1S4I.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



101 



part of the habits of his mind. The relations of space once learnt in geo- 

 metry do not fade away from our thoughts, because throughout our lives we 

 continue familiar with exemplifications of them in geography, astronomy, 

 and other common pursuits. If the common problems of engineering were 

 to form part of our general teaching in mechanics, this science also might 

 become a permanent possession of liberally educated minds. Every roof, 

 frame, bridge, oblique arch, machine, steam-engine, locomotive carriage, 

 might be looked upon as a case to which every well-educated man ought to 

 be able to apiily definite and certain principles in order to judge of its struc- 

 ture and working. And tliis would, I conceive, be an improvement, not only 

 in professional, but in general education. 



Motives, expressed in this modest manner, deprive us of any ob- 

 servations on a work in which Mr. Whewell has shown himself anxious 

 to consult his own reputation and the wants of the public. There are 

 too many vfho think that a mathematician or a calculator is an engi- 

 neer, and are too ready to despise practical attainments in the pursuit 

 of abstract studies, so that we feel much indebted to Mr. Whewell, 

 himself a mathematician, for giving so necessary a caution to those 

 who might be led away by the study of a book so delightful as his, 

 into realms so remote from engineering. Mathematics and engineer- 

 ing are roads which for a certain distance are mutual, but we feel ob- 

 liged to give a hint that there is a point of divergence when the way- 

 farer has the choice of two separate and far distant paths. 



Plans for the Formation of Harbours of Refuge, Improvement of Rivers, 

 and Suggestiojis for Ameliorating the Condition of Seamen, Prevent- 

 ing Shipwreck, and Miscellaneous Matter. Illustrated with Plates 

 and Charts. By Capt. J. N. Taylor, R.N., C.B. Plymouth, 

 1840. 



Capt. Taylor's plan for the formation of harbours of refuge is by the 

 use cf a floating breakwater, this he proposes to secure by moorings 

 of logs of timber shackled together, so as to avoid the inconvenience 

 of chain moorings. The work before us is more accurately described 

 by the title prefaxed to the first page. Series of Papers, Sec, being a 

 collection of memoranda on naval engineering, and naval officers gene- 

 rally. It includes descriptions of several of Captain Taylor's inven- 

 tions. 



Gas Lighting. 



1. A Practical Treatise on Gas Lighting, rvith Tiventy-two Plates. By 

 Thomas S. Peckston, R.N., C.E. London: Hebert, 1841. (Third 

 Edition). 



2. A Practical Treatise on the Manufacture and Distribution of Coal 

 Gas, illustrated by Engravings from Working Drawings. By 

 Samuel Clegg, jun., C.E. London: John Weale, 1S41. 



We have no doubt that our readers who look at these works will 

 do as we have done, pair them together. The names of Clegg and 

 Peckston are extensively known as connected with the subject of gas 

 lighting, so that works emanating from either of them must be hailed 

 by the student and professional man ;is useful additions to the engi- 

 neering librarv. "Arcades ambo" as they are it is difficult for us to 

 decide upon their claims, so that we must earnestly recommend to our 

 readers to purchase both works, and see if they can more readily bring 

 the matter to an issue. Mr. Peckston has long written on gas lighting, 

 and Clegg has been intimately connected with the imjirovement of the 

 system almost from its very invention, having been one of the first to 

 carry it out on a large scale — what he has done since all the world 

 knows. The work of Mr. Peckston is in its third edition, a circum- 

 stance which renders it unnecessary for us to urge claims on which 

 the public has already pronounced, and which will excuse us for any 

 apparent neglect in devoting more of our attention upon this occasion 

 to the first effort of the younger candidate. To say that the profession 

 have looked forward to young Mr. Clegg's work with interest, is to 

 say no more than the bare trutn, for the list of subscribers shows the 

 names of all the first gas engineers in the country, who thus have 

 already expressed their confidence as to his competency for the task 

 he has assumed. They could not weh doubt this, for he comes to the 

 subject armed not only witli his own knowledge and experience, but 

 with those of his father, to whose valuable memoranda he has had 

 ready access. 



The distribution of both works is much the same, the introductory 

 chapters giving a short history of the progress of the art, a sketch of 

 chemistry as applied to this manufacture, and an account of coal. 

 From the statements of Mr. Peckston and Mr. Clegg, it appears that 

 the late talented Mr. Murdoch was the first person who introduced 

 gas lighting for practical purposes. He first lighted his own house at 



Redruth, in Cornwall, in 1792; afterwards in 1798 he erected an ap- 

 paratus for a similar purpose at the manufactory of Messrs. Boulton 

 and Watt, at Soho — a pleasing reflection to find that tlie grcal im- 

 provers of the steam engine should also be the first to patronize the 

 introduction of lighting by gas against all the prejudices and supersti- 

 tious feeling of the day — the next place lighted, by Mr. Murdoch, upon 

 a large scale, was a cotton manufactory at Manchester in the year 

 1S05, the apparatus for which was made at the works of Messrs. 

 Boulton and Watt. A paper by Mr. Murdoch describing the appara- 

 tus was read before the Royal Society, February 25, ISU.J, from which 

 paper we collect that the number of burners emploved in the manu- 

 factory amounted to 271 argands and 633 cockspurs, each of the former 

 giving a light equal to four candles, and the latter a light equal to 21. 

 It appears, that at the same time Mr. Murdoch was engaged in fitting 

 up the gas apparatus at the above manufactory, that Mr. Clegg (the 

 father of the author), was engaged in a similar manner for lighting a 

 cotton mill near Halifax, which Mr. Clegg states was lighted a fort- 

 night before the cotton mill at Manchester, a circumstance however 

 which does not militate against the claims of Mr. Murdoch as being 

 the first who introduced gas lighting for practical purposes. The next 

 place lighted was the Catholic College at Stonyhurst, Lancashire, (in 

 1807, 1^08), when Mr. Clegg had an opportunity of making several 

 experiments for purifying the gas, using for that purpose lime water 

 in a separate vessel, which was to render the gas pure. We now 

 come to the time when gas was attempted to be introduced upon a 

 large scale for lighting the public streets, when we find ourselves in- 

 debted to Mr. Winsor for his indefatigable zeal, in exerting himself 

 (even as early as 1803-4,) by lecturing and other means, to overcome the 

 prejudices of the pubhc ; through his exertions a company was formed 

 in 1809, called " The London and Westminster Chartered Gas Light 

 and Coke Company," in that year application was made to Parliament 

 for incorporating the company, but from the obstinacy and prejudices 

 of several parties, as is too frequently the case in new undertakingSi 

 the Bill was opposed, and it was not until 1810 that an Act was ob- 

 tained. During this time Pall Mall was lighted up, but so far from 

 prejudices being allayed, the project was treated with derision by 

 many of the scientific men of that day. Mr. Clegg next proceeds to 

 detail the difficulties the Company had to overcome in the erection of 

 their works, and introducing the gas for public purposes, and it was 

 not until 31st December, lbl3, that the Company were able to light 

 any public place, when they lighted Westminster Bridge. Thus we 

 see that a period of 21 years was lost from the date of the first intro- 

 duction by Mr. Murdoch, before gas was generally adopted. 



Tlie early pait of Mr. Clegg's volume is occupied with a disserta- 

 tion on "Chemistry as applied to the Manufacture of Coal Gas," fol- 

 lowed by a chapter on "Coal," which affords much valuable informa- 

 tion. 



The kinds, or rather the different names, of coal used at the London Gas- 

 works are. South Pelaw, Ellison's Main, Felling Main, or East Garesfield 

 Main, Dean's Primrose and Pearitb's Wall's-end. Most of the Companies 

 have the facUities of water-carriage, and purchase their coals at the pit for 

 about 7s. dd. per ton, and charter a vessel from 8s. to lis. per ton, according 

 to the time of the year. If the gas-works are far from the water-side, and 

 they purchase their coals at the market, the above would fetch from 1 Is. 6rf. 

 to iSs. dd. per ton ; and to a large consumer, for cash, 5s. would be charged 

 for cartage, making a total of 22s. 6(/. to 23s. Crf. If the gas-works are at 

 the water side, the charges would be as follows : — 



s. d. 

 Cost of coal at the pit mouth, say ... 7 6 



Freight and loading ...... 8 



Lighterage from ship to wharf . . , . 10 

 Gang of men carrying from barge to works, per ton, 



according to distance ..... 1 



Duty Is. Inf., and weighing llrf. ... 1 2^ 



18 05- 

 At Birmingham and in the neighbourhood the price for Stafl!brdshire coal 



is about 8s. dd. per ton, including all espences. 



In Scotland the prices, per ton, paitl lor the different kinds of Parrot coal 



at the places where they are shipped, are as follows : 



Lesmahajo . 



Monkiand 



Torry Burn 



Wemyss 



The price of coke in Loudon varies according to the demand; to. retailers 

 who fetch the coke it is now about 16s. per chaldron, to private persons 18»., 

 and if delivered, from 21s. according to the distance. At \Vcst Bromwich 

 coke is considered on an average to be wortii 4;/. per bushel. 



Under the head of "Advantages of Gas," Mr. Clegg has afforded 

 us some sound practical observations and calculations, which cannot 



