272 METHOD OF INCREASING THE LIGHT OF CANDLES, 



VIII. 



A Method of increasing the Quantity of Light afforded by Candles, 

 and to obviate the Ncctjjity of fluffing them. In a Letter from 

 Mr. Ezekiel Walker. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 



SIR, 



Feeble light of W HEN our apartments are illuminated with common 

 frequently fnuf- can dles, which cannot be regularly attended with the fnuffers, 

 fed. they produce much fmoke, and their glimmering light fcarcely 



ferves the moft ordinary purpofes. My firft attempts to im_ 

 prove this fombre mode of illumination were made many years 

 ago. Thofe however were not productive of any ufefui dis- 

 covery, but fome experiments which I made in the year 1797 

 afforded refults that rather exceeded my expectation. 

 Method of re- Experience foon convinced me of the utility of the method 

 xnedymg this m ^j^ j had difcovered, of ufing candles in fuch fituations as 



candles for am- . . 



minating apart- above delcribed, but in every attempt to produce the lame 



xnents. x effect upon my table, I was unfuccefsful, till the beginning of 



the prefent feafon. This was owing to an overfight, which 



might be deemed very unaccountable, did not the hiftory of 



inventions contain many infiances of the fame kind. 



Great effects are frequently produced by caufes that are 

 in general deemed trifles. And, if a trifling alteration be made 

 in the method of ufing common tallow candles, they will be- 

 come excellent fubftitutes for thofe of wax. 

 If a candle be A common candle, weighing -j% of a pound, containing 14 

 inclined it gives fj n gj e threads of fine cotton, placed fo as to form an angle of 

 and requires no 30 degrees* with the perpendicular, and lighted, requires no 

 (miffing; fnuffing; and what is much more Valuable for fome purpofes, 



it gives a light that is nearly uniform in ftrength without the 

 leaft fmoke. Thefe eflfedis are thus produced ; 

 becaufe the wick When a candle burns in an inclined pofition, Ynoft part of 

 protrudes into t h e flame rifes perpendicularly from the upper fide of the 



comes burned, 



&c » * Candlefticks may be made to hold the candle at this angle, or 



they may be fo contrived as to hold the candle at any angle at plea- 

 fure. I have candlefticks conftru&ed on both principles. 



wick, 



