a building contrived to preserve ice for the use of a family in the summer-season.

Ice-houses are more generally used in warm countries than with us; particularly in Italy, where the meanest person who rents a house, has his vault or cellar for ice.

As to the situation, it ought to be placed upon a dry spot of ground; because wherever there is moisture, the ice will melt: therefore in all strong lands which retain the wet, too much pains cannot be taken to make drains all round them. The place should also be elevated, and as much exposed to the sun and air as possible.

As to the figure of the building, that may be according to the fancy of the owner; but a circular form is most proper for the well in which the ice is to be preserved, which should be of a size and depth proportionable to the quantity to be kept: for it is proper to have it large enough to contain ice for two years consumption, so that if a mild winter should happen, in which little or no ice is to be had, there may be a stock to supply the want. At the bottom of the well, there should be a space of about two feet deep, left to receive any moisture that may drain from the ice; over this space should be placed a strong wooden grate, and from thence a small drain should be laid under ground, to carry off the wet. The sides of the well should be built with brick or stone, at least two bricks thick; for the thicker it is, the less danger there will be of the well being affected by any external cause. When the well is brought up within three feet of the surface, there should be another outer-arch or wall begun, which should be carried up to the height of the top of the intended arch of the well; and if there be a second arch turned over this wall, it will add to the goodness of the house: the roof must be high enough above the inner arch to admit of a door-way to get out the ice. If the building is to be covered with slates or tiles, reeds should be laid considerably thick under them, to keep out the sun and external air; and if these reeds are laid the thickness of six or eight inches, and plastered over with lime and hair, there will be no danger of the heat getting through them. The external wall may be built in what form the proprietor pleases; and as these icehouses are placed in gardens, they are sometimes so contrived as to have an handsome alcove-seat in front, with a small door behind it, through which a person might enter to take out the ice; and a large door on the other side, fronting the north, with a porch wide enough for a small cart to back, in order to shoot down the ice near the mouth of the well, which need not be more than two feet diameter, and a stone so contrived as to shut it up in the exactest manner: all the vacant space above and between this and the large door should be filled up with barley-straw. The building thus finished, should have time to dry before the ice is put into it.

It is to be observed, that upon the wooden grate, at the bottom of the well, there should be laid some small faggots; and if upon these a layer of reeds is placed smooth for the ice to lie upon, it will be better than straw, which is commonly used. As to the choice of the ice, the thinner it is, the easier it may be broken to powder; for the smaller it is broken, the better it will unite when put into the well. In putting it in, care must be taken to ram it as close as possible; and also to allow a vacancy of two inches, all round, next the side of the well, to give passage to any moisture occasioned by the melting of some of the ice. When the ice is put into the well, if a little salt-petre be mixed with it at every ten inches or a foot in thickness, it will cause it to unite more closely into a solid mass.