THE ELECTRIC LIGHT 449 



House had tlie intelligent courage to establish the ma- 

 chines of Holmes permanently at Dungeness, where the 

 magneto-electric light continued to shine for many years. 

 The magneto-electric machine of the Alliance Company 

 soon succeeded to that of Holmes, being in various ways 

 a very marked improvement on the latter. Its currents 

 were stronger and its light was brighter than those of its 

 predecessor. In it, moreover, the commutator, the flash- 

 ing and destruction of which were sources of irregularity 

 and deterioration in the machine of Holmes, was, at the 

 suggestion of M. Masson,* entirely abandoned; alternat- 

 ing currents instead of the direct current being employed. 

 M. Serrin modified his excellent lamp with the express 

 view of enabling it to cope with alternating currents. 

 During the International Exhibition of 1862, where the 

 machine was shown, M. Berlioz offered to dispose of the 

 invention to the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House. 

 They referred the matter to Faraday, and he replied as 

 follows: *'I am not aware that the Trinity House authori- 

 ties have advanced so far as to be able to decide whether 

 they will require more magneto -electric machines, or 

 whether, if they should require them, they see reason to 

 suppose the means of their supply in this country, from 

 the source already open to them, would not be sufficient. 

 Therefore I do not see that at present they w^nt to pur- 

 chase a machine." Faraday was obviously swayed by 

 the desire to protect the interests of Holmes, who had 

 borne the burden and heat which fall upon the pioneer. 

 The Alliance machines were introduced with success at 

 Cape la H^ve, near Havre; and the Elder Brethren of the 



» Du Moncel, "1 'Electricity," August, 1878, p. 150. 



