Llangennech estate, in Carmarthenshire, and there Messrs. Morris and Rees* erected THE SPITTY' COPPER WORKS. The latter gentleman had for some time been manager at Penclawdd, under the first Mr. Vivian, the other had been land agent to Mr. Tunno, at Llangennech Park, not far off. Subsequently the Works were carried on by Messrs. Mary W. Shears and Son, with Mr. Keates (now of St. Helen's, Lancashire) as manager: † after whom Mr. Schneider, M.P., now of Furness Abbey, and Sir William Foster, of Norwich, with the late Mr. Champion Jones for manager; together with Messrs. Napier and Cameron for chemists, here carried out some interesting patented experiments to prove whether the extracting of Copper more by chemical combinations than direct smelting, could not be successfully accomplished; but, after a few years, we must assume a non-success, for the works were closed, and in 1858 the firms of Williams and Vivians purchased the lease, broke up the furnace bottoms, and to the great loss of the immediate neighbourhood they have remained idle as to Copper ever since. The year 1810 saw the commencement of the now celebrated 'HAFOD' COPPER WORKS, at Swansea, on the lands of the name, belonging to the Duke of Beaufort and the Earl of Jersey, granted by lease in that year, to Messrs. Richard Hussey and John Henry Vivian. Their father, John Vivian, Esq. (whose family name in connection with metallurgic manufactures has now obtained a world-wide reputation), I have already stated, first This Mr. W. Rees, when he left Spitty, was employed at the Aberavan Works, and thence went to Amlwch Copper Works, where he died. See a note as to this Gentleman at page 125. Full particulars of this letting may be gathered from the Act of 1st Vict., cap. 25, 3rd July, 1837. G. G. F. came over to Wales from Truro, in Cornwall, on behalf of himself and other mine owners.* The prosperous state of the trade, and the consequent great increase of furnaces along the banks of the Tawe, created such volumes of sulphurous acid gas (the so-called Copper Smoke) that at length the neighbouring Landowners began to complain of the mischief to their land, stock and crops, and legal proceedings being threatened, it was at these works that (with the stimulus of £1,000 reward for the cure of the nuisance) Professors Faraday and Phillips conducted the first series of experiments, under the immediate supervision of the then managing partner, Mr. John Henry Vivian, in the year 1812. No effort was wanting, no expense spared, but alas! success was not then to crown their efforts.† As in the course of events the chief direction of these great works fell to the share of Mr. H. Hussey Vivian, M.P., so the Copper Smoke now is by that gentleman likely not merely to be abated, but converted into a means of profitable use for the manufacture of super-phosphate manures—a kind of chemical retribution little dreamt of a few years ago! for many particulars connected with which, I would refer the reader to the Appendix of this volume. The late Mr. J. H. Vivian informed me that the first practical trials to that end, worthy of note, were made at 'Hafod' in May, 1820, and that Sir Humphrey Davy took a lively and personal interest in the subject down to the year 1822; that further experiments were continued at 'Hafod,' and improvements to the same end were publicly notified so late as 1832 and '33. * Vide account of the Penclawdd Works, page 125-26, ante. + A pamphlet was printed in 1823 giving full details of all the experi ments and trials, and their results, as made at Hafod, a copy of which is to be found in Jermyn-street, the British Museum, and Royal Institution, Swansea. G. G. F, * Of the original partners and brothers, the elder entered the army, and having greatly distinguished himself in the Peninsular War, was created a Baronet for his eminent services, and eventually, on retiring from his military command in Ireland, created a Peer, by the title of Lord Vivian of Glyn. The junior, Mr. John Henry Vivian, devoted himself to commercial pursuits, and turning his natural abilities and early scientific training to account, became managing partner of the Hafod' Works, and the admitted head of the Copper Trade in this country. Mr. J. H. Vivian was elected F.R.S. for his 'paper on Copper Smelting,' as printed in the Royal Society's transactions. He was also one of the earlier members of the Geological Society; and in 1832 was returned to represent SWANSEA, Neath, Aberavan, &c., in the first reformed Parliament, the which he continued to do in six successive Parliaments, until his death, in 1855; and, having greatly endeared himself to his constituents and friends, a Bronze Statue to his memory was erected in the Guildhall square, Swansea; On its solid pedestal of grey Cornish granite is inscribed JOHN HENRY VIVIAN, ESQ., F.R.S., F.G.S., M.P., WHO REPRESENTED THIS BOROUGH AND ITS CONTRIBUTORIES ERECTED BY HIS CONSTITUENTS AND FRIENDS, BORN AT TRURO, HE DIED AT SINGLETON, MDCCCLV, UNIVERSALLY LAMENTED. * This training it was, no doubt, which induced the appointment of a regularly educated German Chemist (Mr G. B. Herrmann) as part of the staff at Hafod' long before a like arrangement was attempted at either of the neighbouring works.-G. G. F, |