*3 2 
Mr. Murdoch’s Account , &c. 
At the time I commenced my experiments, I was certainly 
unacquainted with the circumstance of the gas from coal hav- 
ing been observed by others to be capable of combustion ; but 
I am since informed, that the current of gas escaping from 
Lord Dundonald’s tar ovens had been frequently fired ; and 
I find that Dr. Clayton, in a Paper in Volume XLI. of the 
Transactions of the Royal Society, so long ago as the year 
1 739, gave an account of some observations and experiments 
made by him, which clearly manifest his knowledge of the 
inflammable property of the gas, which he denominates “ the 
spirit of coals but the idea of applying it as an economical 
substitute for oils and tallow, does not appear to have occurred 
to this gentleman, and I believe I may, without presuming 
too much, claim both the first idea of applying, and the first 
actual application of this gas to economical purposes. 
