1823.] on Gas Light Establishments* 9 



be an escape, and a candle allowed to approach it, the gas 

 would ignite, and burn like a gas light, and would be as readily 

 extinguished. Long before an escape of gas would become of 

 such magnitude as to be dangerous from its admixture with 

 atmospheric air, the smell would have given such ample warn- 

 ing, that some method would be adopted for preventing its con- 

 tinuance. If a gasometer were to turn on one side, there would 

 be but a partial escape, and even if it took place in a building in 

 the vicinity of the Retort House, from the levity of the gas, it 

 would have a tendency to make its way through the upper part 

 of the building, and would be hardly disengaged in such quanti- 

 ties as to form an explosive mixture that could reach the retorts. 

 If a gasometer were to burst, still the escape would be gradual, 

 and there must be a combination of extraordinary circumstances 

 in this as in the former instance, before explosion could take 

 place : neither would lightning have any effect on a full gasome- 

 ter. I can conceive that if a gasometer filled with a certain 

 portion of carburetted hydrogen and air so as to form an explo- 

 sive mixture, were suddenly to burst in the vicinity of fire, that 

 explosion would take place ; but I find it very difficult indeed to 

 conceive, how even a very large escape of unmixed carburetted 

 hydrogen should become of such magnitude, and remain so con- 

 fined, as to render all the air in the gasometer-house, in the 

 retort-house, &c. buildings of no very limited extent, explosive, 

 to me it appears almost impossible. Sir W, Congreve also con- 

 templates an escape in an unfrequented building, such as a 

 church, or meeting-house, &c. which may become dangerous. 

 This has been so ably and so amply considered by Mr. Brande, 

 some few years ago, that it is quite unnecessary for me to say 

 any thing upon that subject: he expresses too some apprehen- 

 sions from the breaking of the chain of the gasometer, which, by 

 enlarging the flame of each lamp, might occasion fire. I should 

 be inclined to think that the sudden increase of pressure would 

 rather tend to extinguish the fights : at all events, the increase 

 of flame would sufficiently inform persons of their danger, which 

 might be readily removed by the turning of a cock. 



It is a matter of surprise to me, and no doubt is so to many 

 others, that a gentleman who is identified with explosions, whose 

 name, as the inventor of one of the most powerful explosive 

 engines, is known all over the world ; who is more famiharised 

 with that subject, and who has had more to do with it than any 

 other person, should express what to me appears so many ground- 

 less fears on the present occasion. It would be wrong for the 

 encouragement of any improvement in science, however great, 

 to shut our eyes to the dangers of it ; but it is, I think, still 

 more impolitic to excite useless alarm, and apprehend evils that 

 do not exist. Excepting the accident at Woolwich, with the par- 

 ticulars of which I am wholly unacquainted, all the accidents 

 which I have ever heard of have been trivial, and have arisen 



