320 On the Light-House System of the United States. 
had been made by the light-house engineer of Scotland, and 
after trials of comparative usefulness and economy with that and 
the reflector apparatus at the Inchkeith station. 
In 1834 a new impulse was given to the’ subject of improve- 
ment in light-house illumination by letters on the subject from 
ir Davi rewster, and from the action of the House of Com- 
mons’s select committee on the subject. 78 
The light-house boards of Europe seemed to exert themselves 
to satisfy public opinion by the introduction of the Fresnel Jens 
at a few of the most important points for land lights, and of im- 
proved apparatus for floating lights, consisting of the Argand 
lamps and Parabolic reflectors in general use for land lights, prior 
to the introduction ‘of the Fresnel lens, and moveable machinery 
for converting such fixed floating lights as were necessary into 
revolving ones. . 
Ithough the lens met with much favor in England, and has 
been gradually getting into use, until nearly one-half the sea- 
coast lights have been changed since 1837, still Scotland has in- 
troduced a larger number, in proportion to extent of coast, than 
the Trinity-House corporation. Notwithstanding these decided 
improvements in the lights of Great Britain, another select com- 
mittee on light-houses was raised by the House of Commons in 
1845, and of the benefits arising from this last report, have been 
the introduction of a large number of lens apparatus, not only in 
Great Britain, but also into many of the colonies, and the sub- 
stitution of the colza or rape-seed oil in nearly every light-house 
ingdom, in consequence of its superiority and economy 
compared to the best sperm oil. 
 !Mprovements in illuminating apparatus and construction, ven- 
tilation, combustibles, &c., have made rapid progress in light- 
house engineering in Europe, while in this country no attempt 
has been made to improve the lights, with the exception of the 
act of Congress approved July 7, 1838, and which was the result 
of the recommendation of the Committee of Commerce in the 
Senate, as follows: 
‘Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the 
‘Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed to cause two sets of di- 
optric or lenticular apparatus, one of the first, the other of the 
second class, and also one set, if he deems it expedient, of the 
reflector apparatus, all of the most improved kinds, to be import- 
ed, and cause the said several sets to be set up, and their merits, 
as compared with the apparatus in use, to be tested by full 
satisfactory experiment.” 
* * ans, “7 ss ... 
Under this authority a lens apparatus was placed in each of 
the towers at the highlands of Navesink; and fourteen out of the 
fifteen reflectors were placed in the Boston light-house. 
° 
