16 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Gas-lights, being then a novelty, created much surprise and admiration ; in- 

 deed, a lady of rank was so much astonished and delighted with the bril- 

 liancy of a lamp fixed on the shop counter, that she begged to be allowed to 

 carry it home in her carriage, offering any sum for a lamp so far superior to 

 any she had before seen ; this is a proof how little the nature of gas-lighting 

 was at that time understood. The great success of the plan pursued in light- 

 ing this establishment was the cause of Mr. Clegg's being engaged as engineer 

 to the Chartered Gas-light and Coke Company. 



When the gas apparatus at Mr. Ackerman's had been at work some time, 

 a fear was entertained of its having to be discontinued, from the great com- 

 plaints that arose of the refuse lime-water running into the main shore. To 

 remedy this evil, the use of cream-lime was substituted ; but this plan was 

 afterwards abandoned, on account of the quantity of lime it required ; it was 

 not then known that a great extent of surface was necessary. 



From the time of the formation of the Chartered Gas-light and Coke Com- 

 pany to the year 1813 (when Mr. Clegg was engaged as engineer), the works 

 had been entrusted to Messrs. Winsor, Accum and Hargraves ; it will appear 

 an enigma at the present day, how their attempts to construct a gas appara- 

 tus could so utterly have failed ; but it must be remembered that nothing 

 had yet been done to which reference could be made all was new. Much 

 time and money had consequently been uselessly expended, and at this time, 

 (1813) the Company was nearly on the point of dissolution. Mr. Clegg having 

 been educated an engineer at Messrs. Boulton and Watt's establishment, and 

 having already had much experience in lighting private establishments with 

 gas, it may be conceived that the affairs of the Company were conducted with 

 more skill and judgment than hitherto. But still, though the concern was now 

 put in a better train, many difficulties had to be encountered and overcome, 

 and additional expenses to be incurred, before the Company could expect to 

 receive any return for their immense outlay. The existing apparatus was dis- 

 carded, being perfectly useless, and new machines were constructed on an 

 improved plan. The engineer had not only to invent the necessary apparatus, 

 but also to instruct the workmen in the use of these inventions ; for where 

 the masters were so ignorant, much knowledge could not be expected from 

 the men. 



The great prejudice entertained against the introduction of gas-lighting, 

 not only by the public but also by men of science, seemed at one time to pre- 



