the quantity of gas produced 96,720,000 cubic feet; the number of lamps 1978 public, 7366 private, through 40 miles of mains.

"At the Curtain Road establishment the whole number of retorts was 240; the greatest number worked in the last year 80; the lowest 21. The number of gasometers 6, average contents of each 15,077 cubic feet; the contents of the whole 90,467; another gasometer containing 16,655 cubic feet; the average number of retorts worked 55; the coals consumed 3336 chaldrons; quantity of gas produced 40,040,000 cubic feet; the number of lamps supplied 3860 private, and 629 public, through 25 miles of mains.

"The whole annual consumption of coals by the three different stations was 20,678; the quantity of gas produced 248,000,000 cubic feet: the whole number of lamps lighted by this company 30,735, through 122 miles of mains.

"The City of London Gas-light Company, Dorset Street.

"The number of retorts fixed 230; the number of gasometers 6; the largest 39,270 cubic feet, the smallest 5428 cubic feet; two large additional gasometers nearly completed, contents of each 27,030 cubic feet, making in the whole 181,282 cubic feet. The number of lamps lighted 5423 private, and 2413 public, through 50 miles of mains. The greatest number of retorts worked at

time (in 1811) 110, the least 130, average 170. The quantity of coals carbonized amounted to 8840 chaldrons; produced 106,080,000 cubic feet

of gas.

"The South-London Gas-light and Coke Company, at Bankside.

"The number of retorts was 140; gasometers 3; the contents of the whole 41,110 cubic feet; and their mains from 30 to 40 miles in length. At their other station in Wellington Street, they had then no retorts in action; but three large gasometers were erected, containing together 73,565 cubic feet, which were supplied from Bankside till the retorts were ready to work.

"The Imperial Gas-light and Coke Company were erecting at their Hackney station two gasometers of 10,000 cubic feet each, and about to erect four more of the same size. At their Pancras station they had marked out ground for six gasometers of 10,000 cubic feet each."

The Report states, "that, in the year 1814, there was only one gasometer in Peter Street, of 14,000 cubic feet, belonging to the Chartered Gaslight Company, then the only company established in London. At present there are four great companies, having altogether forty-seven gasometers at work, capable of containing in the the whole 917,940 cubic feet of gas, supplied by 1315 retorts, and these consuming 33,000 chaldron of

H

coals in the year, and producing 41,000 chaldron of coke. The whole whole quantity of gas generated annually being upwards of 397,000,000 cubic feet, by which 61,203 private and 7268 public or street lamps are lighted in the metropolis. In addition to these great companies, there are several private companies, whose operations are not included in the foregoing statements."

After suggesting that "the government should give every encouragement to the gas produced from oil," the report reverts to coal gas, and hints at "the imperfection of the system;" but a hope is expressed "that the different companies will give every public encouragement to that description of investigation and experiments calculated to promote its improvement, although no immediate profit should result to the companies." It also notices how "very desirable it is, that when any improvement is realized by any particular company, it should be generally adopted by the rest; and by the due exertion of this spirit, a greater degree of perfection, both as to security and convenience, may be looked for at no distant period."

The statements contained in the preceding extracts, conveyed to the public some interesting and useful information, inasmuch as they display the great advances which had been made in one of the most important of modern improvements

during the course of only a few years. Many of the circumstances detailed were calculated to gratify public curiosity; the relation of them perhaps was strictly within the limits of propriety, as well as consonant to the duty which devolved upon the inspector to perform; and the concluding hints were truly commendable. However, the subsequent parts of the report were unfortunately of a different character, and tended not only to produce painful and groundless apprehensions in the minds of the public, but also seriously to affect the interests of an industrious and enterprising portion of the community who had embarked large property in gas works, and had been the means of effecting a great public benefit.

The report, in the next place, details some experiments to shew the comparative force with which gunpowder and carburetted hydrogen act in explosions, by stating the quantity of gas which is equal in explosive power to a certain number of barrels of gunpowder. But, perhaps, being aware of the impropriety of the analogy, it is remarked, "that in the ordinary condition of carburetted hydrogen it is not explosive, and wants the admixture of atmospheric air." The purposes for which such a comparison was made between substances resembling each other so little in their properties it would be difficult to conjecture, except to divert attention from the real objects of the

report. If gas required previous mixture, and time and preparation to render it explosive, and even then its danger was that of distant probability, why compare a large mass of it with hundreds of barrels of gunpowder, which is known to be a composition always in a state ready for explosion, and that the application of a heated body, or even friction, will occasion it instantly to explode? Such a mode of reasoning, it must be admitted, was not candid, for it tended to alarmı and perpetuate the prejudices of the timid, by exaggerating the dangers of explosions from the use of gas; but possibly it might be intended to operate upon the credulous and partially informed so as to prepare them for believing the allegations which followed, and that the measures devised and recommended might be carried into effect.

Still further, however, to produce effect, a variety of possible causes of danger are assumed and detailed; and many circumstances of inferior moment are noticed as of serious consequence. But the report particularly recommends "that gasometers should not be permitted nearer than 50 or 100 yards to any dwelling-house, from the supposed danger of their proximity." Some remarks follow on the dunger attendant upon the mode of filling, suspending, and constructing gasometers, and gasometer-houses, as well as the mischief which may arise from the casual escape