The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-01 00:00:00

2'IIE

On Tuesday- evening a considerable number of per-
sons were invited to the Crystal Palace to witness
the exhibition of a new lighting apparatus. For
several years back the ingenuity of inventors has
been directed to the discovery of a mode of light-
ing more economical, more convenient, and more
powerful than that which we now possess by means
of the generation of light from coal. The electric
light, which has been frequently exhibited in Lon-
don, was the netirest approach to a mode of lighting
calculated to supersede. the existing means of produc-
ing light from coal; but, though admitted to be ex-
' treniely powerful, it was deficient in that steadiness,
' continuity, diffusiveness, and economy which could
alone render it available for the practical purposes of
life. These, therefore, were the- recommendations
which any 110. W inventors must associate with their
light, in order that it should become of practical
importance ; and it was forth,: purpose of showing
how far they had succeeded in this respect that
they invited a large public to witness the exhibi-
tion of their light yesterday evening at the Crystal
Palace. The new light is obtained by projecting a
jet of oxygen and hydrogen, or oxygen and car-
biiretted hydrogen gases combined, upon a surface
of linie,.and so regulating the supply and protect-
ing the lime from crumbling away as to ensure,
with perfect continuity, a maximum brilliancy of
intensity .and continuity.
With regard to the power of the lime light, a
single jet of medium size has been found to be
equivalent to 40 argand or 80 fish-tail burners,
each Consumirig five cubic feet per hour, or to 400
wax. candles of four to the pound.

The new .light is represented to be peculiarly
adapted for coast lights, steamers, sailing vessels,
railways, s;gnals, bridges, wharfs, churches, facto-
ries, public rooms, squares, large and important
thoroughfares. From its portability, it is eminently
adapted for military operations in the field, both in
attack and defence of important positions, as well as
the service of the Coastguard, both as an element of
protection against surprise, and as a valuable adjunct
to the already extensive arrangements for the safety
of life.

A very important application of the light is its
adaptation to the mining service, by which the
safety of the' miner will be effectually secured by
the enclosure of the light, and its supply with oxy-
gen gas, without the necessity for direct communi-
cation with the surrounding atmosphere.
With respect to the important question of expense,
it was stated that the cost of maintaining the light
. was considerably less than any other known light,
in the following proportion :—Oxyhydrogen lime
light, I.d. per hour ; coal gas, 4d.; argand oil, 1.5 d. ;
wax candles, God. per hour.
How far these representations may he borne out
in practice can only be ascertained by the test of ac-
tual experience, but, us far as the exhibition of last
night was concerned, the result wad entirely satis-
factory. The larger portion of the transept of
the .Crystal Palace was illuminated by the new
ight, concentrated in a large disc, and its illustra-
tive power was conveyed in a column of distinct
rays to the spectator at the further end of the pa-
lace.. The light was steady, brilliant, and diffusive,
and if it can be economically distributed there can
be little doubt of its suece.4. . Every one can appre-
ciate the advantage, in economical arrangements, of
a light from lime in preference to a light from coal;
and without taking upon ourselves to decide whe-
ther the proposed lime light be the most efficient
illuminator, there can be little doubt that the time
is not remote when a mode of generating, both light
and heat, more economical and more effective than
the present one, will-be discovered by the necessi-
ties, if not by the ingenuity of man.
After the exhibition of the light, the company
sat down to a sumptuous dinner, at which Captain
Richards, chairman of the Lime Light Company,
presided. The prosperity of the company and the
success of the undertaking was, as might be ex-
pected, the chief topic of conversation, and amongst
those who bore testimony to the importance of the
re,s,t!,lts obtained by the company was Sir C. Bright.
ne musical arrangements of the evening were
conducted by Mr. Genge, and Mr. Toole pi rformed
the duties of toastmaster in the most efficient
manner.

Tim BUILDERS' STRIKE.-It appears from official
returns by the members of the Central Association of Master
Builders that above 15,000 men were at work under the de-
claration on Saturday, the 26th ult., and up to the same
date about 4,000 men had entered under a shop rule cmbrac
iva the spirit of the dtauuti)u,