14 



MR. HENRY ON COATBUSTIBtE 'GASEf. 



Jiiftory of Mr. afcertaiiiing how far it could be made to anfwer the purpofe of 

 periroents for ^ moveable Of transferable light. Trials were likewife made 

 giving light by of the different <]iiantities and qualities of gas produced by 

 goal, ^* <Joals of various defcriptions, fuch as the Swanfea, Haverford- 



weft, Newcaftle, Shropfhire, Slaflbrdlhire, and fome kinds 

 iof Scotch coals. ^' 



" Mr. Murdoch's con'ftant occupations prevented his giving 

 farther attention to the fubjeet at that time; but he again 

 availed iiimfelf of a moment of leifure to repeat his experi- 

 ments upon coal and peat, at Old Cumnock in Ayrftiire in 

 1797 ; -and it may be proper to notice that both thefe, and the 

 former ones, were exhibited to numerous fpedators, who, if 

 neceffary, can attell them. In 1798, he conftru^ted an ap- 

 paratus at Soho Foundry, which was applied during many fuc- 

 ceffive nights, to the lighting of (he building; when the ex- 

 periments upon different apertures were repeated and ex- 

 ' tended upon a large fcale. Various methods were alfo prac- 

 tited of walhing and purifying the air, to get rid of the fmoke 

 and fmell. Thefe experiiiyeots were continued, with occa^ 

 fional interruptions, until the epoch of the peace in the fpring 

 of 1802, when the illumination of the Soho manufactory af-r 

 forded an opportunity of making a public difplay of the new- 

 lights ; and they were made to contlitute a principal feature m 

 that exhibition. I do not know exadtly at what time the firft 

 trials were made, or publiflied in France. The firft notice 

 we received of them here, was in a letter from a friend at 

 Paris, dated the 8th of Nov. 1801, in which he defires me 

 to inform Mr. Murdoch, that a perfon had lighted up hishoufe 

 and gardens with the gas obtained from wood and coal, and 

 bad it in contemplation to light up the city of Paris." 



** J^der mentioning the above, I think it is proper to ftate 

 alfo, that in the ovens conftru(5led upon Lord Dundonald's plan, 

 at Calcutts ip Shropftiire, for the purpofe of faving the tar, 

 &c. which efcapes during the coaking of coal, it has been 

 wfual for a number of years paft to fet fire to the large current 

 of gas as it flies off, and thus procure a bright illumination. 

 This however was not known to Mr. Murdoch, and was ner 

 V*^ Jfeen by him." 



^jfp^ri' 



