402 Mr, Dewey on Gas Illumination, [Dec. 



have seen, and in many instances they vied with each other in 

 their endeavours to be most useful to me. With such facihties 

 and assistance, I ought tolerably well to understand the outlines 

 of the systems of gas-hghting. I must rely on practice to perfect 

 me in the minor and more complicated parts. The tirst work I 

 examined was the coal gas work at Liverpool, which is under 

 the management of Mr. John King, a gentleman who has, by 

 his activity, intelligence, and practical experience, overcome 

 many formidable difficulties. Superior light is afforded at a 

 cheap rate, and the stock is held in high estimation ; 1 have 

 seen no work better conducted. The coal gas work at Dublin 

 has had to contend with the prejudices of the day. At most 

 coal gas works the sale of the coke is one principal source of 

 profit. In Dublin, sales of coke cannot be made to any extent, 

 though it is offered at a very low price. This work is managed by 

 Mr. John Brunton, who is every way qualified for the station, 

 and he explained every thing to me which he supposed useful. 

 An oil gas work was erecting when I was there, which has 

 since gone into operation with flattering prospects of success. 

 The high price of coals, and want of sale for the coke by the 

 coal gas work, will enable the oil gas to compete with the for- 

 mer. A work was nearly completed at Belfast, which, in design 

 and workmanship, surpasses any I have seen. Coals are 

 obtained from Newcastle at lower prices than in Dublin. They 

 commenced lighting the town the 1st of September, and cannot 

 fail to succeed. 



From Belfast I went to Glasgow. Here is a very extensive 

 work under the excellent management of Mr. James B. Neilson, 

 engineer, assisted by many scientific gentlemen of that city. 

 This company supplies more than 40,000 single jet lights, and 

 at a lower price than any work in the kingdom that 1 have 

 visited. They have better coal, and furnish better coal gas than 

 any I have seen. Their stock is as high as any in the country. 

 I am greatly indebted to Messrs. J. B. Neilson, John Hart, 

 Robert Hastie, and John Thompson, for giving me every assist- 

 ance in forwarding the objects of my mission to this country. 

 The purification of coal gas is quite as well understood here as 

 at any work I have seen, and as well practised. It is on the wet, 

 or cream of Hme system, and is very effectual, considering the 

 quantity of sulphur the coal contains. Mr. Neilson has disco- 

 vered a method of discharging the hydrosulphuret of ammonia, 

 which is so destructive to iron and copper pipes ; but owing to 

 the expense of the process, and the low price at which they 

 furnish the gas to customers, it has not been carried fully into 

 effect. Extensive additions are making to this work, and the 

 manufacturers of that city are under many obligations to the 

 Company for the increased facilities afforded by this pure and 

 brilliant light to their various processes. I went from Glasgow 

 to Edinburgh, where there is an extensive gas work, and well 



