426 On Gas Light Establishments. [June, 



would allow of a reservoir being attached to them sufficiently 

 capacious for general uses. 



These plans are certainly very ingenious, though it cannot be 

 denied that there must be considerable inconveniences and 

 expenses attaching to the constant removal of the reservoirs 

 between the factory where the gas is to be generated and com- 

 pressed, and the house where it is to be consumed ; neverthe- 

 less, I am informed, that a considerable capital has been already 

 subscribed to carry the project into effect. 



To this spirit of enterprise it must be left to overcome the 

 difficulties of the undertaking ; I have only to consider the 

 danger ; and to this, as the scheme advances, it will be my duty, 

 or the duty of whoever undertakes this inspection, to look 

 seriously and to call the attention of the government ; for here 

 unquestionably we find introduced a new description of danger 

 altogether ; in the highly compressed state into which it is 

 found necessary for the sake of portability to condense the gas. 

 There is evidently some risk in forcing 16 atmospheres into alight 

 copper vessel, when quite new; but when such vessel has been 

 long in use and loug strained by the constant efforts of the con- 

 fined gas, the danger of its bursting must be considerably 

 enhanced. 



Precautions may it is true be taken to render an explosion as 

 little mischievous as possible, and the vessels may be calculated 

 of ample strength in the first instance ; yet it is difficult to 

 ascertain the probable effects of accidental explosion, or the 

 constant strength of materials, and more especially where the 

 compression first given to the gas is liable to subsequent increase 

 by heat. 



With respect to the oil gas it remains only to be stated, that 

 though so little extension of it in public works has taken place 

 in the metropolis, its use has been considerably advanced in pri- 

 vate establishments ; and I shall conclude by offering it to con- 

 sideration, how far all these applications of this gas, as well as of 

 the coal gas, ought to be subjected to some sort of licence and 

 regulation. Wjlliam Cojngreve. 



