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themselves； principally from Dannemora iron imported from Sweden。 The
first English manufacturer of the article was one Crowley； a
Newcastle man； and the Sheffield makers shortly followed his example。
We may here briefly state that the ordinary method of preparing this
valuable material of manufactures is by exposing iron bars； placed in
contact with roughly…granulated charcoal； to an intense heat；the
process lasting for about a week； more or less； according to the
degree of carbonization required。 By this means； what is called
BLISTERED STEEL is produced； and it furnishes the material out of
which razors； files； knives； swords； and various articles of hardware
are manufactured。 A further process is the manufacture of the metal
thus treated into SHEAR STEEL； by exposing a fasciculus of the
blistered steel rods； with sand scattered over them for the purposes
of a flux； to the heat of a wind…furnace until the whole mass becomes
of a welding heat； when it is taken from the fire and drawn out under
a forge…hammer；the process of welding being repeated； after which
the steel is reduced to the required sizes。 The article called FAGGOT
steel is made after a somewhat similar process。
But the most valuable form in which steel is now used in the
manufactures of Sheffield is that of cast…steel； in which iron is
presented in perhaps its very highest state of perfection。 Cast…steel
consists of iron united to carbon in an elastic state together with a
small portion of oxygen； whereas crude or pig iron consists of iron
combined with carbon in a material state。*
＇footnote。。。
MUSHET； Papers On Iron and Steel。
。。。＇
chief merits of cast…steel consist in its possessing great cohesion
and closeness of grain； with an astonishing degree of tenacity and
flexibility； qualities which render it of the highest value in all
kinds of tools and instruments where durability； polish； and fineness
of edge are essential requisites。 It is to this material that we are
mainly indebted for the exquisite cutting instrument of the surgeon；
the chisel of the sculptor； the steel plate on which the engraver
practises his art； the cutting tools employed in the various
processes of skilled handicraft； down to the common saw or the axe
used by the backwoodsman in levelling the primeval forest。
The invention of cast…steel is due to Benjamin Huntsman； of
Attercliffe； near Sheffield。 M。 Le Play； Professor of Metallurgy in
the Royal School of Mines of France； after making careful inquiry and
weighing all the evidence on the subject； arrived at the conclusion
that the invention fairly belongs to Huntsman。 The French professor
speaks of it as a 〃memorable discovery；〃 made and applied with
admirable perseverance； and he claims for its inventor the
distinguished merit of advancing the steel manufactures of Yorkshire
to the first rank； and powerfully contributing to the establishment
on a firm foundation of the industrial and commercial supremacy of
Great Britain。 It is remarkable that a French writer should have been
among the first to direct public attention to the merits of this
inventor； and to have first published the few facts known as to his
history in a French Government Report；showing the neglect which men
of this class have heretofore received at home； and the much greater
esteem in which they are held by scientific foreigners。*
＇footnote。。。
M。 Le Play's two elaborate and admirable reports on the manufacture
of steel； published in the Annales des Mines； vols。 iii。 and ix。； 4th
series； are unique of their kind； and have as yet no counterpart in
English literature。 They are respectively entitled 'Memoire sur la
Fabrication de l'Acier en Yorkshire；' and 'Memoire sur le
Fabrication et le Commerce des Fers a Acier dans le Nord de
l'Europe。'
。。。＇
Le Play； in his enthusiastic admiration of the discoverer of so
potent a metal as cast…steel； paid a visit to Huntsman's grave in
Atterclifle Churchyard； near Sheffield； and from the inscription on
his tombstone recites the facts of his birth； his death； and his
brief history。 With the assistance of his descendants； we are now
enabled to add the following record of the life and labours of this
remarkable but almost forgotten man。
Benjamin Huntsman was born in Lincolnshire in the year 1704。 His
parents were of German extraction； and had settled in this country
only a few years previous to his birth。 The boy being of an ingenious
turn； was bred to a mechanical calling； and becoming celebrated for
his expertness in repairing clocks； he eventually set up in business
as a clock maker and mender in the town of Doncaster。 He also
undertook various other kinds of metal work； such as the making and
repairing of locks； smoke…jacks； roasting…jacks； and other articles
requiring mechanical skill。 He was remarkably shrewd； observant；
thoughtful； and practical； so much so that he came to be regarded as
the 〃wise man〃 of his neighbourhood； and was not only consulted as to
the repairs of machinery； but also of the human frame。 He practised
surgery with dexterity； though after an empirical fashion； and was
held in especial esteem as an oculist。 His success was such that his
advice was sought in many surgical diseases； and he was always ready
to give it； but declined receiving any payment in return。
In the exercise of his mechanical calling； he introduced several
improved tools； but was much hindered by the inferior quality of the
metal supplied to him； which was common German steel。 He also
experienced considerable difficulty in finding a material suitable
for the springs and pendulums of his clocks。 These circumstances
induced him to turn his attention to the making of a better kind of
steel than was then procurable； for the purposes of his trade。 His
first experiments were conducted at Doncaster；*
＇footnote。。。
There are several clocks still in existence in the neighbourhood of
Doncaster made by Benjamin Huntsman； and there is one in the
possession of his grandson； with a pendulum made of cast…steel。 The
manufacture of a pendulum of such a material at that early date is
certainly curious； its still perfect spring and elasticity showing
the scrupulous care with which it had been made。
。。。＇
but as fuel was difficult to be had at that place； he determined； for
greater convenience； to remove to the neighbourhood of Sheffield；
which he did in 1740。 He first settled at Handsworth； a few miles to
the south of that town； and there pursued his investigations in
secret。 Unfortunately； no records have been preserved of the methods
which he adopted in overcoming the difficulties he had necessarily to
encounter。 That they must have been great is certain； for the process
of manufacturing cast…steel of a first…rate quality even at this day
is of a most elaborate and delicate character； requiring to be
carefully watched in its various stages。 He had not only to discover
the fuel and flux suitable f