and economical point of view, should not have been effected by honourable enterprise, rather than by means which some will perhaps designate as delusive, sordid, and empirical. If the remarks upon two or three circumstances should appear to be in the slightest degree tinctured with severity, candour will not attribute them to improper or invidious motives, for the writer has neither an interest, nor even the desire, to depreciate the merits of any man; but, as the narrator of facts, a strong sense of duty impelled him to be guided by that kind of evidence, which seemed to have reason and probability to corroborate it. Any imputation therefore of intentional and unjust partiality is disclaimed; but some proceedings contained in the following detail powerfully excited feelings of painful concern, that persons desirous of wealth or distinction should not be more often actuated by the noble sentiment of our elegant satirist "Oh! grant me honest fame, or grant me none. To give a methodical and perspicuous enumeration of the facts and circumstances which shall show the progressive application of an important discovery to useful and beneficial purposes, is the aim of the following performance. Sincerity and rectitude will, it is hoped, be found to pervade the narration, for the writer has invariably endeavoured to keep truth and fidelity in view, whatever it may want in the elegancies of phraseology, which the active occupations of his life have precluded him from acquiring. As utility was his chief object, if what he has written shall prove to be useful, his end will be attained; and, conscious of the imperfection of his performance, he submits it with respectful diffidence to the judgment of the public, It may be proper to state, that to the present edition have been added some extracts from Mr. Winsor's first rhodomontade pamphlet, published in London, to announce his pretensions to the possession of a great discovery, which, amongst other wonderful things, was stated to comprise a stove" capable of producing "sevenfold heat,' as well as "beautiful light," from "common smoke;" and in the title page, the author styled himself "The second Inventor and Improver!" Perhaps the English language does not contain a similar farrago of ignorance, absurdities, and nonsense; so that the significant epithet used by another celebrated personage may be appositely applied to it, for its details of wonders, both with respect to science and facts, are so singular as to be undeniably matchless! CONTENTS. CHAP. I. The First Notices of Coal Gas by Thomas Shirley, Esq., the Hon. Robert Boyle, and Dr. Stephen Hales CHAP. II. A remarkable Appearance of Damp Air in a Coal Pit belonging to Sir James Lowther, Bart. CHAP. III. Dr. John Clayton's Accidental Discovery of the Inflammability of Coal Gas; the Experiments of Dr. Richard CHAP. IV. The Application of Coal Gas as a Substitute for Lamps and Candles, by Mr. Murdoch. The first Public Ex- CHAP. V. Dr. Henry displays the Mode of using Coal Gas in his Lectures at Manchester. Mr. Clegg and Mr. Josiah Pem- berton commence Manufacturers of Gas Apparatus.... CHAP. VI. Mr. Murdoch's Application of Coal Gas to the light- ing of Messrs. Phillips and Lee's Manufactory at Manches- CHAP. VII. The Attempts of Mr. Winsor's Company to obtain an Act for incorporating them... CHAP. VIII. Proceedings of the Gas Light and Coke Company after obtaining their Act. Mr. Accum becomes a Director. Mr. Clegg appointed Engineer. Explosion at Peter Street.. 59 CHAP. IX. The Chartered Company augment their Capital Two Hundred Thousand Pounds. The Inventions of Mr. Clegg, for which he obtained his First Patent in 1816 ......... CHAP. X. Mr. Clegg retires from the Chartered Company's Ser- vice; erects Apparatus at the Mint, and Invents his Col- lapsing Gas-holder. Mr. Brande's Account of the Progress of Gas-Lighting at London in 1817. The Patents of Mr. Wil- son, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Palmer, &c., for Purifying Coal CHAP. XI. Circumstances relative to the Introduction of Oil Gas. Mr. John Taylor obtains a Patent for his Apparatus, and erects one of them at Apothecaries' Hall, &c.. CHAP. XII. Observations in the Journal of Science and the Arts relative to Gas-Light Illumination, &c. ... CHAP. XIII. Mr. George Lowe's Remarks on the Journal of b CHAP. XV. Sir William Congreve's Second Report. Appoint- ment of Select Committee of the House of Commons; their CHAP. XVI. Remarks on the Result of Sir William Congreve's Reports. Mr. M. Ricardo on the Advantages of Oil-Gas Es- tablishments. The Formation of the London and Westmin. CHAP. XVII. Abstract of the Evidence given to a Committee of the House of Commons by Mr. Brande, Mr. Faraday, Mr. Ricardo, &c., on the London and Westminster Oil-Gas CHAP. XVIII. The Proceedings in Opposition to the Oil-Gas CHAP. XIX. A Summary of the Evidence of Mr. George Lowe on the Oil-Gas Bill, &c. Birmingham and Stafford- Mr. Murdoch's Account of the Origin and Progress of his Ex- periments for the Application of Gas instead of Lamps and Candles to the purposes of Lighting Mr. Winsor's 66 Plain Questions and Answers, refuting every possible Objection against the Beneficial Introduction of Coke Extracts from Mr. Winsor's Pamphlet, entitled, "Mr. W. Nicholson's Attack, in his Philosophical Journal, on Mr. Win- sor and the National Light and Heat Company, &c....... Abstract of the Evidence given by Mr. Accum, &c., to a Com- mittee of the House of Commons in 1809, on the First Appli- cation by the Chartered Gas-Light and Coke Company, for an Act of Parliament to incorporate them Mr. Clegg's Account of his Inventions: extracted from a small THE HISTORY OF. THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF GAS LIGHTING. CHAPTER I. THE FIRST NOTICE OF COAL GAS BY THOMAS SHIRLEY, ESQ., THE HON. ROBERT BØYLE, and dr. STEPHEN HALES. AMONG the diversity of subjects which agreeably occupy attention, while they afford a rational gratification to the mind, the most interesting are such as relate to the progress of human improvement. The history of discoveries in science, or inventions in art, must therefore be deserving of particular regard; for genius is here exhibited unfolding her energies and displaying the variety of her resources. Important facts, or new objects, are continually rising to view, which, like the recitals of the enterprising traveller through an unexplored country, either excite admiration or satisfy curiosity. In short, the detail of such circumstances may be considered as a portraiture B |