LIEUT. DRUMMOND ON THE ILLUMINATION OF LIGHT-HOUSES. 397 
be afforded with a view to effect this object, and that a series of preliminary 
experiments is accordingly to be carried on at their expense. 
Simple as the apparatus and the experiments now described may appear, they 
have occasioned more trouble and anxiety than would be supposed by those 
who have not been engaged in similar pursuits ; but, on the other hand, I fully 
acknowledge the encouragement derived from the interest which they appeared 
to excite. 
His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, Master of the Trinity Corpora- 
tion, was pleased to be present on one occasion, and remained more than an 
hour, entering with great interest into the details, and expressing himself much 
gratified with the effects which were produced. 
Sir George Cockburn and Mr. Barrow from the Admiralty, and several 
other naval men whose opinions on such subjects are entitled to the utmost 
deference, not only attended at the Trinity House, but went afterwards to 
Blackwall to observe the relative appearance of the lights when exhibited at 
a distance. The night of the 31st May had been appointed by the Deputy 
Master for this purpose ; and, being desirous that the subject should be fully 
scrutinized, I was glad to learn on returning from Purfleet that, besides the 
gentlemen immediately connected with the Trinity House, the experiments 
described in Captain Hall’s letter had been witnessed by Admiral Sir Thomas 
Hardy ; by the Lord Advocate of Scotland, one of the Commissioners for the 
northern light-houses ; by Sir Thomas Brisbane, Colonel Colby, Captain Beau- 
fort, Hydrographer to the Admiralty, and several other individuals eminent 
for their professional and scientific attainments ; and as far as I have been able 
to learn, the opinions of these distinguished persons coincide with those ex- 
pressed by Captain Hall, who in fact, as he has given me authority to state, 
endeavoured to frame his account of what passed in strict conformity with 
the general sentiments of the party, and neither to exaggerate nor under-rate 
any of the results. 
It now only remains for me to perform the agreeable task of bearing testimony 
to the liberal spirit evinced by the Trinity Corporation on this occasion, and to 
the desire which they have manifested of facilitating, by every means in their 
power, the introduction of this method of illumination into light-houses. Indeed 
I hesitate not to express my belief that, if this do not take place, it will arise 
