Wire-Gauze Safety-lamp$ for Miners. 55 



In a case where human life is concerned, and by which hunnan 

 happiness may be affected, 1 have thought it right to take no- 

 tice of the most tiivial and insignificant objections, even when 

 they have arisen from ignorance, or have been prompted by ma- 

 levolence ; but I do not think it necessary to name the indivi- 

 duals bv whom they have been made, for I would willingly con- 

 sign to forgetfulness those who do not deserve to be remembered. 



The evidence of the use of a practical discovery is of most va- 

 lue when it it is furnished by practical men. I shall therefora 

 annex two communications, which I am sure will have due weight 

 with all persons who are acquainted with the northern collieries; 

 and my motive for publishing them is the hope of inducing the 

 coal owners in other parts of the island to lose no time in adopt- 

 ing these simple methods of preserving their workmen from dan- 

 ger*. H. D. 



A Letter on the practical Application of the IVire-gauze Safe- 

 lamp, from John Buddi-E, Esq. to Sir H. Davy. 



Walls-end Colliery, Newcastle, 1st June, 1816. 



Sir, — After having introduced your safety-lamp into general 

 use in all the collieries under my direction, where inflammable 

 air prevails ; and after using them daily in every variety of ex- 

 plosive mixture for upwards of three months, 1 feel the highest 

 possible gratification in stating to you, that they have answered 

 to my entire satisfaction. 



The safety of the lamps is so easily proved, by taking them into 

 any part of a mine charged with fire-damp, and all the explo- 

 sive gradations of that dangerous element, ilre so easily and sa- 

 tisfactorily a<;certained by their application, as to strike the minds 

 of the most prejudiced with the strongest conviction of their 

 high utility; and our colliers have adopted them with the great- 

 est eagerness. 



In the practical application of the lamps, scarcely any difficulty 

 has occurred. Those of the ordinary working size, when pre- 

 pared with common cotton wick and the Greenland whale 

 oil, burn during the coHier's shift, or day's work of six hours, 

 without reijuiring to be replenished ; and the safety trimmer an- 

 swers the purpose of cleaning, raising, and lowering the wick 

 completely. 



The only inconvenience experienced arises from the great (juan- 

 tity of dust, proiluced in some situations by working the coal, 

 closing up the meshes of the wire gauze, and obscuring the light j 



• Models of tlie double cylinder lamp, wliich I recommend in all col- 

 lieries where explosive mixtures are common, as well ris models of the single 

 l^.-y\p, may be had of Mr. Newman, Lisle-itrect, Leicester-square, Loii- 



D 4 , but 



