The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter from Wycomb, July 8.

"According to your Request, I send you a short Account of the Experiments we tried here last Wednesday to set Fire to a Room which Lord Le Despencer lately built, the Ceiling having been plated according to Mr. Hartley's Direction. The Room in which we made the Experiment is 15 Feet long, and 14 wide; our Objects were, to try the Power of the Fire Plates to prevent the Fire from ascending to a Floor above, and from descending through an armed Floor to the Apartment below. Our first Attempt was upon the Ceiling of the lower Apartment, by setting Fire to two Cart Loads of dry Faggots, which burnt with great Fury for near Half an Hour, and seemed like the Heating of an Oven, but could not penetrate to the Joists and Floor above. We proceeded next to our second Experiment, which was to try the Power of the Fire Plates in preventing any Fire from penetrating from the Floor downwards. Accordingly we set Fire to several Faggots on the bare Boards, and let them burn to Ashes; but this was attended with no other Consequence than making the Boards look a little black, although the Room below was exceeding hot. This Invention may turn out to be of such signal Consequence, towards preserving the Lives and Properties of many Thousands, that I am happy even to bear my Testimony of its Efficacy."