OBSERVATIONS 
On the means of perfecting Lamps , with a Descrip¬ 
tion of a new portable one. 
BY COUNT RUMFORD, F. R. S. 
And Foreign Associate of the National Institute. 
Mead at the sitting of the First Class of the Institute , 
June 24th, 1811. 
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Translated from the French, and read before the Society for the Pro- 
motion of Useful Arts, March 25th, 1812. 
BY T. ROMEYN BECK, M. D. &c. 
It is now a long time since the subject of Light has oc¬ 
cupied my attention, and particularly its production during 
the combustion of the various inflammable substances which 
are used to enlighten our dwellings. As a subject of re¬ 
search, it presents phenomena extremely curious, but in 
order to appreciate its value, it is necessary to recur to its 
utility. The advantages which would result from an im¬ 
provement in the mode of lighting houses, are incalculable, 
provided it were sufficiently simple to be generally intro¬ 
duced. Impressed with the importance of this object, it 
has often been the subject of my reflections. 
The result of my researches “ into the quantities of light 
produced by wax, tallow, and the different oils,” are already 
known, having been published in the Philosophical Trans¬ 
actions for 1793, but since that period, I have instituted a 
number of new experiments, particularly with a view to the 
perfecting of lamps. 
Having ascertained that light of a most beautiful quality 
could be produced by a good lamp, for less than one eighth 
