ly Wire-gauze against the Passage of Flame. 453 



enter a mind so well fortified by science as that of the emi- 

 nent philosopher against whom Mr. Langmire has so desperately- 

 wielded the shaft of ridicule. — As to 'the priority of Sir H. 

 accused bv Mr. L. {indirectly it may be) of acting on the ori- 

 ginal invention of another, Mr. Hodson's view of the controversy 

 will fully confirm : and to that paper I beg that Mr. Langmire 

 Avill direct his attention. 



None can doubt Mr. Langmire's scientific merits. His various 

 papers bear ample testimony of a shrewd and well-infornied 

 mind; and the honourable assurances of his practical knowledge in 

 mines, which I had the happiness to receive from many gentlemen 

 respectable for their attainments, render the position unques- 

 tionable. Mr. Children's scientific worth stands pre-eminent iu 

 the lists of human knowledge, and is universally acknowledged. 



It is painful to see the asperities of controversy, and particu- 

 larly those of superior minds. In the warmth of our feehngs, 

 excited by an ardent love of what we esteem and value and ad- 

 mire, inadvertent expressions escape, which our cool and calmer 

 moments of reflection condemn, and wish to recall. For myself, 

 I own I felt hurt when the admirers of this discovery were told 

 that they were amused with the " novelty of the thing," as if 

 we Avere children, and the object of our admiration a Dutch toy ; 

 and now we are informed that it maybe esteemed as a "cariosity." 

 A little while, and the balance of truth, directed by the hand of 

 time, will incline the scale, and pronounce a verdict in favour of 

 the al)solute security of Sir H. Davy's safe-lamp, which the 

 storms of opposition can never disturb, and which will stand un- 

 shaken in " proud ])re-eminence." 



In proof of the explanation offered by me, for the principle on 

 Avhich hinges the oflfered security, — and that it does not depend 

 on the conducting character of the metallic wire-gauze, — I may 

 state again, that non-conductors of caloric will cut oflf the com- 

 munication of flame. This may l)e easily proved : — Let a number 

 of punctures be made in a card, and propel a j-t of carburetted 

 hydrogen tln-ough it ; the experiment will decide that the gas 

 may be ignited on the outer surface of the card, and cut off the 

 flame from communicating with the orifice of tlie pipe. 



Besides all this, the aniiiicnt air is a bad conductor of heat. 



I have insulated a flame surrounded l)y an utmosplierc of 

 steam, and found that combustion would not communicate 

 through it. 



Methinks it is cruel to torture the miner's peace by raising 

 suspicious as to the security of the safety-lamp: — for my own part, 

 I glorv in being the advocate of a discovery to illustrious, and 

 of one' which holds out such important and extensive and lasting 

 benefits to mankind. 



Ff3 1 'lail 



