1821.] Comparative View of Oil and Coal Gas. 383 



them — and to see, if such a phrase may be permitted, how 

 Heaven looked from one of the pinnacles of earth. 



Ever sincerely yours, > 



J. Undrell. • 



Article X. '^ 



t 



Further Observations on the Comparative Advantages ofillumi^^ 



nating bj/ Gas produced from Oil and from Coal, By MJ^ 



Ricardo, Esq. , q 



(To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy,) 



iO' 



SIR, JSotr, Marc/* 21, 1821. ^ 



1 AM unwiUing to intrude the subject of oil gas again upon 

 your readers; but there are some observations made upon my 

 former paper by a correspondent in the last number of the 

 Annals, to which I must claim permission to reply. This gen- 

 tleman, whoever he may be, has said more (unintentionally, no 

 doubt) against the management of coal gas companies in general, 

 than could be deduced from any thing 1 have written. My 

 object was only to prove the inferiority of coal gas, when brought 

 in comparison with that of oil ; but he has shown that some great 

 mismanagement exists in all the companies, excepting those of 

 Sheffield and Derby ; and if the statement respecting the latter 

 be correct, the management of the Sheffield Company may also 

 come in for its share of blame. 



I must still persist in my assertion, notwithstanding your cor-i 

 respondent differs from me, that the advantages attendant on the 

 London Chartered Company, are greater than any other possess. 

 It must be allowed, that to have the greatest number of lights 

 in the smallest compass is the highest advantage which a 

 gas light establishment can have. The cheapness of coal and 

 labour is of little benefit, unless there is an ample demand for the 

 gas ; and what place is likely to compete with London in this 

 respect? If you compare this Company's main with the number 

 of lights upon it, I should think no provincial city or town could 

 in any way equal it. ^ 



Your correspondent says, that the selling price of coal gas at 

 Sheffield is upon the average IO5. Qd. per 1000 cube feet, and at 

 this price, it yields a profit of 10 per cent. He then asks some- 

 what triumphantly, what I shall say, when informed that at 

 Derby, gas is sold at 7s. M, per 1000 cube feet, and that the 

 Company " calculates '^ to share a profit of 10 percent,? To this 



