of Fish Oil. 283 



recollect to have witnessed such explosions as those alluded to. 

 There might be a smell after an explosion. The smell caused 

 by a thunder-storm he considered to proceed from a mixture of 

 nitrous gas. There generally was a smell in explosive mixtures. 

 He thought the smell woidd be occasioned by part of the gas or 

 vapour being driven about unconsumed, which would retain its 

 original smell. He did not believe that any inflammable vapour 

 would arise from fixed oil at the temperature mentioned. He 

 thought it impossible that any inflammable gases could have re- 

 mained in the flues at such a heat as was kept up. They must 

 have gone into the air as soon as generated. 



If an accumulation of inflammable gas had taken place in the 

 flues, or in the premises below, where the light was, would it 

 have exploded like gunpowder, or in what degree ? — I do not 

 know wbat experiments others may have made, but I think it 

 impossible that an explosion, as such, could have taken place 

 without a great noise, which must have been heard in the neigh- 

 bourhood all round. 



Mr. Brande was recalled, and asked, whether he differed, and 

 in what, from Mr. Parkes ; but it appeared from his answers, 

 that he concurred in Mr. Parkes's opinion. 



Mr. Phillips was next recalled. — In case of an explosion of 

 vapour from oil in a high state of temperature, he thought there 

 would be a smell. He would, by way of illustration, say, that 

 the common gas, where it escaped without burning, produced a 

 strong smell, but where it burned there was little or none. If 

 there was any accumulation of vapour, it would emit a strong 

 smell before it exploded. In explosion it would make a noise, 

 but that would depend on the quantity of atmospheric air ; there 

 might be no smell after explosion, but he thought there would 

 be a strong one before it. 



Henry May recalled, and examined by the foreman. He had 

 been engine-keeper for twenty-four years. It was the watchman 

 who lighted the fire on the morning when the place was burnt. 

 That man was not here. Witness was usually in the engine-houhc. 

 It was about half-past three when the alarm of fire was given. 

 He had started his own engine before he heard the alarm given. 

 It might be three-quarters past three when he heard the alarm 

 given. When he heard it, he went to pull up the iron door. The 

 fire, when he entered, was on his left. There was not any strong 

 smell, nor anything in the appearance of the fire different from 

 others he had seenj he heard no ex|)Io^>ion Ixforc the fire, nor 

 after. 



Mr. Lockey was next recalled, Im! nolhiufr iiialerial v.'as eli- 

 cited from ills re-examination. 



X 2 The 



