348 On the Chemical Evidence 



them, and found them good for common thermometers. On being 

 asked if he proved the second thermometer before it was ap- 

 plied by "Wilkinson, he said, " I believe not ; I left it to him to 

 do it ; in fact, I left the experiment in his hands/' On his fur- 

 ther examination he said that " the vapour which arose in their 

 experiment appeared to him to be the same sort of combustible 

 matter that he had seen from the tar oil." On being asked if 

 he thought the new machine added to the danger of refining 

 sugar, he replied, " I have thought so long ago, and think so 



Observations. — From the knowledge which this gentleman 

 possesses of chemical science in general, and from his expe- 

 rience in making chemical experiments, it is greatly to be re- 

 gretted that his avocations did not permit him to superintend 

 and conduct this important experiment himself; for if he had, 

 he would not have depended upon a common thermometer open 

 at the top, and consequently liable to lose part of its mercury, 

 but would have taken the most perfect instrument that he could 

 have procured. I do hope, however, that he will make the ne- 

 cessary experiments himself, as no man is more capable of doing 

 it with accuracy, and that for the credit of science he will give 

 the results to the public as soon as possible. I observe the 

 whole of Mr. Taylor's evidence refers to oil-vapour, and not to 

 oil-gas. 



The next chemist called was Mr. Alexander Garden. 

 This gentleman said that he was present at the experiment in 

 Whitecross-street, but he was evidently cautious how he gave 

 any opinion. On being asked if he could form a judgment of 

 the comparative danger of the two methods of boiling sugar, he 

 replied, " I should be inclined to consider the process by oil is, 

 of the two, the most hazardous." 



Observation. — ^This gentleman gave his evidence in so dis- 

 passionate a manner, that I think it very probable, if he had de- 

 pended solely on his own experiments, and had not witnessed 



