INTRODUCTION OF LIGHTING BY COAL-GAS. 15 



While these circumstances were passing in the country, Mr. Winsor was 

 lecturing at the Lyceum Theatre in London, claiming the invention of gas- 

 lighting, and exhibiting a few lamps in Pall Mall, by way of specimen. 

 Though exceedingly deficient in practical and chemical knowledge, he was 

 indefatigable as a projector ; and if we are indebted to Mr. Murdoch for the 

 first practical introduction of gas-lighting, we owe the formation of the first 

 Gas-light Company to Mr. Winsor. 



In the year 1809 application was made to Parliament for an Act to incor- / 

 porate a Company, to be called "The London and Westminster Chartered 

 Gas-light and Coke Company." The object of the persons desirous of form- 

 ing this Company was to carry out effectually the operations commenced in 

 Pall Mall, but many were the difficulties they had to encounter. Their pro- 

 jects were considered visionary ; great prejudices were also entertained against 

 the general introduction of gas-lighting, from the idea of its being fraught 

 with -danger ; the Act was also opposed by Mr. Watt and Mr. Murdoch, on the 

 plea that the latter gentleman, having been the first to suggest the idea of gas 

 being used as a source of ceconomical light, had a right to the exclusive privi- 

 lege of its application. In consequence of these various objections, the Bill 

 was thrown out. The interest, however, of too many persons was at stake to 

 suffer them to be easily discouraged in their scheme : in the following year, 

 1810, after again incurring considerable expense and combating much oppo- / 

 sition, they succeeded in their object, and an Act was passed, authorizing his 

 Majesty to grant a charter within three years. It is unnecessary to enter here 

 into the details of the stipulation and conditions ; they will be found in the 

 printed Parliamentary Reports for the year 1810. 



In the mean while, many cotton-mills in Lancashire had been lighted with 

 gas, and, among the rest, the extensive manufactory belonging to Mr. Green- 

 away, of Manchester, where Mr. Clegg invented and put in practice the 

 hydraulic main. In 1812 he lighted the cotton-mills of Mr. Samuel Ashton 

 and Brothers, at Hyde, near Stockport, where the lime machine and hydraulic 

 main were introduced with increased effect : this latter invention has since 

 been universally adopted, without the slightest deviation from the original 

 plan. Here twelve-inch cylindrical retorts and improved mouth-pieces were 

 first introduced ; the mechanism was also first attached to the gasometer for 

 regulating its specific gravity. 



In the same year Mr. Clegg lighted Mr. Ackerman's premises in the Strand. 



