

SIR WILLIAM SIEMENS, F.R.S. 237 



ago he came to this country a stranger, and finding there was 

 great scope for activity in the pursuits he so much loved and 

 liki-d, he made this country his home. He had made a great 

 many dear friends, and his efforts to advance applied science had 

 always been so cordially accepted, and had gained him so many 

 friends amongst all classes that he had adopted England as his 

 country, and hoped to live and die here. He had secured a resi- 

 dence for the summer months in this particular neighbourhood, 

 and he hoped, as his work in the active pursuits of life became 

 more and more accomplished and drew to a close, he should have 

 more leisure to spend amongst them. It was a particular gratifi- 

 cation to him to be present amongst them that evening, and to 

 see the activity which was going on in the development of 

 scientific subjects, and also in the pursuits of art. He could not 

 help thinking that the interest shown augured well for the future. 

 Again he thanked them very much for the compliment they had 

 paid him. 



ELECTRICITY AND GAS. 

 To THE EDITOR OF "THE TIMES." 



SIR, Mr. W. H. Preece, in addressing you under the title of 

 " Electricity in Collieries " on the 28th ult., points out, very 

 properly I think, that the employment of the electric light would 

 not be without danger in coal mines, because both the electric arc 

 and an accidental spark between conductors would be liable to fire 

 a gaseous explosive compound. "When examined before the Royal 

 Commission on accidents in mines, I gave evidence to this effect 

 suggesting only an indirect application of the electric light, by 

 Avhich, if successful, the chance of accident would be minimized. I 

 am not prepared however to follow Mr. Preece in his assertion that 

 electric light generally and under ordinary circumstances is an 

 illuminant dangerous to life and property ; his statements in this 

 respect have actually caused unnecessary alarm to those who have 

 trusted electricity for the illumination of public buildings. Mr. 



