262 THE ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC., OP 



thus increase the means at his disposal for the attainment of either 

 scientific or practical ends. 



I have endeavoured to compress within the limited space of a 

 single lecture, subject-matter that might occupy the close attention 

 of the student for weeks or months, and I may therefore be 

 pardoned if I have failed to convey to you more than a very rough 

 outline of what may be accomplished by the judicious use of 

 gaseous fuel, and of the electric current, as heating agents. The 

 one purpose that has been foremost in my mind in preparing this 

 lecture, has been to make war upon the smoky chimney, which, so 

 far from being a necessity under any circumstances whatever, 

 should be regarded only as a remnant of that stage of our in- 

 dustrial and social progress, which, satisfied with the attainment 

 of certain ends, could afford to neglect the economical and sanitary 

 conditions under which those ends were accomplished. 



The Exhibition which has lately been held in this city of 

 appliances for heating and illuminating by means of gas and 

 electricity in which your President, my esteemed friend, Sir 

 William Thomson, took so prominent a part, as he does in every- 

 thing tending towards the advancement of human knowledge 

 and well-being proves how deep is the interest felt amongst you 

 in those very questions with which I have had to deal this 

 evening. 



And so I thought you might not be disinclined to give atten- 

 tion once more to a particular view of the question, which 

 happens to be the result of the independent labour of one who 

 may claim at any rate to have given a life-long consideration to 

 the subject. 



