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took the opportunity of acknowledging the firmness with which the
English ironmasters had stood by him when attempts were made to
deprive him of the benefits of his invention； and to them he
acknowledged he was mainly indebted for the successful issue of the
severe contests he had to undergo。 For there were； of course； certain
of the ironmasters； both English and Scotch； supporters of the cause
of free trade in others' inventions； who sought to resist the patent；
after it had come into general use； and had been recognised as one of
the most valuable improvements of modem times。*
＇footnote。。。
Mr。 Mushet described it as 〃a wonderful discovery；〃 and one of the
〃most novel and beautiful improvements in his time。〃 Professor
Gregory of Aberdeen characterized it as 〃the greatest improvement
with which he was acquainted。〃 Mr。 Jessop； an extensive English iron
manufacturer； declared it to be 〃of as great advantage in the iron
trade as Arkwright's machinery was in the cotton…spinning trade； and
Mr。 Fairbairn； in his contribution on 〃Iron〃 in the Encyclopaedia
Britannica； says that it 〃has effected an entire revolution in the
iron industry of Great Britain； and forms the last era in the history
of this material。〃
。。。＇
The patent was secured in 1828 for a term of fourteen years； but； as
Mr。 Neilson did not himself possess the requisite capital to enable
him to perfect the invention； or to defend it if attacked； he found
it necessary to invite other gentlemen； able to support him in these
respects； to share its profits； retaining for himself only
three…tenths of the whole。 His partners were Mr。 Charles Macintosh；
Mr。 Colin Dunlop； and Mr。John Wilson of Dundyvan。 The charge made by
them was only a shilling a ton for all iron produced by the new
process； this low rate being fixed in order to ensure the
introduction of the patent into general use； as well as to reduce to
a minimum the temptations of the ironmasters to infringe it。
The first trials of the process were made at the blast…furnaces of
Clyde and Calder； from whence the use of the hot blast gradually
extended to the other iron…mining districts。 In the course of a few
years every furnace in Scotland； with one exception （that at Carron）；
had adopted the improvement； while it was also employed in half the
furnaces of England and Wales； and in many of the furnaces on the
Continent and in America。 In course of time； and with increasing
experience； various improvements were introduced in the process； more
particularly in the shape of the air…heating vessels； the last form
adopted being that of a congeries of tubes； similar to the tubular
arrangement in the boiler of the locomotive； by which the greatest
extent of heating surface was provided for the thorough heating of
the air。 By these modifications the temperature of the air introduced
into the furnace has been raised from 240 degrees to 600 degrees； or
the temperature of melting lead。 To protect the nozzle of the
air…pipe as it entered the furnace against the action of the intense
heat to which it was subjected； a spiral pipe for a stream of cold
water constantly to play in has been introduced within the sides of
the iron tuyere through which the nozzle passes； by which means the
tuyere is kept comparatively cool； while the nozzle of the air…pipe
is effectually protected。*
＇footnote。。。
The invention of the tubular air…vessels and the water…tuyere
belongs； we believe； to Mr。 John Condie； sometime manager of the
Blair Iron Works。
。。。＇
This valuable invention did not escape the usual fate of successful
patents； and it was on several occasions the subject of protracted
litigation。 The first action occurred in 1832； but the objectors
shortly gave in； and renewed their licence。 In 1839； when the process
had become generally adopted throughout Scotland； and； indeed； was
found absolutely essential for smelting the peculiar ores of that
countrymore especially Mushet's Black Banda powerful combination
was formed amongst the ironmasters to resist the patent。 The
litigation which ensued extended over five years； during which period
some twenty actions were proceeding in Scotland； and several in
England。 Three juries sat upon the subject at different times； and on
three occasions appeals were carried to the House of Lords。 One jury
trial occupied ten days； during which a hundred and two witnesses
were examined； the law costs on both sides amounting； it is supposed；
to at least 40；000L。 The result was； that the novelty and merit of
Mr。 Neilson's invention were finally established； and he was secured
in the enjoyment of the patent right。
We are gratified to add； that； though Mr。 Neilson had to part with
two…thirds of the profits of the invention to secure the capital and
influence necessary to bring it into general use； he realized
sufficient to enable him to enjoy the evening of his life in peace
and comfort。 He retired from active business to an estate which he
purchased in 1851 in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright； where he is
found ready to lend a hand in every good workwhether in
agricultural improvement； railway extension； or the moral and social
good of those about him。 Mindful of the success of his Workmen's
Institution at the Glasgow Gas…Works； he has； almost at his own door；
erected a similar Institution for the use of the parish in which his
property is situated； the beneficial effects of which have been very
marked in the district。 We may add that Mr。 Neilson's merits have
been recognised by many eminent bodiesby the Institution of Civil
Engineers； the Chemical Society； and othersthe last honour
conferred on him being his election as a Member of the Royal Society
in 1846。
The invention of the hot blast； in conjunction with the discovery of
the Black Band ironstone； has had an extra ordinary effect upon the
development of the iron…manufacture of Scotland。 The coals of that
country are generally unfit for coking； and lose as much as 55 per
cent。 in the process。 But by using the hot blast； the coal could be
sent to the blast…furnace in its raw state； by which a large saving
of fuel was effected。*
＇footnote。。。
Mr。 Mushet says； 〃The greatest produce in iron per furnace with the
Black Band and cold blast never exceeded 60 tons a…week。 The produce
per furnace now averages 90 tons a…week。 Ten tons of this I attribute
to the use of raw pit…coal； and the other twenty tons to the use of
hot blast。〃 ＇Papers on Iron and Steel； 127。＇ The produce per furnace
is now 200 tons a…week and upwards。 The hot blast process was
afterwards applied to the making of iron with the anthracite or stone
coal of Wales； for which a patent was taken out by George Crane in
1836。 Before the hot blast was introduced； anthracite coal would not
act as fuel in the blast…furnace。 When put in； it merely had the
effect of putting the fire out。 With the aid of the hot blast；
however； it now proves to be a mo