122 THE DAVY TESTIMONIAL. CHAP. VII. 



Stephenson and Davy were constructed was the same ; 

 and although Stephenson' s lamp was, unquestionably, the 

 first successful lamp that had been constructed on such 

 principle, and proved to be efficient, yet Sir H. Davy 

 did invent a safety-lamp, no doubt quite independent of 

 all that Stephenson had done ; and having directed his 

 careful attention to the subject, and elucidated the true 

 theory of explosion of carburetted hydrogen, he was 

 entitled to all praise and reward for his labours. But 

 when the meeting of coal-owners proposed to raise a 

 subscription for the purpose of presenting Sir H. Davy 

 with a reward for " his invention of the safety-lamp," 

 the case was entirely altered ; and Mr. Stephenson's 

 friends then proceeded to assert his claims to be regarded 

 as its first inventor. 



Many meetings took place on the subject, and much 

 discussion ensued, the result of which was that a sum of 

 2000/. was presented to Sir Humphry Davy as " the in- 

 ventor of the safety-lamp ;" but, at the same time, a 

 purse of 100 guineas was voted to George Stephenson, 

 in consideration of what he had done in the same direc- 

 tion. This result was, however, very unsatisfactory to 

 Stephenson, as well as to his friends ; and Mr. Brand- 

 ling, of Gosforth, suggested to him that, the subject 

 being now fairly before the public, he should publish a 

 statement of the facts on which his claim was founded. 



This was not at all in George Stephenson' s line. He 

 had never appeared in print before ; and it seemed to 

 him to be a more formidable thing to write a letter for 

 publication in "the papers" than even to invent a 

 safety-lamp or design a locomotive. However, he called 

 to his aid his son Robert, set him down before a sheet of 

 foolscap, and when all was ready, told him to a put down 

 there just what I tell you." The composition of this 

 letter, as we were informed by the writer of it, occupied 

 more evenings than one ; and when it was at length 

 finished, after many corrections, and fairly copied out, 



