Such are the principal defects which Dr. Arnott enumerates as being inherent in the use of open fires. Many of them have been greatly lessened by improved arrangements; but others are still without an appropriate remedy. The usual construction of a fire-place is tolerably familiar. In most cases, the vertical or nearly vertical channel for the chimney is inclosed within a casing of brick-work, which projects into the room at one side. The opening for this chimney gradually narrows upwards, until only large enough to admit the poor little climbing-boy whose task it was, until within a recent period, to sweep down the unburnt fuel which our own ill arrangements have wasted; but, happily for humanity and justice, this system is at an end, and machines are now employed for the purpose. A hearth of stone is laid whereon to erect the stove or grate, and this grate is, as we all know, composed mainly of an iron receptacle for the fuel, and of “hobs,” for supporting culinary vessels. We cause fire to be kindled in the grate, and then suppose that all will go on well, without troubling ourselves to inquire whether the arrangements for the supply of cold air, and the exit of warmed air and smoke, are such as are best fitted for those purposes. Remedies for some of these Defects. In course of time, as the evils of this plan became one by one known, attempts were made to remedy some of them, and with an approach towards success. In a recent treatise on the subject by Dr. Fyfe, of Edinburgh, various modes are suggested for remedying many of the evils incident to open fire-places. These we must briefly notice.