the Use of the IFire-gaute Safety-lamp. 91 



jMstice to the merit of the invention, in a public statement of its 

 ^Tcat utility and extensive use in the coal-mines of this country. 

 '^ It is not to be expected that any great discovery should be 

 brought to light without subjecting its author to the envy and 

 insult of dahbfers in science. Enough of rancour and spleen have 

 certainly been shown in this case. But I shall not take up my 

 time with enumerating the names and the misrepresentations of 

 those officious and mischievous persons, who have endeavoured 

 to persuade the world that there is little either of merit or utility 

 in this invention: their motives are too apjjarent not to be di- 

 stinctly seen througli, by all observing and liberal-minded men. 

 i must, however, in justice to myself, most positively contradict 

 a calumny which has been industriously circulated, and I feel the 

 greatest reluctance in noticing this vile report, because it is a 

 libel upon the honour and integrity of Sir li. Davy, as well as 

 myself. It has been reported that I had clandestinely communi- 

 cated certain ideas of Mr. Geo. Stevenson on a safety-lamp, to 

 Sir H. Davy, — than wliicli there never was a more gross, a more 

 unfounded, or more malianant statement circulated. I think it 

 right to notice this in "the strongest terms, lest the falsehood 

 should finallv pass for a truth. It should have been contradicted 

 sooner, had'l not thought it of a nature too ridiculous to be re- 

 ceived with credit: even at present I could not have been in- 

 duced to notice so contemptible a slander, were 1 not assured 

 that it still continues to be ])ropagated. 



The wire gauze lamp, however, is in use, and the benefits th;it 

 it offers to mankind must in time subdue the uneasy sensations 

 of envy and ingratitude that it has excited. During the last ten 

 months it has been extensively employed in all the collieries 

 under mv inspection ; and it gives me the highest pleasure to be 

 able to state, that during that time not the slightest accident by 

 fire has occurred from its use, though several hundreds of lamps 

 are daily employed. 



In the parts "of mines where fire-damp prevails, the surveys 

 and inspections are now carried on by the light of the lamp with- 

 out apprehension of danger from explosion ; for experience has 

 shown us, that, with the caution of keeping it in proper repair, 

 it is absolutely safe ; and for the truth of this, 1 appeal to all 

 my professional brethren who have had occasion to use it, with- 

 out fear of contradiction. _ 



The colliers never hesitate a moment to take it into any rc- 

 spirable part of a mine, however much it may be charged with 

 fire-damp; for, whenever it appears that the air, either from 

 discharges of gas, or from casual interruptions of the cnculating 

 current, becomes explosive,— only give the collier \\\s Davy, and 

 jie goes to his occupation with the same confidence m this im- 



