1325.3 . t r Proceedings of Philosophical ^qcieties.^-^j^ ^; ^^,46J 



of air. It is very easy to extinguish a lamp in which the fire- 

 damp is burning, by sUding a tin-plate cylinder over it, or by a 

 circle of wire gauze fitting the interior in a rim of copper, and 

 moved by the termination of the trimming wire ; but it is much 

 better, in all cases of danger, to use lamps which U7ider no cir- 

 cumstances can explode. Such as those described in p. 97. 



" Having often trusted my life to the safety lamp under the 

 most dangerous circumstances, I cannot but sometimes smile 

 when the public papers endeavour to invahdate its security upon 

 the opinions or evidence of certain persons who have their own 

 nostrums for preventing the accumulation of inflammable air in 

 mines. 



" I have sometimes to read letters on the improvement of the 

 invention by plans, most of which are discussed in the foregoing 

 pages ; such as using glass or mica as a part of the surface for 

 transmitting light, using double lamps, or double lamps contain- 

 ing a reflecting surface to prevent explosions from currents ; and 

 I have actually seen a lamp upon the rudest model of those I 

 first made, having thick glass above, and wire gauze below, 

 called * the newly invented safety lamp ! ' 



** No. 5. For gas manufactories or houses where gas is exten- 

 sively used, I should recommend the safety lamp with iron wire 

 gauze ; but for the use of the navy, those with copper wire gauze 

 are less Hable to rust. As the latest instance of a ship lost for 

 want of a safety lamp, I may mention the Kent East Indiaman, 

 which was burnt, as 1 am informed by the Shipping Committee, 

 in consequence of the inflammation of rum, by means of a com- 

 mon lantern." 



We cannot conclude our remarks on this subject without 

 expressing our surprise and regret, that it has not been taken up 

 by Parliament in the manner it deserves. If a nation's gratitude 

 be due to her heroes and defenders, it is not less so to those who 

 promote her internal resources and welfare ; and in a moral point 

 of view, the philosopher whose happy application of science pre- 

 serves the lives of his fellow creatures, is even more entitled to 

 it than the warrior who destroys them. We hope those who 

 have the power to confer the reward will not, late as it is, alto- 

 gether neglect what we cannot but feel is as imperious a duty, 

 as we trust they will find it a grateful one. 



Article X. 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



April 28. — Capt E. Home, R.N. was admitted a Fellow of 

 the Society ; and the reading of Dr. Granville's Monograph on 



