111K KLECT1UC LIGHT. 067 



must bear my testimony," he says, " to the perfect open- 

 ness, candor, and honor of Professor Holmes. He has 

 answered every question, concealed no weak point, ex- 

 plained every applied principle, given every reason for a 

 change either in this or that direction, during several 

 periods of close questioning, in a manner that was very 

 agreeable to me, whose duty it was to search for real faults 

 or possible objections, in respect both of the present time 

 and the future."* 



Soon afterward the Elder Brethren of the Trinity 

 House had the intelligent courage to establish the 

 machines 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,f entirely abandoned; alternating 

 currents instead of the direct current being employed. M. 

 SeiTin 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 refer- 

 red the matter to Faraday, and he replied as follows: "I 

 am not aware that the Trinity House authorities 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 want to purchase 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 



* Holmes' first offer of his machine to the Trinity House bears 

 date February 2, 1857. 



f Du Moncel, " I'Electricite," August, 1878, p. 150. 



