380 THE. ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC., OF 



afford to watch with complacent self-satisfaction. Electricity must 

 win the day, as the light of luxury ; but gas will, at the same 

 time, find an ever-increasing application for the more humble 

 purposes of diffusing light. 



In my address to the British Association, I dwelt upon the 

 capabilities and prospects of gas, both as an illuminant and as a 

 heating agent, and I do not think that I was over sanguine in 

 predicting for this combustible a future exceeding all present 

 anticipations. 



I showed that if supplied specially for the purpose, it would 

 become not only the most convenient, but by far the cheapest 

 form of fuel that can be delivered to our towns. Such a general 

 supply of heating separately from illuminating gas, by collecting 

 the two gases into separate holders during the process of distilla- 

 tion, would have the beneficial effects 



1st. Of giving to lighting gas a higher illuminating power. 



2nd. Of relieving our towns of their most objectionable traffic, 

 that in coal and ashes. 



3rd. Of effecting the perfect cure of that bugbear of our winter 

 existence the smoke nuisance. 



4th. Of largely increasing the production of those valuable by- 

 products, tar, coke, and ammonia, the annual value of which 

 already exceeds by nearly 3,000,000 that of the coal consumed 

 in the gas works. 



The late exhibitions have been beneficial in arousing public 

 interest in favour of smoke abatement, and it is satisfactory to 

 find that many persons, without being compelled to do so, are now 

 introducing perfectly smokeless arrangements for their domestic 

 and kitchen fires. 



The Society of Arts, which for more than 100 years has given 

 its attention to important questions regarding public health, com- 

 -fort, and instruction would, in my opinion, be the proper body to 

 examine thoroughly into the question of the supply and economical 

 application of gas and electricity for the purposes of lighting, of 

 power production and of heating. They would thus pave the way 

 to such legislative reform as may be necessary to facilitate the 

 introduction of a rational system. 



If I can be instrumental in engaging the interest of the society 

 jn these important questions, especially that of smoke prevention, 



