Failure in the attempts to smelt iron with pit-coal Dr. Blewstone's experiment Decay of the iron manufacture Abraham Darby His manufacture of cast-iron pots at Bristol Removes to Coalbrookdale His method of smelting iron Increased use of coke Use of pit-coal by Richard Ford Richard Reynolds joins the Coalbrookdale firm Invention of the Craneges in iron-refining Letter of Richard Reynolds on the subject Invention of cast-iron rails by Reynolds Abraham Darby the Second constructs the first iron bridge Extension of the Coalbrookdale Works William Reynolds: his invention of inclined planes for working canals Retirement of Richard Reynolds from the firm His later years, character, and death CHAPTER VI. INVENTION OF CAST STEEL--BENJAMIN HUNTSMAN. Conversion of iron into steel Early Sheffield manufactures Invention of blistered steel Important uses of cast-steel Le Play's writings on the subject Early career of Benjamin Huntsman at Doncaster His experiments in steel-making Removes to the neighbourhood of Sheffield His laborious investigations, failures, and eventual success Process of making cast-steel The Sheffield manufacturers refuse to use it Their opposition foiled How they wrested Huntsman's secret from him Important results of the invention to the industry of Sheffield Henry Bessemer and his process Heath's invention Practical skill of the Sheffield artisans CHAPTER VII. THE INVENTIONS OF HENRY CORT. Parentage of Henry Cort Becomes a navy agent State of the iron trade Cort's experiments in iron-making Takes a foundry at Fontley Partnership with Jellicoe Various improvers in iron-making: Roebuck, Cranege, Onions Cort's improved processes described His patents His inventions adopted by Crawshay, Homfray, and other ironmasters Cort's iron approved by the Admiralty Public defalcations of Adam Jellicoe, Cort's partner Cort's property and patents confiscated Public proceedings thereon Ruin of Henry Cort Account of Richard Crawshay, the great ironmaster His early life Ironmonger in London Starts an iron-furnace at Merthyr Tydvil Projects and makes a canal Growth of Merthyr Tydvil and its industry Henry Cort the founder of the iron aristocracy, himself unrewarded CHAPTER VIII. THE SCOTCH IRON MANUFACTURE--Dr. ROEBUCK--DAVID MUSHET.