1contrived for different Seaſons, ſome to be uſed
n Summer, others in Winter; and others as we
may ſay in the middle Seaſons. Parlours for
Summer require Water and the Verdure of
Gardens; thoſe for Winter, muſt be warm and
have good Fire-places. Both ſhould be large,
pleaſant and delicate. There are many Ar
guments to convince us that Chimnies were in
Uſe among the Ancients; but not ſuch as ours
are now. One of the Ancients ſays, the Tops
of the Houſes ſmoke, Et fumant culmina tecti:
And we find it continues the ſame all over
Italy to this Day, except in Lombardy and
Tuſcany, and that the Mouths of none of the
Chimnies riſe higher than the Tops of the
Houſes. Vitruvius ſays, that in Winter Par
lours it is ridiculous to adorn the Ceiling with
handſome Painting, becauſe it will be preſent
ly ſpoilt by the conſtant Smoke and continual
Fires; for which Reaſon the Ancients uſed to
paint thoſe Ceilings with Black, that it might
ſeem to be done by the Smoke itſelf. I find
too, that they made Uſe of a purified Sort of
Wood, that was quite clear of Smoke, like our
Charcoal, upon which Account it was a Diſ
pute among the Lawyers, whether or no Coal
was to come under the Denomination of Wood;
and therefore it is probable they generally uſed
moveable Hearths or Chafing-pans either of
Braſs or Iron, which they carried from Place to
Place where-everthey had Occaſion to make a
Fire. And perhaps that warlike Race of Men,
hardened by continual Incampments, did not
make ſo much Uſe of Fire as we do now; and
Phyſicians will not allow it wholeſome, to be
too much by the Fire-ſide. Ariſtotle ſays,
that the Fleſh of Animals gains its Firmneſs
and Solidity from Cold; and thoſe whoſe Buſi
neſs it is to take Notice of Things of this Na
ture have obſerved, that thoſe working Men
who are continually employed about the Fur
nace have generally dry wrinkled Skins; the
Reaſon of which they ſay is, becauſe the Jui
ces, of which the Fleſh is formed, are exhauſt
ed by the Fire, and evaporate in Steam. In
Germany, Colchos, and other Places, where Fire
is abſolutely neceſſary againſt the extreme
Cold, they make Uſe of Stoves; of which we
ſhall ſpeak elſewhere. Let us return to the
Chimney, which may be beſt made ſerviceable
in the following Manner. It muſt be as direct
as poſſible, capacious, not too far from the
Light, it muſt not draw the Wind too much,
but enough however to carry up the Smoke,
which elſe would not go up the Tunnel. For
theſe Reaſons do not make it juſt in a Corner,
nor too far within the Wall, nor let it take up
the beſt Part of the Room where your chief
Gueſts ought to ſit. Do not let it be in
commoded by the Air either of Doors or Win
dows, nor ſhould it project too ſar out into the
Room. Let its Tunnel be very wide and car
ried up perpendicular, and let the Top of it
riſe above the higheſt Part of the whole Build
ing; and this not only upon Account of the
Danger of Fire, but alſo to prevent the Smoke
from being driven down the Chimney again by
any Eddy of Wind on the Top of the Houſe.
Smoke being hot naturally mounts, and the
Heat of the Flame quickens its Aſcent: When
it comes therefore into the Tunnel of the
Chimney, it is compreſſed and ſtraitened as in
a Channel, and being puſhed on by the Heat
of the Fire, is thruſt out in the ſame Manner
as the Sound is out of a Trumpet. And as a
Trumpet, if it is too big, does not give a clear
Sound, becauſe the Air has Room to rowl about
in it; the ſame will hold good with Relation
to the Smoke in a Chimney. Let the Top of
the Chimney be covered to keep out Rain, and
all round the Sides let there be wide Holes for
the Paſſage of the Smoke, with Breaks projec
ting out between each Hole to keep off the
Violence of the Wind. Where this is not ſo
convenient, erect an upright Pin, and on it hang
a braſs Cover broad enough to take in the
whole Mouth of the Chimney, and let this Co
ver have a Vane at the Top like a Sort of
Creſt, which like a Helm may turn it round
according to the Wind. Another very good
Method alſo is to ſet on the Chimney Top ſome
Spire like a Hunter's Horn, either of Braſs or
baked Earth, broader at one End than the
other, with the broad End turned downwards
to the Mouth of the Chimney; by which
means the Smoke being received in at the
broad End, will force its Way out at the Nar
row, in Spite of the Wind. To the Parlours
we muſt accommodate the Kitchen, and the
Pantry for ſetting by what is left after Meals,
together with all Manner of Veſſels and Linen.
The Kitchen ought to be neither juſt under the
Noſes of the Gueſts, nor at too great a Diſ
tance; but ſo that the Victuals may be brought
in neither too hot nor too cold, and that the
Noiſe of the Scullions, with the Clatter of
their Pans, Diſhes and other Utenſils, may not
be troubleſome. The Paſſage through which
the Victuals are to be carried, ſhould be hand
ſome and convenient, not open to the Weather,
n Summer, others in Winter; and others as we
may ſay in the middle Seaſons. Parlours for
Summer require Water and the Verdure of
Gardens; thoſe for Winter, muſt be warm and
have good Fire-places. Both ſhould be large,
pleaſant and delicate. There are many Ar
guments to convince us that Chimnies were in
Uſe among the Ancients; but not ſuch as ours
are now. One of the Ancients ſays, the Tops
of the Houſes ſmoke, Et fumant culmina tecti:
And we find it continues the ſame all over
Italy to this Day, except in Lombardy and
Tuſcany, and that the Mouths of none of the
Chimnies riſe higher than the Tops of the
Houſes. Vitruvius ſays, that in Winter Par
lours it is ridiculous to adorn the Ceiling with
handſome Painting, becauſe it will be preſent
ly ſpoilt by the conſtant Smoke and continual
Fires; for which Reaſon the Ancients uſed to
paint thoſe Ceilings with Black, that it might
ſeem to be done by the Smoke itſelf. I find
too, that they made Uſe of a purified Sort of
Wood, that was quite clear of Smoke, like our
Charcoal, upon which Account it was a Diſ
pute among the Lawyers, whether or no Coal
was to come under the Denomination of Wood;
and therefore it is probable they generally uſed
moveable Hearths or Chafing-pans either of
Braſs or Iron, which they carried from Place to
Place where-everthey had Occaſion to make a
Fire. And perhaps that warlike Race of Men,
hardened by continual Incampments, did not
make ſo much Uſe of Fire as we do now; and
Phyſicians will not allow it wholeſome, to be
too much by the Fire-ſide. Ariſtotle ſays,
that the Fleſh of Animals gains its Firmneſs
and Solidity from Cold; and thoſe whoſe Buſi
neſs it is to take Notice of Things of this Na
ture have obſerved, that thoſe working Men
who are continually employed about the Fur
nace have generally dry wrinkled Skins; the
Reaſon of which they ſay is, becauſe the Jui
ces, of which the Fleſh is formed, are exhauſt
ed by the Fire, and evaporate in Steam. In
Germany, Colchos, and other Places, where Fire
is abſolutely neceſſary againſt the extreme
Cold, they make Uſe of Stoves; of which we
ſhall ſpeak elſewhere. Let us return to the
Chimney, which may be beſt made ſerviceable
in the following Manner. It muſt be as direct
as poſſible, capacious, not too far from the
Light, it muſt not draw the Wind too much,
but enough however to carry up the Smoke,
which elſe would not go up the Tunnel. For
theſe Reaſons do not make it juſt in a Corner,
nor too far within the Wall, nor let it take up
the beſt Part of the Room where your chief
Gueſts ought to ſit. Do not let it be in
commoded by the Air either of Doors or Win
dows, nor ſhould it project too ſar out into the
Room. Let its Tunnel be very wide and car
ried up perpendicular, and let the Top of it
riſe above the higheſt Part of the whole Build
ing; and this not only upon Account of the
Danger of Fire, but alſo to prevent the Smoke
from being driven down the Chimney again by
any Eddy of Wind on the Top of the Houſe.
Smoke being hot naturally mounts, and the
Heat of the Flame quickens its Aſcent: When
it comes therefore into the Tunnel of the
Chimney, it is compreſſed and ſtraitened as in
a Channel, and being puſhed on by the Heat
of the Fire, is thruſt out in the ſame Manner
as the Sound is out of a Trumpet. And as a
Trumpet, if it is too big, does not give a clear
Sound, becauſe the Air has Room to rowl about
in it; the ſame will hold good with Relation
to the Smoke in a Chimney. Let the Top of
the Chimney be covered to keep out Rain, and
all round the Sides let there be wide Holes for
the Paſſage of the Smoke, with Breaks projec
ting out between each Hole to keep off the
Violence of the Wind. Where this is not ſo
convenient, erect an upright Pin, and on it hang
a braſs Cover broad enough to take in the
whole Mouth of the Chimney, and let this Co
ver have a Vane at the Top like a Sort of
Creſt, which like a Helm may turn it round
according to the Wind. Another very good
Method alſo is to ſet on the Chimney Top ſome
Spire like a Hunter's Horn, either of Braſs or
baked Earth, broader at one End than the
other, with the broad End turned downwards
to the Mouth of the Chimney; by which
means the Smoke being received in at the
broad End, will force its Way out at the Nar
row, in Spite of the Wind. To the Parlours
we muſt accommodate the Kitchen, and the
Pantry for ſetting by what is left after Meals,
together with all Manner of Veſſels and Linen.
The Kitchen ought to be neither juſt under the
Noſes of the Gueſts, nor at too great a Diſ
tance; but ſo that the Victuals may be brought
in neither too hot nor too cold, and that the
Noiſe of the Scullions, with the Clatter of
their Pans, Diſhes and other Utenſils, may not
be troubleſome. The Paſſage through which
the Victuals are to be carried, ſhould be hand
ſome and convenient, not open to the Weather,
zoom in
zoom out
zoom area
full page
page width
set mark
remove mark
get reference
digilib