376 



CANDLE. 



Candle, the same size, and is, at the same time, free from all 

 ~" v ' disagreeable smell ; but it was found, that the heat 

 acquired by the metallic piece, during the combus- 

 tion, fused more tallow than the wick could take up ; 

 and, consequently, that part of the melted tallow 

 flowed down between the candle and the brass tube, 

 and, upon cooling, fastened them together in such a 

 manner, that the gradual progression of the tube, 

 and the necessary supply of tallow, was obstructed. 

 An invention, upon a similar principle, was proposed, 

 about twelve years ago, by Mr William Bolts of 

 London, for which he obtained a patent. The great 

 object of this invention, is to get rid of the trouble of 

 constant snuffing, and to prevent the running of the 

 candles. To accomplish this, he employed a solid 

 candle, or cylindrical piece of tallow, to the top of 

 which he applied a small wick, by means of a pro- 

 jecting spring. The wick was kept in contact with 

 the upper surface of the candle, either by making 

 the wickstand pass round the candle like a collar, 

 and slide down by the pressure of a spring, or, by 

 making the wick immoveable, and putting a spring 

 at the bottom of the candlestick, which presses the 

 candle upwards as the tallow is consumed. Instead 

 of a solid candle, he sometimes used one having a 

 perforation longitudinally ; on the top of which he 

 placed, for a wick, a small tuft of cotton ; to the 

 lower end of which was attached a thread, which 

 passed down through the perforation to the bottom 

 of the candle, and was wound round a key, or pivot. 

 By turning this pivot, the wick is brought down as 

 the candle consumes. In this way, the wick being 

 kept constantly soaked in the melted tallow, con- 

 sumes very slowly, and, consequently, supersedes the 

 necessity of snuffing. The size of the wick may al- 

 so, by this contrivance, be proportioned to that of 

 the candle, and the fusibility of the material employ- 

 ed ; while, by the action of the spring, or pivot, the 

 flame may be made to approach or recede, as circum- 

 stances require. This contrivance, however, requires 

 too much attention for common use, and is obviously 

 too complicated. The only other attempt at im- 

 proving the wick, which deserves notice, is that of 

 the candlemakers of Munich, who use a thin slip of 

 wood bound round with unspun cotton to the thick- 

 ness of a small quill. These slips are made of pine, 

 willow, and other kitids of wood, but most com- 

 monly of fir. They are prepared by first scraping 

 off the bark, and reducing them to the size of a 

 small straw. They are then rubbed over with wax 

 or tallow, and afterwards rolled on a smooth table, 

 on very fine carded cotton. When they have acqui- 

 red the proper size, they are introduced into the 

 moulds, or hung on the dipping frame, as formerly 

 described. These candles, we are told, besides burn- 

 ing longer than the common ones, do not blaze, and 

 are less prejudicial to the eyes of those who are ac- 

 customed to read or write at night. They must be 

 snuffed with a pair of sharp scissars, and great care 

 must be taken not to break or derange the wick. 



Vaiious methods of purifying the tallow, and ren- 

 dering it more firm and compact, are described in 

 the Dictionaire de V Industrie, under the article Chan- 

 delle. In all these processes, alum seems to be the 

 chief agent, to which is sometimes added nitre and 



sal ammoniac. In order to give tallow the appear- 

 ance of wax, quicklime is used in purifying it, and 

 sometimes vinegar. The tallow thus prepared, when 

 mixed with an equal portion of wax, makes very 

 beautiful candles. Several attempts have been made 

 to deprive tallow of the bad smell, but none of them 

 have completely succeeded. A decoction of rose- 

 mary, sage, laurel, and wild mint, has been used j 

 and the powder of charcoal has been suggested : the 

 former, however, it is likely, only conceals the odour 

 without removing it, and, at any rate, could scarcely 

 be employed on a great scale ; the effect of the lat- 

 ter, as far as we know, has not yet been ascertained. 

 In the Archives des Decouvertes, published at Paris 

 in 1810, M. Bonnatin announces a new method of 

 purifying tallow, by which it is deprived of all co- 

 lour and humidity, and may be kept for several yeari 

 without becoming either yellow or rancid. The pro- 

 cess is kept a secret ; but M. Vauquelin has exami- 

 ned the tallow, and his report is favourable. The 

 candles made from it are distinguished by the purity 

 of their light, and the absence of smoke, but chiefly 

 by their not running, and their requiring to be sel- 

 dom snuffed. 



We have already mentioned, that tallow, purified 

 with quicklime, is sometimes mixed with wax, in or- 

 der to improve the candles, or, rather, to diminish 

 the price. In the Journal de Paris for 1787, is an- 

 nounced the discovery of a new species of wax can- 

 dles, made of wax and the pulp of potatoes. The 

 wax extracted from the fruit of the waxtree, when 

 mixed with a portion of common wax, or, what is 

 better, with tallow, makes excellent candles, which 

 diffuse an agreeable odour in burning. Candles have 

 also been made of the butter of the cocoa-nut, and 

 of an oil extracted from the brain of the whale* 

 which, after being exposed to the air, soon acquires 

 a considerable degree of consistence. Candles made 

 of the latter material are covered with a slight var- 

 nish ; and those made from the cocoa burn with a 

 clear steady flame, and last much longer than tallow 

 candles. 



We shall conclude our remarks with a short ab- 

 stract of the excise laws respecting candles. 



These laws relate chiefly to four points, viz. the 

 license for making and selling candles ; the addition- 

 al duty levied by the weight ; the checks upon smug- 

 gling ; and the penalties to be exacted for neglecting 

 or opposing the provisions of the act. The license 

 to make wax candles is L. 6, and L. 1 for tallow 

 candles. The license to sell is 10s. 6d., and both 

 must be renewed annually ; but those who take the 

 license for making, are not obliged to take the li- 

 cense" for selling also during the same year. The 

 additional duty upon wax caimles is 3^d. per Ib. and 

 that on tallow candles Id. The checks upon smug- 

 gling consist in allowing the excise-officers to lock 

 up and seal all furnaces, moulds, &c. made use of in 

 the manufacture of candle, and to open them only 

 upon notices from the manufacturer : these notices 

 to be given in at the head office six hours, in a city 

 or market-town twelve hours ; and elsewhere within 

 twenty-four hours before they are to be used. The 

 penalties in general are L.20, L.50, and L.IOO; but 

 never exceed the last sum. (s) 

 3. 



Cant! It. 



