388 Royal Society. 



exist in the atmosphere, below the explosive point : and when 

 the atmosphere becomes dangerous the flame enlarges, and is 

 then cxtin;j;inslied, and the miners are warned that it is proper to 

 leave this part of the mine till it is properly ventilated. 



With a common candle, when the air becomes explosive, life 

 is extinguished; with the Safe Lantern, the only inconvenience 

 is a temporary loss of light. 



It appears that Sir Humphry found the utmost facility in 

 pursuing his researches, when travelling in the coal-mining di- 

 stricts, and tliat all perrons seemed equally eager and confident 

 that he sliould discover some means of alleviating, if not entirely 

 preventing, the dreadful calamities which so often occur in coal- 

 mines. This fact is perfectly sufficient to refute the silly ca- 

 lumnies which have been so liberally heaped on the heads and 

 hearts of a number of the most respectable and humane charac- 

 ters in tlie kingdom. It requires neither talents nor knowledge 

 to charge any man or class of men with inhumanity; but it is 

 an act which no truly humane or benevolent man can do with- 

 out the plainest, most unequivocal and often repeated evidence, 

 k is now, indeed, sufficiently evident that they must be verv bad 

 observers of natural pha;nomena, who could so grossly confound 

 the rational dictates of prudence arising from long experience 

 and baffled philanthropy, with apathy and vulgar inhumanirv! 

 We cannot be surprised that such persons have not discovered ' 

 an adequate mcde of modulating or extinguishing the fire-damp 

 of coal-mines; neither can v, e be at a loss to account for their 

 accusations. Let us hope, however, that as this last discovery 

 of Sir Huaiphry must be eminently serviceable to humanity, it 

 may also contribute to teach sciolists, in future, the necessity of 

 observing- and 'd.inking before writing and accusing. 



Nov. 16. A Supplement to Sir Humphry Davy's paper was 

 read. It contained some additional evidence of the perfi-ct 

 adequacy of his " Safe Lantern" to preserve the miners from 

 tiie dangeis of explosion. 



Sir H. began his researches on the fire-damp in a manner 

 very diiterent from that of preceding chemists : his first inquiry 

 was, to ascertain vvhat is the peculiar composition of this gas ? 

 what are its explosive powers? and in what combinations it 

 \% most dangerous to miners, or with what admixtures it is 

 rendered inert? He found that it is tolerably pure carburetted 

 hydrogen gas ; that it contains neither olefiant nor sulphuretted 

 liydrogcn gas, like the common product of coals by distillation. 

 He then proceeded to ascertain its combustible powers: burning 

 charcoal does not iniiaiue it, if there be no blaze, and iron must 

 be at a v.'hitc heat to fire it. One part oxvgea to one of fire- 

 damp produced a mixture bli^htly combustible ; but the most 



combustible 



