"There is another most important property attaching to the production of the oil gas, namely, that it may be generated in the largest quantities without any residuum whatever; while the nuisances and inconveniences resulting from the different products created in the carbonization of coal have become the subject of very serious complaint and litigation.

"The smell also of the oil gas is far less offensive, and is free from that discolouration and tarnish of furniture which attend the use of the coal gas; nor can I resist alluding to the many important considerations of national policy which connect themselves with the encouragement that would be given to our fisheries by the more general use of oil gas, in restoring to them the same, or even a more extended, market than they possessed previous to the introduction of the coal gas-lights, without, as it appears to me, one single drawback; on the contrary, with every other inducement in its favour."

In conclusion, he expresses a "hope that every allowance will be made for the shortness of the time in which he has been required to draw up the Report, and that it will be viewed only as a general outline of a more detailed statement upon this very important subject."

The substance of this report may be deemed useful, inasmuch as it communicates some very

cr

interesting particulars relative to the extent and number of the gas-light establishments in the metropolis; but, in other respects, its details were vague and unsatisfactory, as well as being calculated, unnecessarily, to produce very unfavourable impressions with regard to coal-gas establishments. The concluding remarks upon the comparative safety and superiority of oil gas to coal gas also evinced the reporter's knowledge of the subject to be inaccurate, or surely he could not have made statements so erroneous and delusive as those which relate to the very narrow limits of the explosive mixture" that it forms with atmospheric air; its having a less offensive smell; not any residuum in making; and not having "one single drawback, with every other inducement in its favour." Would it have reflected less credit on his labours had he ascertained how far these statements respecting oil gas were correct, before he attempted to give them currency? Without questioning the motives in which they might originate, would it not have accorded more with the duty and dignity of one who was especially appointed to attend to the safety and convenience of the community, to have detailed only what he himself knew to be facts, rather than the confident assertions of others, which, if not illusive, were partial, and wanted evidence to sanction and to corroborate their authority?

CHAPTER XV.

SIR WILLIAM CONGREVE'S SECOND REPORT. A

SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COM

MONS APPOINTED, AND THEIR INQUIRY AND REPORT.

How truly gratifying, it is to contemplate the contrast between the state of the Chartered Company's establishment, with only one gasometer of 14,000 cubic feet, when the Committee of the Royal Society visited them in 1814, and the period of Sir William Congreve's inspection in 1822. In his first report he has drawn a faint and imperfect sketch of their extent; but in that for 1823, by a minute relation of the number of retorts employed, the quantity of coal carbonized, the gas produced, amount of capital engaged, &c., he delineated a grand and interesting pieture of the magnitude to which not only these but other gas works had then attained. The particulars are important, and were probably derived from authentic documents furnished by the companies; consequently, it is fair to conclude, that they may be relied upon, as exhibiting a faithful and correct detail of those concerns at that period. He commences his report by stating, that he has "endeavoured to procure all the

details of the different companies which are placed under the inspection of the Secretary of State's Office by clauses in their respective Acts of Parliament, and formed them into tables," which he annexed to the Report; and the circumstances recounted in the following extracts afford some important information with regard to the extensive progress of Gas-lighting in the metropolis.

Sir W. Congreve observes, that "by these tables the capitals, rentals, dividends, &c., with the number of retorts and gasometers at work, the quantity of gas produced, number of lamps lighted, quantity of coal consumed, &c., in each of these establishments, at any particular time during the last half year, may be ascertained."

With the Report he also "transmitted a plan of London, in which were marked, in different colours, the different stations of all the different gas works, with the various ramifications of their mains through the streets of the metropolis; so that, by a reference to the tables and to the plan, the most essential particulars, both financial and mechanical, relative to the works, might at once be obtained on inspection."

He then proceeded to give the state of the different companies at that period; and began with the London Gas-light and Coke Company. "At the Peter Street station the whole number of the retorts which they had fixed was 300; the greatest

number working at any time during the last year 221; the least 87. Fifteen gasometers, varying in dimensions, the contents computed on an average at 20,626 cubic feet each, amounting to 309,385 cubic feet altogether; but never quite filled the working contents estimated at 18,626 cubic feet each-in the whole at 279,390 cubic feet. The extent of mains belonging to this station is about fifty-seven miles, there being two separate mains in some of the streets; the produce of gas from 10,000 to 12,000 cubic feet from a chaldron of coals. The weekly consumption of coal is reckoned at forty-two bushels for each retort, amounting to about 602 chaldrons; and taking the average number of retorts worked at this station at about 153, would give an annual consumption of coals of upwards of 9,282 chal drons, producing 111,384,000 cubic feet of gas.

"The average number of lights during the year 1822 was 10,660 private, 2248 street lamps, theatres, 3,894.

"At the Brick Lane Works the number of retorts which were fixed was 371, the greatest number worked 217, and the least 60. The number of gasometers 12, each averaging 18,427 cubic feet, amounting in the whole to 221,131 cubic feet; and their average working contents 197,124 cubic feet. The average number of retorts worked was 133; the coals consumed 8060 chaldrons;