The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-14

de REPORTS uroN THE PAINE LIGHr-A BRIoHr
SIDE LErT.-Two reports have been made by par
ties connected with the gas companies of Boston
and of thss city, upon the apparatus of Mr.. Paine,
of Worcester. The first report was meagre and
curious affair, and the second did not throw much
more light upon the subject 1t was easy to per-
ceive that the commttee-a selfappointed one,
we believe-were on a visit to Worcester TO de-
tecta fraud, and everything they beheld seemed to
square with their Erst conclusions. Among other
things, they saw tin vessel, which they supposed
contained turpentine, but which they found,
through leak, only held water This had pow
erful effect upon their excited imagnations, though
other intelligent persons, present with them at the
time of the examination, did not understand the
construction Of the apparatus to be such as they
have represented.
We are for having simple and exact justice dene
to Mr. Paine, in spite of any alliances of gas pow
ers to put his light out; and, having given the re-
ports of Messrs. Torrey, Chiffon, Darracott, Roome
and Blake, prepared to learn what may be
said on the other side-not having given any
opinion, and not intending to give one, upon what
we have not examined strictly and thoroughly
The opponents of Mr.. Paine acknowledge his pro-
bty and integrity, and, unless they desire to have
the report recently published 1t is altogether too
sweeping and unfair, and makes too much of de-
mand against Mr.. Paine. In the attempt to ami
hilate the inventor, they have jumped too high, and
fallen over their saddles.
Mr.. Samuel H. Greene, of Brookline, Massachu-
sets, has Illuminated us, however, the investi
CATION OF the committee. He it was who invited
them to meet Mr.. Paine, and he has gwen some
explanations which are very interesting He
states that the investigators assured that Mr..
Paine would be at home to explain his apparatus,
ifthey would consent to remain over night. This
they refused to do, being contepted with making
only slight survey, under very inauspicious cir
cumstances Mr. Greene, however, may tell the
remainder of the story. He says
Furthermore, 1t is true and challenge the denial
OF any part OF this statement, that the following
day, upon my receiving line from Mr.. Pedrick then
In Worcester, stating that Mr. Paine at home
called upon Mr. Roome, at the fremont House, and
requested that he would 90 up Worcester that after
noon or in case he could not do this that he would
stop at orcester on his way home to New York. He
Having stated the above facts which have an i'm.
portan bearing though the gentlemen fit to omit
which is unimportant, excepting in particular
but a: this particular portion Of by its careful word
Ing gives to the casual reader false impression under
sembance Of truth it is due to the public that the
truth should be made known.
The report states speaking Of the character of the
lame after the pipe which conveyed the pure hydro
gen into the jar Of turpentne immersed the
second time) :" The flame from the gas after passing
TIN ough turpentine wus proved, beyond all doubt in
minds, to be hydrogen only and not carburetted
hydrogen, as at first and to be totally unfit for umi
nation Mr. Paine, jr, on witnessing the result Of this
last experiment appeared confused and declared that
the light burned as well before but much paler,
TO which we all assented" Now, eye witness Of
the above experiment, in company with the committee
am willing to state under OATH that the flame from
the gas at the time alluded to- had not the
burned with considerably fainter light than when
first showed to them, admit but L would ask the
gentlemen whether, after the pipe immersed the
second time into the jar Of turpentine the gas
burned for more than half minute and whether the
very act OF moving the pipe up and down through
cork Of the jar, did make opening for the en-
trance Of atmospheric air which would account for
the faintness of the fame and too when
1t is remembered for how short space Of time there
after the lame was produced Furthermore, II, As
scientific men, and the paid agents Of parties having
millions at stake. upon so trivial examination,
having as before stated neither witnessed the making
OF the gas nor the rapdy with which IL gene
rated and having the process Of carburetng
e. y. oniy nan amnute-two experiments vital
the OF their feel that they
have done justice to Mr.. Paine, themselves their en-
Pioyers or the public in making any report whatever
Now, this is very simple and intelligent expIa-
nation of the whole matter, and we do not see but
that the Paine light is just as sound and safe as it
was before the publication of the committees re-
port We were prepared to believe that the alleged
invention might be failure in some respects, and
had the report demonstrated this, il would have
been natural. When, however, interested persons
come forward, and charge a man with wilfu false
hood, with knavery, imposition, and fraud, by the
assertion, or its equivalent, that oil gas supplies
light, instead of the process claimed by the inyen-
tor, then we are not disposed to pounce upon the
victim Of such inferences, without something like
positive evidence. Mr.. Paine may deceive him
self-may deceive his frien ds-may believe his
light is all that he pretends il is-but he is not
we imagine, quite much of a fool, or knave,
as the brilliant Illuminating committee would have
us believe.
IL is time, however, that the subject should be
permitted TO rest, and Of that, we believe, we have
assurances. The specifications for the English
patent in the hands of Messrs Barring Brothers,
of London. II is the first patent that they have
ever touched and they must have had some slight
knowledge Of the value of the invention, before
tb.y consented to 60 out Of their usual course of
speculation, to throw new light upon the world.
If they have made mistake, il is one in which
they will have plenty Of company on this side of
the water.
BY the way, we have lately seen a report that
Mr. Paine has been excoriated in the face by the
explosion Of cigar, which had been sent to him
by some mschievous miscreant. This excoria-
ton, and that attempted by the gas companies,
will do well to be classed among the " ills that
flesh is heir to-" Mr.. Paine must look out sharply
for these attacks upon him. LIE has even reason
10 fear when he puts clean shirt, for by the
Paris papers we perceive that the socialists have
invented a destructive white powder. that, II
sprinkled on linen, viii make it more destructive
han the pad rob 81 Il.
when in contact with the body, and blow the
human form enveloped in it to pieces. We hope
the enemies Of Mr.. Paine will not attempt to make
light of him in this way, for the illumination of
many an obscure place is exceedingly desirable in
these dark days, and our only hope must be in an
invention like Mr.. Paine's, which will enable us
tc see every tint, shade and color, in the darkest
hour. There rs no mistake-we want highland
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