502 A New Era in Illumination. | Oct., 
stranded near Dungeness. This liability to occasional failure is a 
matter for grave consideration in respect to the development of the 
magneto-electric light as an element of lighthouse illumination. 
Under these circumstances the Elder Brethren stated on January 
the 18th, 1865, in answer to an inquiry from the Marine Depart- 
ment of the Board of Trade, that they are induced “ to adhere to 
the opinion, expressed to their Lordships in their letter of the 8th 
April, 1863, that they are not prepared te recommend the adoption 
of the magneto-electric principle for lighthouse illumination.” This 
opinion was repeated on the 15th of March, 1865, when the 
Secretary of the Trinity House wrote as follows :— 
“There are numerous other causes of minor importance which 
have led the Elder Brethren to the decision expressed in my letter 
of the 18th January, which can only be duly weighed and appreciated. 
by those on whom the responsibility of working, and, above all, of 
maintaining the lights is placed, and as already expressed in their 
letter of 8th April, 1863, the Elder Brethren feel that there are no 
advantages which can counterbalance the want of certainty in light- 
house illumination.” 
Meantime a somewhat modified system of ilumimating lght- 
houses by electro-magnetic apparatus has been successfully exhibited 
at Havre, in France, and the Commissioners of Northern Light- 
houses suggested that their engineer should be sent over to report 
- upon it. It appeared that the plan adopted was very similar to 
that of Mr. Holmes, and that M. Berlioz had only made a few im- 
provements upon it. Mr. Holmes being of opinion that he could 
now supply a better machine than the one in use at Havre, it was 
considered that it would be a national discredit and an act of 
injustice to that gentleman, if under these circumstances the foreign 
system were adopted. It was therefore decided at the latter end of 
last year that an entirely new system of apparatus, including lamp, 
machines, and engine, should be procured from Mr. Holmes; that 
the eminent optical engineer, Mr. James Chance, should be asked to 
put into practice certain opinions which he has always held respect- 
ing the size of the lens required, and the arrangement of curvature, 
he undertaking to supply an instrument which should be entirely 
suitable; whilst the Klder Brethren proposed to combine with this 
new apparatus a thoroughly independent system of management, 
which they trust may result in the establishment of the magneto- 
electric light as a useful component of lighthouse illumination. 
Early in the present year, rumours of Mr. Wilde’s new electro- 
magnetic apparatus were first heard, and Mr. Thomas Stevenson 
was instructed to visit Manchester to report on the same. He was 
so very favourably impressed with the apparatus, that it was con- 
sidered indispensable to a proper series of experiments, that it 
should be tested along with Professor Holmes’s. An estimate was 
