cipal dangers which so conspicuously figured in the reporter's gloomy picture, were confined to coal gas; but although in his estimation the attempts of industrious ingenuity had been so unsuccessful in obviating its direful or offensive attendants, yet a ray of hope enlivened the dark and cheerless prospect. Happily the means of avoiding them had been discovered, and seemed to merit his highest encomiums. The public welfare was the especial object of his constant vigilance, and therefore duty impelled him to direct attention to so important and efficacious a remedy, but with a feeling of regret that so little use had hitherto been made of a substitute so valuable and important. This admirable device was oil gas; and by comparing the concluding observations in both the reports respecting its qualities and advantages, a remarkable resemblance will be perceived in the modes of expression employed, to those which were first used to recommend the patent apparatus to notice.*

* The stopping up and corrosion of pipes, with some other trivial circumstances, which had occurred in the use of coal gas, were arrayed in the Reports among the evils which oil gas was to annihilate; and the reporter, like a skilful general, brought up oil gas as a kind of corps de reserve, probably in order to ensure a certain victory; but strenuously as he exerted himself in the contest, the Committee seem

The Patentees of the Oil-gas apparatus had been unremitting in their exertions to introduce it into use, and companies had been formed for that purpose in Norwich, Hull, Plymouth, Taunton, Dublin, and Liverpool. At the period when the two Reports of the Inspector of Gas Works were ordered to be printed by the House of Commons, Mr. M. Ricardo, also, very opportunely appeared again in the Annals of Philosophy, as the champion of Oil Gas, acknowledging, however, that "the formation of a company was in contemplation" when he "first wrote;" and that "all the advantages anticipated from it were more than realized. There was not a single annoyance, or the slightest inconvenience, arising from the use of it; while the brilliancy of the light,*, the cleanliness, the saving of trouble, and

not to have noticed his auxiliaries, and left the enemy in possession of the field.

* Mr. Thomas Dewey, of New York, was sent to this country to obtain information respecting gas establishments, and visited several of them in the year 1823; among other things he had an opportunity of witnessing oil gas, at Mile End, exceed coal gas in illuminating power as three and half to one. An establishment for oil gas, with the patent apparatus, was afterwards erected at New York.-Mr. Dewey gave an account of his tour in this kingdom in a letter published in the Annals of Philosophy, December, 1823, p. 401.

many other comforts attending it, were a constant theme of admiration." In his paper he asserts, that "no one can speak more satisfactorily than himself of the benefits arising from its introduction," and he gives a statement, which he calls "a computation of pounds, shillings, and pence, more intelligible to those usually interested in gas concerns than all the philosophical or chemical experiments that can be tried." He refers to "the results of a year's trial at the Old-Ford Works"-as" a successful issue of a fair and impartial trial," but without giving any of the particulars; however, he states that "the Report of the Old-Ford Oil-Gas Company (not yet printed) details the progress of the concern, and expresses the satisfaction of the Committee with the favourable account which they are enabled to lay before the proprietors, and bears testimony to the correctness of all the statements which were made at the commencement, all of which have been fully borne out after a fair and satisfactory trial."*

The Report here alluded to is a docu

* See the Annals of Philosophy for March, 1823. This article was printed separately, and very widely circulated, (gratis,) previously to the formation of the London and Westminster Oil-Gas Company, doubtless with the view of giving the public useful and correct information on the subject of oil gas! But, perhaps, the projectors did not then anticipate that Mr. Ricardo would have been so closely

ment of some moment in detailing the operations for the introduction of oil gas; and had its statements been really founded upon facts, it would have been equally fortunate for the proprietors and the public. But future inquiry disclosed the means by which the account was made to appear favourable; and also proved to what extent the "year's trial" at the Old-Ford Works was "fair and impartial," as well as a "successful issue." The plans then pursued, and the representations made, eventually occasioned many respectable individuals to sustain great pecuniary loss, much as they contributed to the temporary benefit of the few who possessed the secret knowledge of their actual management. But as it is evident that the substance of Mr. Ricardo's statements was chiefly derived from the plausible reports of other persons, who were interested in the effects which they were calculated to produce, will it be otherwise than candid to presume that he was himself deceived, and, therefore, was unintentionally instrumental in misleading the public on a subject so important in its consequences ? *

cross-examined when he gave evidence on the Bill, as to the part he had performed in the Old-Ford Works; or that the mode in which the dividend was got up would be elucidated by the striking disclosures of Mr. Crawley, one of the Committee of Management. See Appendix (G).

* When Mr. Ricardo was examined, he stated that he

The Old-Ford Oil-Gas Company having declared a dividend, the circumstance was speedily and widely communicated to the public; but whether the information proceeded from those who were concerned in the delusion, or from other sources, it would perhaps be difficult to ascertain; still, however, the effect was ultimately

then held shares in the Old-Ford Company to the amount of £500, and when the accounts were made up he "had left the works," but he still was of opinion that "there was a profit." In another part of his evidence he states, that " oil gas is most decidedly the more profitable employment of capital." He avowed himself to be "no accountant at all,” yet in two or three instances attempted to enlighten the Committee on the subject of profit and loss. The paradox of loss being profit seems to be, however, confined to his own theory of Political Economy.

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* From Mr. E. T. Crawley's evidence it appeared, that the confidential clerk of the patentees made up the accounts which occasioned the dividend to be declared. From some cause or other, the books were put into his hands, and "he took them to his own house;" where, by taking " a certain number of lights at a wrong calculation," making one winter quarter equal to half a year instead of a third of a year," taking "a great deal of volatile oil, and volatile and foots mixed together, as valuable, and which were afterwards obliged to be buried," he contrived to make the appearance of £200 profit, when there was an actual loss of about £170. Thus a difference of nearly £400 was made in a comparatively small account; for their annual rental was never higher than about £2700. See Appendix (G)