464 Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



by that means to cover perfectly the fibre of the substances, 

 and preserve them from the contact of the air. Guided by 

 this thought, he substituted phosphate of ammonia and borate 

 of soda for alum, ^c, and he found that muslins thus treated 

 could be placed in contact with ignited bodies without danger. 

 They were carbonized, but would not inflame. 



23. On an Improvement in Gas Illumination, 

 (In a Letter to the Editor.) 

 . Sir. — As I apprehend any information which may tend to 

 the removal of a common inconvenience, is within the province 

 of your Journal, I beg leave to enclose you some remarks on the 

 management of gas lights. 



In the year 1806, I erected a small gas apparatus for the 

 supply of my own premises ; but, in consequence of the great 

 daily attention it demanded, and the rapid destruction of my 

 conducting-pipes, which were of tin, I was induced to abandon 

 it at the end of a few months. The experience which I had 

 gained during that time, of the superioriy of the gas lights 

 above oil lamps, in cleanliness, manageability, and immense 

 saving of time, (except in attention to the furnace) led me to 

 become a tenant of the chartered Gas Light Company, soon after 

 its establishment. One great inconvenience, however, attending 

 these lights, I did not find it easy to remedy for a considerable 

 time, I mean the quantity of aqueous vapour produced by the 

 combustion of the gas ; the condensation of this vapour on 

 the walls of the apartments where the gas is burnt, or on the 

 articles placed in them, except where a very free ventilation 

 can be kept in constant operation, has prevented the use of the 

 gas by ironmongers, and others who have polished metallic 

 goods exposed to sale on their premises. I have often seen 

 this vapour condensed, and hanging in drops on my ceiling, 

 and by falling upon dust, it formed a most troublesome and per- 

 petual source of annoyance. The first remedy I attempted, 

 was to place a wide horizontal copper tube along the ceiling of 

 my shop (forty feet in length), which terminated outside the 

 h )use, in the open air ; to the sides of this tube were fixed 



