HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Mr. Murdoch varied the transverse section of this last from cylindrical to 

 oval and ear-shaped, but retained the position and mode of setting. 



Fig. 4. 



In 1805 Mr. Murdoch lighted the extensive cotton-mills of Messrs. Phillips 

 and Lee, of Salford ; but still in so defective a manner, that siphons were 

 placed along the pipes conveying the gas, to collect the tar that condensed in 

 them ; nor was the gas at all purified by lime. 



The retort he used was similar in shape to that of Fig. 2, but made to con- 

 tain 1 5 cwt. of coal ; parallel at the sides, and without the opening at the 

 bottom. The coal was introduced by means of a cage, lifted by a small crane, 

 which cage also served the purpose of withdrawing the coke. This retort is 

 attended by the same disadvantages as that described in Fig. 2. 



The following is Mr. Murdoch's simple and minute account of this appara- 

 tus, read before the Royal Society, Feb. 25th, 1805. It is entitled " An Ac- 

 count of the Application of the Gas from Coal to ceconomical Purposes, by Mr. 

 William Murdoch, communicated by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart." 



" The facts and results intended to be communicated in this paper, are founded upon 

 observations made during the present winter at the cotton manufactory of Messrs. Phillips 

 and Lee, at Manchester, where the light obtained by the combustion of the gas from 

 coal is used upon a very large scale ; the apparatus for its production and application 

 having been prepared by me at the works of Messrs. Boulton, Watt and Co. at Soho. 



