The Sun.
London, England, 1823-05-13 00:00:00

GAS LIGHTS.

MR. EDITOR—The discussions pending at this
time before the Committees on Gas Light Bills,
in the House of Commons, on the respective merits
of Coal and Oil Gases, are of sufficient public
importance to induce me to conclude that you will
afford a corner in your valuable Journal for a few
observations from perhaps the largest experienced
consumer of gas, for the purposes of domestic il-
lumination, since this new mode was originally
proposed.

It is nearly twenty years since I witnested se'
feral experiments on the inflammable gas obtain-
able from coal, wood, oils, and whale blubber.
Theobject sought to be by them established, was
the comparative efficiency of the lights produced,
as applicable to domestic uses. The results
proved, that if the gas produced by coal could be
divested of its sulphurous parts, by purification,
it would certainly be preferable to that yielded
from oil, although the ptocess was less complex
for the latter, and its intensity of _light much
greater. This preference of coal gas arose from
the great difficulty of obtaining well manufac-
tured tubes for the conveyance of oil gas, from
its extreme penetrating qualities through the
slightest fissure, or porous parts of joints, and ne-
cessary connections in pipes, as well as from the
abundant emission of carbon during combustion,
especially under an unexpected increase of pres-
sure, or through the carelessness or ignorance of
servants, in adjusting the stop-cock, thereby pro-
ducing the same effect as when the wick of any
oil lamp is suffered to be so high as to smoke and
fill the room with" blacks," the annoyance of which
is well known, independently of the injury caused
to furniture and ceilings.
The gas from wood did riot appear at all likely
to be fit for useful application, on account of the
pyroligneons effluvia attending its combustion,
and the want of sufficient intensity of light from it.

These disadvantages did not result from coal
gas to the same extent, and, as far as they exist-
ed, have proved to be easily surmounted, which
accounts for its adoption, and the encouragement
it has met with of late years, especially for
shops and streets. Private houses have introduced
the use of this light less rapidly than might have
been expected, owing, perhaps, to the prejudices
attending the introduction of new discoveries,
1 have it in every part of my house, to the entire
exclusion of tallow and oil, my chamber and
nursery having the light burning regularly through
the whole night. The heAlth of my family has
not in the least suffered from it, and the use of it
in the drawing and dining rooms appears to tend
to preserve the oyiginal appearance of delicate
coloured chintz furniture, carpets, and gilt orna-
ments, or rather that the injurious effects of other
modes of lighting have not been at all discern-
ible. Its convenience, safety, cleanliness, and
avoidance of grease spots, renders it so desirable,
that though its expence might be treble what it
now is, and the great economy now experienced,
not to be felt, I would certainly not desist from
the use of it.

These observations premised, I will briefly ad-
vert to the claims of Oil Gas, to supersede the
use of Coal Gas.

The process of generating the former is said to
be more simple ; supposing it to be so, still that
does not interest the public, where the supply
can be obtained from the mains in our streets ;
but where this does not exist, it ought to be
known, that the means of procuring coal gas are
no more, if so difficult, than for oil gas. An
equally portable apparatus has been, and is em-
ployed, for making the gas from coal, on a small
scale, as has been introduced for oil ; and from
inspecting which; I have been able, during a
visit on the continent, to contrive a method to
supply myself, without material inconvenience,
from the fire that heated my sitting room, with a
beautiful and perfectly pure coal gas light ; so
that I have no doubt the benefits of the invention
will be soon procurable from the kitchen fire,
the trouble of which will not be considered an
obstacle, where no more read) means to obtain
the gas exist.
An increased 'intensity of light is next put
forth as a recommendation of oil gas, but as has
-been already stated, the superabundance of car-
bon it contains, will, in practice, more than
counterbalance the advantage supposed to be de-
rived, by the production of a greater light from a
smaller sized flame, and the oleaginous " blacks"
or soot produced from an excess of it will be
found most prejudicial : so that, on the score of
cleanliness, it, certainly cannot compete with coal
gas ; and although an equal sized flame gives,
to that from oil, a greater intensity of light, yet
its expense is by tio means less than that from
coal ; for its manufacturers propose to furnish only
one third in quantity, Or thereabouts, of oil gas,
for the price Paid for coal gas, so that the public
do not
btetit by
the professed advantage of in-
creased intensity. For this reason, oil gas con-
sumers are required to take their gas by measure,
and not per light, as coal gas is mostly supplied,
which secures the manufacturer against all waste-
' ful burning, while it materially militates against
the pocket of the consumer, for should neglect,
or a more reprehensible motive, cause a consump-
tion of oil gas to the excess that is nightly apparent
in the burning of coal gas, either as to volume of
flame, or even in some instances, as to intensity
of light, he will be at three times the cost for oil
than he would have beet) for coal gas.

Admitting a superior intensity of light, yet ano-
ther objection of importance arises, from the less
degree of tenacity of the
oil gas flame to continue
ignited. It has been proved, that it is liable to
be extinguished, by the drafts or currents of air,
frequently experienced in passages, and in rooms
by the sudden shutting or opening of doors. This
may be accounted for, both from the components of
nit gas, and from the slighter pressure, the in-
terest of the manufacturer obliges him to regulate
the supply with, in the main pipes.
This objection does not apply (except in a far
more remote degree) to coal gas ; the constitu-
tion of which, as well as the high pressure a re-

gular and sufficient
,supply requires, render it in
this respect much superior, especially as the
manufacturer is not furnishing so costly a ma-
terial, and therefore is more capable of dispens-
ing it with the liberality the public expect.
The consequences to be apprehended from the
facility in oil gas to be extinguished by a slight
puff of air are most serious, since the liability of
explosion is thereby much greater.
A material advantage of coal gas, which nightly
experience convinces me of, is the smallness of
light it can at pleasure be xeduced to, even less
than a rushlight, and yet to possess the satisfac-
tion of having a larger light at command, by the
mere turn of the valve : to myself, and all others,
to whore much light in a bed-chtlmber is un-
pleasant, this is a circumstance of great comfort,
not attainable from oil gas.

It is also stated that the action and incrusta-
tion caused by coal gas (which by the way,
must be from its impurity not having been duly
removed) in copper and brass tubing, does not
occur with oil gas. •The inquiries I have had the
curiosity to make into this fact, shew, however,
that in fittings used some years for oil gas, a
thick matter depo/its itself, not sufficiently liquid
to be removed by inclining the tube containing
it ; so that all the present inconveniences nd
expence of renewing and cleansing coal gas copper
fittings will be experienced where oil gas is used.
Moreover this accumulation or precipitate takes
place uniformly in every species of metallic tubes
with oil gas, whereas impure coal gas only will
produce an action on copper, and on no other
metal likely to be used for the conveyance of
gas. I take this opportunity of stating from ob-
servation and experience, that lead and tin tubing
is most fit for the purpose, although seldom re-
commended, because gas light fitters find it less
profitable to use the most durable material, as it
renders their services far less frequently neces•
sary. _ _

having generally shown that Oil Gas does not
equal Coal Gas for cleanliness, economy, conve•
nience, or safety, I have only to observe that it
is competent for the existing Gas Companies to
adopt such material for the production of gas
fights as appears most beneficial to the Public ;
and if any superior to coal should be found, it
will be to their interest to substitute it ; but until
then the advantages from an increased consump-
tion of coal, as affording the REAL NURSERY FOR
SEAMEN, which is not derived from the Whale
Fisheries, as is erroneously, supposed, most ensure
encouragement from the Public for the use of
Coal Gas.

VERAX.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING, 11323.

MONDAY, MAY 12.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 soy. each, for three-yr-olds and
6st.
65.
_upward:.
IA G. H. Cavendish's c. by Orville, out of Barrossa, 3 yrs
- - 1
Ld Warwick's Cardinal Puff, 3 yrs, 6st. 1011).
Mr. Wyndham's Black-and-all-Black, 5 yrs, Bst. 101 b. 3
Mr. Hunter's Tressilian, 5 yrs, Bst. 121 b. - -
Mr. Prendergast's f. by Rainbow, 4 yrs, 7st. 71b. - 5
5 to 2 agst Orville c.-2 to 1 apt Treasilian.
Sweepstakes of 100 soy. each, h. ft. for 3-yr-old colts, Bst. 61t.
i is
fillies, fist. 3tb. not engaged in the Derby or Oaks. P.M.
LowtherLd
dout of names Mr.
esMr.. Rogers. 's b. c.. Eden., by Com. us,
21
D. of Grafton's c. by Soothsayer, out of Petronilla -
D. of Portland's c. by Teasdale, out of an Election mare 3
Ld Grosvenor's Bryn-y.orkyn - -
sto 4 agst Eden-4 to 1 agst Soothsayer c.-6 to 4 apt Tess-
.

dale c.—Five piiid.
Sir J. Byng's Friar Bacon, Bst. 41b. beat Mr. Thornlulls
Adolphus, list. 71b. Ab.M. 100 sor. h. ft.-6 to 4on Friar
Bacon.

LciExeter's Augusta, Bst. 6fb. beat Mr. Fox's Mae('leitom'
D.M. 200 sov.--Even betting.

LONDON AIARKETs.