long will it remain red ? Man. Not many minutes. Sir, and in a few hours it will be cold. | enough to take out with the hands. Ann. . Here is a piece of ornamen- tal Iron work, something like a fleur de lys, which I noticed the man making the mould for. See itis cast: he has taken off the outward cover already, and is ta- king it out with a pair of pincers, while it is red hot. I should not wender ifhe was going to put it 39 into cold water, to harden it still more. Ah! they are moving the large Caldron out of the ground : what a weight it appears to be! Now they are pouring the hquid from it mto smaller vessels which the men can carry.. How pretty the sparkles are! Itis like Fire works, and now the last mould is filled, and the metal is all used. it began to look much paler than it did at first; I suppose that was because it got cooler. F. Yes Ma’am, if there had been more of it, ina very short time, it would have ceased to run, and we must have laid it by to melt again a- nother time. Ann. It seemed a very great AD weight, Sir, for the men to carry about. : F. Yes, it loses very little TEN in melting. Ann. And what time will this large piece be cool, Sir? F. Not till to-morrow morning; but we shall take off the outward cover to night. The smaller pie- ces will be sooner cool, so that to- morrow morning the place will be clear, and ready for new moulds, which will be forming while more Iron is melting to fill them. Ann. The same moulds never do again, do they Sir? f. No: weuse the same patterns : fora great while, but the moulds 4] being of Sand, require to be made every time. The same Sand can be often re-moulded, and the out- ward frames are used again. Ann. 'Thank you Sir, we are very much obliged to you for the infor- mation you have given us. And so lamto Mrs. N. for bringing me here, Idid not expect to find so much amusement. Wm. Iam glad you like it better than youthought you should. Ann. We wish you good afternoon, Sir, ‘and beg you to distribute these few Shillings among the men on our account, I shall not forget my pro- mise ofvisiting you againat a future time, when I shall expect to see still greater things. 42 F, Thank you Sir, I hope you will not be disappointed, and am glad that what you have now seen answers your expectation. | Ann. Mrs. N. I will never judge from outward appearances again: nor think that something may not be learnt from every thing we see, if we have but an intellegent per- son to explain to us what we do not understand. | Mrs. N. We have been fortunate in meeting with such an one to day, who has answered all your enqui- ries readily and willingly, t hope you will endeavour to remember what he has told you. Our next visit must be to the Gas Works, 43 where I hope you will be equally well received and entertained. Ann. But Mrs. N. you and Wil- liam have been.on the Chain- Pier; and on the first Pile, one-of these Houses are already erected, are they not very small? Mrs. N. Not near so small as they appear to be from the shore. Had you had the courage to accompany us you would not have found them so despicable! and the view from, them will be delightful. At the base they are 12 feet in length and 8 feet in breadth, the space be- tween each room is twelve feet, so that there will be room for carria- ges to pass through, I could not reach to the outward Stack, which AA ie is large enough fora Carriage to turn on it, but remember it is not intended for a Promenade for Car- riages, only as a passage for them from the Packets. Ann. Iwas afraid to see you go so faras you did. Those tempora- ry Bridges are so slight, and ap- peared to swing so much as you walked across them, that I shall be content to wait till the work be finished ; I shall be very willing to go then. Mrs. N. Idid not endeavour to persuade you to accompany us; for in sucha case there is no reason you should do what is disagreeable to yourself; except that it may be necessary to accustom 45 ourselves to what at some future period may be necessary. With this view I havesometimes encoun- tered difficulties which I might © have avoided : but you may be sure I should not have allowed your Brother to go, or have gone my- self, had I not seen several females venture before me and been well assured there was no danger. Narrow as the bridges are, the Gentleman who went with us was well convinced of their safety, or he would not have taken us. _ Ann. Ah! he is an experienced Sailor, and has been so used to the rocking of a Ship in a storm, that he did not mind the swinging of the bridges; but 1 wondered how you could bear it. AG Mrs. N. I endeavoured not to think of it; and the ropes which are fixton each side as a stay to the bridges, helped in some mea- sure to steady them. Where these were wanting I did not venture, lest my head should have been gid- dy with the motion; though I ‘should have liked to have gone to the end, had there been the same security. There a lamp is fixt which burns all night to prevent Vessels from coming unawares upon the Pier, and in hazy weather, when a light cannot be seen at a distance, a bellistolled forthe same purpose. Wm. The two smaller Piles also, which are placed at a little distance westward of the Pier are intended 4G as a farther security to Vessels. A chain will be extended from one of these piles to the other, to prevent their being dashed against the Pier in a storm. Ann. I shall have many wonders to see when I can venture on it; but as I said before, I will wait till it is finished. Do they not say this will be in November? Mrs. N. Yes; but many doubt whether it can be accomplished in that time. It will be a great proof of the skill and ingenuity of the In- ventorand Architect, Capt. Brown. ——— GEG°Ww o> FINIS. juno oh FS Nee Se)! eee ee _ a a ietidideeemnmeial on slat meh me re neha ey rrr RPT NE ; y pee a ~, “, essay anew Ma % Ayah: Cite 2) eS SG AG Ce Gears 8: e Fiaseame acai To BS "4; Ee By J, Warren ORTS AT THE GAS A VISIT To THE GAS WORKS, NEAR BRIGHTON. is rather longer than that to the Foundery | ps. N. but we shall fv tnfomnaticnl as we dia there. Mrs. N. Very little of the Gas will be visible to us, but'we shall 2. endeavour to learn its nature, and see the apparatus by which it is made. You are already enough acquainted with the properties of Air to know it is composed ofa va- riety of materials, and has both weight and substance which may be felt, though of too fine or sub- tile a nature to be seen, except when issueing from confinement it has the appearance of smoke or va- pour. Gas is the air extracted from Coal, and is_ scientifically termed carbonated orsulphuric Air- Wm. ‘That can be ascertained by the smell which I have found very offensive when I have been in a Shop at a time when it is first lighted. 5) Ann. Is there any danger on its emission Mrs. N.? | Mrs. N. Notifit emits at the place intended, nor’ elsewhere if it can find vent and mingle with other air, without meeting with a light or any thing to obstruct its passage, If it burst a pipe the noise is near- ly equal to the explosion of Gun- powder, (but it has a different smell, )and if there be nothing in its way to be driven by its force it es- capes without doing the injury of- ten caused by Gunpowder, which scorches and tears the flesh though no ball or shot be emitted by it. But here we are at the place, and you can form a better idea from what you will see than from all I 4 am able to tell you. In the -first place we shall visit the Retorts, where the Coal is-made into Coke whence the Gas is extracted. Ann. What a quantity of Ovens and Pipes are here. It seems a still darker place than the Foun- dery, and appears amore compli- cated business. Mrs..N. Onthe contrary the pro- cess is much more simple, although there is much labour and heat in the work; no ingenuity is required here, as in the making of moulds for the different patterns, cast at the Foundery, but great attention - isnecessary to keep the Apparatus in order and the fires at a certain height. Here the Coal is baked to 7) make the Gas, and when that is all extracted it becomes Coke, but at the Foundery if you remember, they set it on fire in a confined place and let it burn till reduced to Coke of sufficient strength for their purpose. Ann. Yesl recollect they said this made at the Gas Works -had --not strength enough left in it to melt the Iron. We may conclude therefore that the Coal is more ex- hausted by baking than burning: -for though the quantity contained in one of these Furnaces may not be so large as that at the Foundery it seems the Coke made in it is much weaker. Mrs. N, Isuppose this may be 6 owing not so much to the process of baking, as to the closeness of the Retorts, forso you should call them and not Ovens. Did you not see one of them cast at the Foundery? It reminded you of the mouth of a large Cannon, open at one end and rounded at the o- ther. These are filled with Coal and secured at the entrance or mouth with cast Iron plates screw- ed in so tight as not to admit the reaction of air, to supply the place of that which is exhausted for Gas. The fire is lighted under these Re- torts, the heat of which reduces. the Coal to Coke and extracts from it the Gas and Tar, of which also there is a large quantity in Coal. Do you not observe also the Clay 7 round the mouth of the Retorts, and at the entrance of the Pipes which lead from them? this is to prevent, as much as possible the Gas from evaporating, for being air it finds its way through the smallest pore. | Wm. Do all these Retorts con- tain Coal?: and what can be the use of the water I see under each Furnace. Mrs. N. The person who at- tends to shew the works, will ex- plain this to you. Clerk of the Works. The water is placed there Sir, to counteract the excessive heat above, which would otherwise loosen thebars on which 6 the fire is laid, and cause them to fallout. Italso receives the ashes and live coal which.may drop from it, and prevents their burning below the bars. The coal is baked by the heat of these fires, and the Gas ex- ‘tracted from them finds its way through the pipes attached to each Retort to the larger pipe above. The larger Retorts which are pla- ced in the middle of the furnace, have two ascending pipes, and the five smaller ones which surround them, one each. Wm. Thank youSir. And these Retorts with their furnaces extend all through the middle of the room do they not? and are lighted on each side. Pray Sir how much coal do they contain? 9 Clerk. The larger ones hold four bushels each, and the smaller Re- torts one bushel each. - We change them as itis called, once in four hours, that is, take out the Coke and.-put in fresh coal, which is the most laborious and dangerous part of the work. In that time, all the - Gasis extracted and. drawn through the smaller.pipes into that above our heads which goes out through the wall at the end. Wm. There are two large pipes over the Furnaces; do they both contain Gas Sir? Clerk.- No. The other is to con- vey the smoke from the furnaces out of the building. The small reservoir which you sce attached te etan A Pore tion es te ern ae eae 10 to it receives the Tar which is ex- tracted from the Coal, our aim be- ing to seperate it as much as we can’ from the Gas, otherwise it would not burn. ' Wm. I see notwithstanding all your care to prevent it a little of the Gas will escape; Is not that it which comes from the sides of the pipes, and looks like smoke? Clerk. Yes Sir, and were we to put a light to it, it would immedi: ately burn. As the Gas is continu- ally passing through the pipes they are always full, except when the fires have not beenlighted for some time. By taking out the Plug in this ascending pipe you will see more of it come out. a dl Ann. Qh, howit roars! and now 14 it is alight I declare ! Mrs. N. Yes, but i needs a light _ tobe put to it before it takes fire, otherwise there would only conti- nue to be emitted the same thick _ blue smoke or vapour, till the Gas were exhausted or the opening | 4 istopp ed. { Wm. Well but Mrs. N. I have been told that if i filled the bowl of a Tobacco pipe with Coal, and covered it very closely with clay, by putting in the fire till the Coals in the pipe became sufficiently heated, I should see the Gas issue from the other end in flame though no light had been applied to it. F 12 Mrs. N. Timagine this must a- rise from the thinness of the pipe and the proximity of the fire, from which it catches the flame. By the same rule we often see a black Coal emit a Sulpherous smoke, with what we call an angry noise, but as soon as the fire reaches it, or the Coal is ignited the smoke and noise cease. ° Ann. That then is the Gas from the Coal, the same which is here preserved in these pipes; and Coke is nothing but Coal or Cinders, en- tirely deprived ‘of that air which is called Gas, and of Tar which it contains. But will all Coal make Gas Sir? Clerk. More or less Ma’am, but Is | the Sandfield Moor Coal is consi- _ dered the best. for the purpose. Ifyou please we will now follow this large pipe which contains all the Gas collected in the smaller ones, through its second process, | On the outside of the building is a | large Cistern of water, called the Condenser, through which the pipe passes and repasses, being bent several times upwards and downwards in order to keep it longer in the water, and to give it | still more of the desired effect which is to make it take a smaller | compass and become more inspis- sated, It being the nature of air | to rarify or expand by heat, and | condense by cold, this sudden _ tyansition thickensand givesthe Gas 14 greater consistency. This is also in- creased by a third process, for af- ter it has been through this Cis- tern the pipe is carried into ano- ther building where is another pre- paration of Lime water, through — which it passes in the same man- — ner, and thence it is conveyed un- der ground to the Gassometer where the Gas is discharged and rt ready for use. Ann. . Pray Sir, what is the use of that small wheel which keeps turn- ing in the Lime Water ? Clerk. Itis to keep the water al- ways In motion, and prevent the Lime from settling at the bottom ofthe Cistern. ‘This wheel is turn- ed by a small Steam Engine placed 15 in another part of the building in- tended only for this purpose. Ann. Here are smaller cisterns _ and different pipesabove our heads; _ do they also contain Gas Sir. | _ Clerk. No Ma’am, the Lime wa- | teris prepared in them, and runs _ through tbe pipes from one cistern to the other, before it is properly _ mixed to receive the Gas. Mrs. N. should think the Gas being so closely confined within the pipe would not be affected by the mixture it passes through, or at least, that it would have no effect upon that; yet, I am told this preparation is rank poison after the Gas has been through it. 16 Clerk. Not exactly poison Madam, thoughit has a pernicious tendency : and is of no use afterwards, for which reason we have a pipe which conveys it hence into theSea, about three or four hundred yards dis- tance. . Wm. But would not the Gas burn equally well without this last and dangerous process, Sir? . Clerk. It would not give so bright a light, nor last so long a time, as the extreme coldness of the Lime water serves to condense it still — more, and at the same time puri- _ fies it from the Tar which may yet | remain. This drops off as m the manner of a Still and falls into a receiver at the bottom of the Cis- 17 tern. The Steam Engine is not now at work, or I would shew you the velocity with which the wheel is turned. | Mrs. N. We are much obliged to you, Sir, but as that is not ne- cessarily connected with the ma- king of Gas, it is not of so much consequence ; my pupils are in some measure acquainted with the force of Steam. Wm. Weknow that by the help of Machinery the Steam which arises from boiling water, when confined within a narrow compass turns the principal wheel, by which others are turned of size and num- ber in proportion to the size of the Engine and the quantity of water 18 heated init. But now if you please Sir, we will follow the Gas. What. is the next thing wearetoobserve ? Clerk. The making of the Gas is here completed... It is now fit for use, and conveyed under ground, to the Gassometer, to which I will conduct you. Ann. Oh! what a large Reservoir! It must hold a very large quantity of Gas, Sir? Clerk. Above 18000 Cubic feet Ma’am, when it is quite full. At present there is not more than half the quantity. Yousee itis closely covered in, and cased all round with Cast Iron plates. It is sus- pended in water, and rises or falls in proportion to the quantity of 19 _ Gas within it. The Scale which is on the outside of the Building notes the number of Cubic feet it contains, as at whatever height the Gassometer is, the Marker, which is connected with it, lowers as that. rises, and points to the exact quan- tity of Gas within it. When quite at the top of the scale, the Gaso- meter is Empty. | Wm. That is very clever, but what a fine sight it would be, Mrs. N. to see all this Gas on fire, if we were sure there would be no other injury than the loss the Maker would sustain. Mrs. N. That, I imagine would be no trifling loss, and the explo- sion of the cover would probably 20, tear the roof .from the Build- jag and do other mischief. Let us not think of so terrible an event but attend to what we are told. Clerk. From the Gassometer the Gas flows into a pipe connected with that which conveys it to the ‘Town above a mile and a half dis- tance. Just without this building is a trap door, which when open shews you the main Pipe. | Wm. Yes, and gives us a strong smell of the'Gas also : I cannot say much in favor of the scent. | Ann. Tndeed it has a very nasty | smell; but what a large and strong pipe this appears to be! Clerk. Itis necessary it should beso | | 21 Ma’amto convey so largea quantity of Gas to the distance that Brigh- tonishence. We turn it into this pipe every evening according as the Gas is required, which pipe con- veys it to Brighton, where, in less than half an hour it flows through all the smaller Pipes into whatever place it is wanted. When the _ Streets are lighted with it we turn it back again at a stated hour in the ‘morning, which extinguishes the : Lampsas soon asthe pipes are em- tied ofthe Gas contained in them. In _theheight of Summer as at present, when the Lamps arenot lighted, ve- ry little Gasis wanted for the whole hight, except in Taverns and Ho- tels, which pay for it (as do the Shops,) in proportion to the num- 22 ber of lights they have, and the time it is used. , Wm. But what would be the con- sequence Sir, if one of these pipes: were to burst underground ( Clerk. It would cause an explo- sion, and throw up the earth till it ‘found sufficient vent: but, if it did not come in contact with any fire it would do no other injury. | Wm But would not the lights in the Town be extinguished by it? _ Clerk. The Pipes are not likely to burst while the lights are burning, because the Gas finds vent in the! flame. The only danger is if any Gas beleft in the narrow pipes when thelightis extinguished, and should % 23 | gain toog oreate dzpansion by the heat fae he! closure of the pipes, it might burst and thus i injure them. Our only care then would be to get _ them repaired before the time for _ ré-filling them came on. Wm. But still it seems that the | lig ‘ht we receive from Gas is entire- bly dependant on the Maker, or at | least on the person whose office it _is to turn it into the main pipe | Clerk. Yes Sir, but itis our inter- ) est not to withold it, and to let you have it regularly; besides if all | the Gas were extinguished, you are not so destitute of other light but | that it might easily be procured. | igen In the mean time we are O- | G A bliged to you forsupplying us with that of Gas: as my Sister and I are also for the information you have given us respecting it.. We thank you Sir, for the trouble you have taken to explain it to us, and beg you to distribute these few shil- lings among the men. We wish you and them a good afternoon. Ann. Wearevery much obliged to you also dear Mrs. N. for grant- ing us an opportunity of procuring this information, I see that though I may have formed some idea of the nature of Gas, and the way in which it is made, by what has been told me concerning it, I never could have had so clear a concep- tion of itas this one visit has given me. For the future I shall never 25 think I understand any thing till _ Ihave seen it. | Mrs N. And beware also, my dear, of thinking you understand _a thing when you have only a su- _perficial knowledge of it, I would not have you imagine you are ac- _ quainted with all the properties or _ uses of Gas, because you compre- _ hend what has now been shewn to you. It is probable there are _many things belonging to Gas still unknown to the first discoverers of | it, and which are yet to be found out. Timeis the Grand Discever- _er of all things, and we are daily hearing of new inventions, which | are only called so, because un- | known to the present age, and 26 ee Seige which are continually receiving — improvement from time, and the attention of man, to the discoveries thus made. Ann. But may not Gas be called a chemical preparation, Mrs. N. Mrs, N. Yes certainly, because it is made by fire ; and by the same science, the Gas al be decom- posed to Coal again, though not such as would re-produce Gas. You seem to doubt my assertion ? Ann. No Mrs: N. It would dl become me, ignorant as bh am, to doubt the intelligence you give me, when every day convinces me there is something new to be learnt which was not known before ;' but 27 Iam astonished at it, and shall be | More anxious to read the books __ you have promised to procure me on Chemistry, and to see some ex- periments made in it. Mrs, N. That isright. To-mor- row we will begin with the ‘‘Con- versations on Chemistry,” by the same Author you have already read on ‘Natural Philosophy,” and “Political Economy.” Ann. ‘Thank you Ma’am; I am impatient to commence my study of this wonderful Art. A VISIT TO THE Ropal Chain Pier, BRIGHTON. er ee Wm. Now that the Chain Pier is _ completed, Mrs. N. my Sister will not be afraid to venture on it, I _ hope you will be so kind as to take | _ usthere, for we always understand things better when you explain them to us. Mrs. N. Iam glad to hear you say this, it is my first wish, you 2 should be well acquainted with what is necessary for youto know ; and next to this, that you should not be satisfied with a’ superficial view of those works which evince superiority of genius in those who plan them. We will therefore take a walk on the Chain Pier, and en- deavour to become acquainted with its construction. “The last time I was, there it was - nearly finished, and a band of musie was. stationed on the outward clump, of piles, which sounded sweetly on the. Wa- ter. I fancied myself on the quar: ter deck of an Admiral’s Ship. Ann. We may not be so fortunate’ as to find a Band ready. to receive us; but if. there is no, -music, we . a a Ps Se ad SE Sl ee ~ 7) shall have less to draw our atten- tion from the work itself. Mrs. N. It has a very pictur- esque and pleasing effect, when seen from the cliff immediately op- posite ; The eye gazes on the pro- spect of the long straight vista through the avenue, formed by the Iron Lodges, which we saw cast at the Foundery. You remember their dimensions and the distance between each ? Ann. Yes the Foreman told us they would be ten feet by eight, and ten or twelve feet between each. | have'a Card here which gives a later account, and is pro- bably more correct. It describes — them as towers, each weighing a- 4 bout fifteen tons, twenty-five feet high, from the point of suspension, and ten feet distant, united by an Arch at the top. I do not forget that you went to the third clump of piles, before any of these towers were erected, or the Pier was formed, except in the imagination of the Architect; the Bridges be- ing only temporary which you walked on. Mrs. N. I have been told these towers or lodges are already let at twenty six pounds a year, for shops or refreshment rooms. The people who have taken them, I suppose, expect to makea great deal of mo- ney by offering a resting place to the company who walk there, and 5 a shelter under which they may sit and inhale the sea breezes in all their purity. Wm. These seats will have every advantage of a sail in one of the Pleasure Boats without the danger of being sick from the motion of the sea, or wet fromits spray. To timid Sailors [ imagine it will be much pleasanter: What say you Ann? Ann. I own lam not very coura- geous, and therefore should prefer a seat on the Chain Pier to one in the sailing boats you have so often wished to be in. But now we are near enough to distinguish the peo- ple walking on the Pier, and their diminutive appearance at the far- 6 ther end, convinces me it must be a great distance from the shore. Mrs... N. We will enter by the Esplanade, which leads from the Steyne; here are two handsome I- ron Gates and a small Lodge erect- ed in which I suppose will be a per- son appointed to receive a Toll. On the outside of the Gates is a place for the Carriages to turn. What says your Card, Ann, respec- ing this-part of the work. ; Ann. At only mentions its length from the Steyne, 1250 feet by 33 feet but I have read another account, which speaks of the pavement up- wards of ten feet wide, and the car- riage road twenty-four feet: the agreement is perfectly exact. he- tween thein. 7 Mrs. N. I have been told that to walk three times from this entrance to the end of the Pier, and back a- gain, the distance would be consi- derably above two miles: but be- fore we proceed let me beg you to notice this large wheel and Reser- voir which are just behind the building. Do you know what they are for? | Wm. lLhave heard it contains wa- _ ter. which comes from the sea, and | fills it every high tide, and it is in- | tended to water the Streets with it, in very hot and dusty weather. Mrs. N. Youareright. Former- ly the water Carts used to go down upon the Beach, and were filled with water laden from the sea. Hi ar When full, it was very hard labour for the poor horses to drag them up this steep ascent. This Reservoir was therefore formed to save them such laborious work ; and the wheel turns the water into the Carts with- out the trouble of lading it. Ann. Thisis indeed a benevolent act for the poor horses, and deserves to be placed, among others, in the list of Philanthropic endeavours to better the condition of the animal creation. But what a nice walk this is '! who would refuse to pay a toll for such an accommodation? Mrs. N. You observe the strong wall by which it is supported on the side next the sea, and the curved extension at the other end, to allow carriages to turn there 9 also. The railing on each side se- cures it fromany intruders but those who enterat the Gates, and also pre- cludes all danger of falling over. How firmly itis edged with stone, to withstand the fury of the waves. Wm. And very necessary too, Mis. N. for we know what a dash- ing element the Sea is.—Will you excuse my Pun? Mrs. N. Your enquiry proves that it requires some apology. You _ know Lam not singular in my opi- nion that it is the lowest species of Wit: but as we are now arrived at the Pier, we will not depart from the object we have in view to dis- cussupon Punning. At this end there is only an entrance for foot ‘ 10 passengers. Here we are to take our tickets, which will admit us three times in one day, to walk on the Pier, but are not transferable : They are six-pence each. | Ann. see it is boarded like a room, I expected to find it more like a bridge. Mrs. N. This planking is calcula- _ ted to last about ten or fifteen years and then it will need repairing. This, with the carved work on the outward edge of each side, is the only wood on the bridges; every thing else is Iron. But what says your card about the foundation ? Ann. Its foundation consists of four clumps of piles, 258 feet dis- il tant from each other, driven nearlv 10 feet into the rock or sand, and rising 13 feetabove high water: The three first clumps contain 20 piles each, and are, I have been told, 36 feet square; the fourth and grand Clump which is in the form of a T contains 150 perpendicular and dia- zonal piles, strongly braced by fra- mings, and wale pieces in various places. 1tis pavedon the top with about twohuudred Tons of Purbeck . Stone, beneath are galleries and flights of steps constructed for the convenience of embarkation. Isee also they are putting down a flight of steps at each end on the outside. Mrs. N. ‘The breadth of this clump of Piles, is I believe 91 feet © 12 from east to west, and what a beautiful view it afords of the Town and adjacent scenery ! Wm. Come Ann since you chuse to keep your Card of Information in your own possession, pray read to us what it says of the extent of the Bridge and how it is supported. Ann. The Bridge (which is 1134 feet long* and 13 feet wide, with a neat cast iron railing on each ‘side,) 18s supported by 8 chains; 4 on each side, each containing 117 links, 10 feet long, 61 inches in circumference, and weighing 112 pounds. ‘These are secured by a *The dimensions given in the first conversation dif-- fer in a slight degree from this account; but as what is now advanced is taken from a later survey, and since the work has been completed, it is considered more correct. Wa eB 13 bolt, and strongly keyed ; and are continued over the several towers, with a dip of eighteen feet, rising eradually that height on each side as they advance towards the towers. From the chains are suspended 360 iron rods, connected by an iron bar, on which the Platform rests at each side and which runs from end toend. ‘The rods are attached to a Cap which heads the junction of the links where the bolts are ap- plied; the Cap being hollow, the rod in the shape ofa T is adjusted within it. Wm. But how are the Chains se- cured at each end ? Ann. At the entrance they issue from the Wall which supports the 14 Cliff considerably above our heads. Two excavations have been made for them, in the form of barrel drains 54 feet. deep im the Chiff, where they are made fast by being affixed toan Iron plate weighing 25 cwt. At the outer end they diverge im an angle of about 37 degrees, being locked down by prepared bolts and keys, anca poising bias of nearly 60 tons of Stone; to act with that derived from their deep imbedment in the Cliff wall. Mrs. N- You remember seeing the Lron Work cast at the Foundry which the Foreman called the Sad- dle, through which he said the Chains were to pass at the top of each tower. 15 Ann. Yes, and | now see these houses, or whatever they may be called, are necessary for the sup- port of the bridge, as well as for ornaments upon it; and it was ne- cessary they should be made of I- ron to maintain its weight. Thus they answer a double purpose, for I recollect we were told at the Foundery, that while they increas- ed the weight on each clump of piles, they added to their stability, and they also afford a steady rest. for the Chains on which the bridge is hung. There is plenty of room to walk round them and admire the view on each side, and when the weather is bad; shelter will be found within side. Though these apartments will not admit a very 16 large party, theyare, I think, twice the size of a bathing Machine, Mrs. N. O Yes, and afford a much more extensive prospect. Wm. Those erections to the west are called dolphins, are they not Ann? what does your Card say a- bout them? Ann. They are for the protection of the Pier, and consist of four per- pendicular and nine diagonal piles, over which a boom-chain will pass to keep off Vessels that might o- therwise be forced against it, when the wind blows from the west. And now I think we have observed eve- ry thing belonging tothe Pier itself, let us admire the view we have from it on each side. 17 Mrs. N. But does your card say nothing of the Projector of the Work? nor when it was begun? Ann. I beg your pardon; I cer- tainly should not have omitted to mention this. My card of intelli- cence begins thus. “This elegant structure was projected and execu- ted by Capt. S. Brown, R. N.”. What follows I have before com- municated to you. It concludes as follows. The whole is handsomely painted, and is the finest specimen of architecture of the kind in the world.--Estimated expence 30,000] Commenced in October, 1822— Completed in October 1823.” Mrs. N. Thank you, I think it certainly deserves all that is. said 18 of it, and the universal admiration with which it is seen. Can you tellme of any other Bridges built on the same principle ? Ann. That of Trinity Pier near Leith is said to be such, though « more slender and inferior struc- ture, and the Batteries erected on Piles, ike so many islands, near Cronstadt, in the Gulp of Finland which remained there since the time of Peter the Great, but in- deed Mrs. N. I can at. present think only of the spot we are upon ! what a fine sea view here is! — Mrs. N. To the West we see Shoreham and Worthing, and the fine bay formed by their coasts; with the beautiful sloping downs 19 above them. On the Eastern side the eye is carried along the exten- sion of Cliffs, till it rests on Beachy Head, the farthermost point of land wecansee; Itis about 16 miles distant. Look at the green and glossy Searolling its majestic waves under our feet, their colours vary- ing every minute as the Sun emer- ges from a cloud, or 1s hid behind it. ‘The houses on the shore with the passing carriages appear scarce- ly worth our notice: But here is a Vessel sailing along in all her glo- ry; her sails are spread to the wind and nothing seems to impede her course. Wm. The Ships are seen here to greater advantage than when they I 20. are nearer the shore; they rock so much as they draw to land, and seem tolabour to approach it, while the Surge and sand prevent their landing their passengers without great trouble and inconvenience. Mrs. N- This proves the utility of the Chain Pier, for, at the bot- tom ofthese steps which lead from the interior of the last clump of piles, the Vessels unload their car- goes ; and passengers step out of the boats very easily, Ann. Oh! Mrs. N. it is quite tremendous: to be down here, how the water dashes against the piles! and is it always as high as this? Mrs. N. It is 3 feet deep at low water, spring tides, and from 5 tog 21 feet at low water, neap-tides; this is as I have been told by a Gentle- man used to the Sea, at high water spring tides, it is nearly 20 feet deep. Ann. What are those long wood- en.cases, as they may be called, which go sloping down below the water from above our heads. Mrs. N. ‘Those cover the end ofthe chains of which you have been rea- ding on your card, in which they are locked down assecurely as they are fastened at the other end. Ann. This is a cold and dismal place, but I could stay all day on the top, the air is so refreshing and the view so delightful, but I fear William is impatient to return. 22 Wm. Notat all, I would only re- mind you that your Drawing Mas- ter will be waiting for you. Will you not ask him if you may not co- py one of the Views of the Chain Pier, with which the different ar- tists in the town have favored us. Methinks I should like to have.it from your pencil better than any engraving. Ann. Thank you brother, 1 will endeavour to gratify your wishes. Mrs. N. also looks at her Watch. I see it is time to depart, but in fu- ture, I hope we shall come here ve- ry often; there is nothing new to excite alarm; and I think it must, next to Bathing, bemost beneficial to our health. FINTIS. ei c—<— le. oe -« .