The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1815-04-26

tor OF the SHOP was so civil as TO shew me his
apparatus, which was arranged in cellar be-
uea,b the room in which the lights were ex-
hbiscd, and, although the APPARATUS was q
good one, i think il was inferior, in several
respects, 10 yours. There was however ono
circumstance which struck me as par,c ular-
ly jndicions, although cannot say how gen-
eral'y II is adopted in other establishments of
this kind-l sludc 10 the placing oil quick
lime IN the water Of the apparatus intended
10 wash the Gas las the corbonic acid is tho
most troublesome foreign body which is com
monty found mixed with the innamablc Gas,
the lime performs an impor,an, service, by
removing i more rapidly than the water u
lone would do, or, after 1t is saturated with il.
have tried many experiments on dificrcne
subsiauccs, Tor the purpose Of obtaining in-
Hsmable Gasses, TO afford light by their COM
bustion. Some sorts Of coal give only poor
Gas burning with pale blue light, and, with
only feeble illumination, while from othcc
kinds Of coal, the Gas gives rich brilliant
light hardly surpassed by any thing. boz
licvc the Camel coal is generally used in
Great Britain ] have found some spc-
cimens Of the Richmond coal (Virginia)
answer very well but few substances which
l have tried, affords richer Gas than walnut
meats, Gas they arc commonly calcd) and
even the whole Of the walnut (shcil and alr
answers very well, and, quart of walnuts
will afford barrel OF Gas.---W Walnuts are two
dear in the maritime parts of New. England
TO be substituted for-coal, but the hint might
be Of advantage il some parts Of this country
were wanuls abound and coal is dear.
The ligh, from the innamable gasses when
OF good quality, 10 remarkably steady, and
uniform, as there is no wick, no snutfing is
necessary, and workmen in manufactures
lighted in tins manner, are not interrupted ag
they commonly arc, in trimming their Tampa
and snufiing their candles the light docs
not become dim occasionally as that from
lamps and candles docs ;--nothing ials from
the lights or can possibly fly from 1t 10 kindle
cotton, linen or other iDilamablc substances
which abound in many manufactures, and, as
the Gas Light is necessarily confined 10 tho
spot where il is used, and, us any particular
light can be Instantly cx,inguishcd by simply
turning the key OF a stop cock connected with
that particular tube, or, the whole can be PUT
out by turning the key Of tho main tube, the
security agains, FIRE becomes as complete No
the nature OF combustion will probably ever
permit.
IL is n circumstance also OF no small i'm
portance, that workman may regulate tho
quantity of light which he wishes, by pro-
perly adjusting the key oi the stop cock IL
the workman wishes 10 GO away for a time,
and still does not choose TO cxtinguish his
light, he may, by cautiously closing the key
Of the stop cock reduce the fame TO q mere
point, which like a little brilliant star rests
on the oriice Of the tube, and will remain SO
for hours, with scarcely perccptbIc dom
sumption Of Gas, and when the key is again
turned back, the light blazcs out anew with
its former brilliancy Much more might bo
written on this subject upon which, sir, you
have requested my opinion, but perhaps it is
not neecssary.-If apparatus, material and
attendance uro no, materially moro expensive
iu this country than in England tho Gus
Lights can, and, without doubt will be, ad-
vantsgcousy introduced into our manufacto-
rics--I wish you success in your laudablc cf-
forts TO make this useful and comparatively
novel subject known to our counlrymeii, who
arc certainly inferior 10 tho people Of no
county in ingenuity, resource and enterprise
although they often are in that perfect
knowledge Of the subject TO which they turn
their attention, which in older countries re-
suits from more minute division Of labor
and employment, and, OF coursc'a more COM
plcte devotion TO one object.
Iremain, sir, respectfully, your most obc-
dicnt servant,
BENJAMIN SILLIMAN.
o-J' Those printers in this State. and in Boston.
Eew-Yo,k, Philadelphia, Baltimore and elsewhere,
who feel sufficiently interested in the introduction OF
useful Improvements in country to give the above
a publication in their papers, will merit the thanks
of the community, and receive those OF
DAVID MELVILLE.
Ne~port. .abri 26. 1915