"In Fire-places as they are now commonly constructed, the back is of equal width with the opening of the Fire-place in front;-—but this... is faulty on two accounts.— First... the sides... or covings... are parallel to each other, and consequently ill-contrived to throw out into the room the heat they receive from the fire in the form of rays;—and secondly, the large open corners which are formed by making the back as wide as the opening of the Fire-place in front occasion eddies of wind, which frequently disturb the fire, and embarrass the smoke in its ascent in such a manner as often to bring it into the room."