Controversy respecting Safety -lamps. 3 19 



not the former of these gentlemen is justified in the opinion he 

 has expressed, and which he has kindly tillowed me to publish, 

 it appears to me mav easily be decided ; and I shall oiilv add, 

 that if it can be proved 1 took advantage in the formation of 

 the safety-lamp, of any suggestions except the ]iriiited opinions 

 of scientific men, I deserve to lose the confidence of mv honour- 

 able employers, and the good opinion of niv fellow-men, which 

 I feci an honest pride in declaring, even in my humble situation 

 in life, is of more value in my estimation than any reward that 

 generous but indiscriminating affluence can bestow. 



Georgk Stephenson. 



Copy. 



" Low Oosfortli, Aiij. 10, 1816. 

 Sir, — As it \vill not be in my power to attend the meeting 

 summoned for the purpose of voting a piece of plate to Sir Hum- 

 phry Davy for the invention of the safety-lamp, I trust the gen- 

 tlemen will excuse mv adopting this mode of requesting them to 

 ascertain (previous to their resolving upon a measure which will 

 convey their decided opinion to the public) whether the merit of 

 that invaluaiile discovery is due to that gentleman, or not. The 

 conviction upon my mind is, that Mr. George Stephenson, of 

 Killingworth Colliery, was the person who first discovered and 

 applied the principle upon which lamps may be constructed, so 

 as to be used with perfect safety in mines charged with hydro- 

 gen gas ; whether that gas is admitted through capillary tubes, 

 or the apertures of wire-gauze, (which may be considered as 

 merely the orifices of capillary tubes) does not, I coiiceive, affect 

 the principle. In the communications I have seen from Sir 

 H. Davy, no dates are mentioned, and it is by a reference to 

 them oidy that the question can be fairly decided ; for the in- 

 formation of the meeting, therefore, I shall take the liberty of 

 inclosing some 1 received from Mr. Stephenson, to the correct- 

 ness of which, as far as I am concerned, I can bear testimony. 

 At the same time I must beg leave to add, that the principle of 

 admitting the hydrogen gas only in such small detached portions 

 that it would be consumed by combustion, vva^:, I understand, 

 stated by him to several gentlemen as the idea he had embraced 

 two months before this lamp was actually constructed. 

 I remain, sir, 



Your very obedient humble servant, 



Robert William Brandling. 

 To the Secretary of the General 

 Meeting of the Coal Trade. 

 The Killingworth lamp with one tube to admit the air, ntid n 

 flhde at the botluin of the tube to regulate the quantity of air 



admi:ted. 



