surface, and also greatly compressed on their inner side, but at no point does the metal exhibit the smallest trace of fracture. The dimensions of these specimens will be readily seen by reference to the two-foot rule photographed with them. These examples of the toughness and endurance of Bessemer mild steel, after being subjected to violent and sudden strains, were exhibited in my large glass case at the International Exhibition of 1862, and must have been seen by hundreds and thousands of persons. When one reflects on the extent and prominence of my exhibit, covering an enclosed area of 1,225 square feet, and surrounded by a counter of more than 100 ft. in length, covered with steel exhibits, and having a 24-pounder gun forging on a pedestal at the central entrance, and an 18 pounder finished gun in the large central case, it is difficult to believe that this gun-hoop and these crushed gun-tubes were not seen during the time of the Exhibition by every engineer in London, and by every employe at Woolwich Arsenal, as well as by our Minister of War, who with a light heart excluded Bessemer process from Woolwich.

I desire to draw the reader's earnest attention to these crushed gun tubes, for it is impossible, in my opinion, for any intelligent person to look at these marvellous proofs of the toughness and power of extension and distortion of the metal, and not be convinced that such a material was pre-eminently suited for the construction of ordnance. The two similar crushed cylinders which I gave to Colonel Wilmot were greatly prized by him, and were kept as trophies, with several other experimental proofs, on the writing- table in his private office at the Arsenal, where I saw them on several occasions prior to his vacating the office.

I may mention that when Colonel Wilmot inspected my Sheffield Steel Works, he happened to see on the scrap-heap a large mass of Bessemer malleable iron, which he wished to have for the purpose of experiment, and which, at his request, was sent to him to Woolwich. On May 24th, 1859, speaking of Bessemer iron and steel at a meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers, he referred to this piece of iron during the discussion, and stated that a cylindrical piece of Bessemer pure iron, when only extended by forging to twice its original length, had a tenacity per square inch of 28 tons 13 cwt. 1 qr. and 2 lb., a tenacity which it possessed in all directions alike, as against the best Yorkshire iron, which was usually credited with a tenacity of 25 tons in the direction of its length, and very considerably less across the grain, even after being rolled and piled and again rolled into long bars. These bars, when welded together to form a large forging of any kind, will never afterwards possess the strength of the original bar, by two or three tons per square inch. The analysis given by Colonel Wilmot was issued from the Chemical Laboratory of the War Department, and can be fully relied on as showing that no impurity but sulphur existed in the specimen analysed in sufficient quantity to estimate, while no spiegeleisen or manganese was used in its production. (This metal was converted from Swedish pig.)

Colonel Eardley Wilmot's remarks are herewith reproduced from the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Colonel Eardley Wilmot, R.A., said he had, from the commencement of these inquiries, taken a great interest in them, and had mechanically tested the products originally produced. A chemical examination was also made at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and the result had indicated, and it had been stated at the same time, that the Bessemer process was perfectly effectual for removing the silicon from iron, but that it did not operate upon the phosphorus or the sulphur. Acting on this knowledge, which was corroborated in many quarters, Mr. Bessemer had wisely dealt with such iron as yielded the desired result. As regarded the difficulties of the process, as well as the results of it, he thought that the best thing for a member of a practical society to do, was to follow his example, and to go and see it for himself. Nothing could be more simple, or more perfectly under control; and having, by a few trials, ascertained the particular kind of treatment required, with the sample of iron to be dealt with, it was operated upon with certainty. It was said that there was nothing new in the process; but it might be fairly asked, was it, or was it not, a new result, that a bar of iron 4 in. in diameter could be bent cold into a perfect contact, without any sign of flaw? As regarded the particular product in which he was most interested, namely, a cast metal for cannon, projectiles, iron plates for shot-proof ships, and all military purposes, a circumstance had not being mentioned which he would name as being peculiarly instructive; while the metal, after having being operated on to the extent required to make it malleable iron, was in the ladle ready for