ing his stupendous scheme, were generally bungling smiths and low tinkers, who had none of the qualifications of good workmen; and neither was he, nor had he any one else, capable of giving them proper directions to guide them in the performance of their respective operations.

Afterwards Mr. Winsor removed his exhibitions to Pall Mall, where, early in 1807, he lighted up a part of one side of the street, which was the first instance of this kind of light being applied to such a purpose in London.* He was also the projector of a National Light and Heat

What a striking contrast between the appearance of the 'brilliantly illuminated streets at this time, compared with the days of Henry V.! It is recorded that in 1417, Sir Henry Barton, mayor of London, ordained" lanterns with lights to bee hanged out on the winter evenings between Hallowtide and Candlemasse." Paris was first lighted by an order issued in 1524; and in the beginning of the 16th century, the streets being infested with robbers, the inhabitants were ordered to keep lights burning in the windows of all such houses as fronted the streets. In 1668, when some regulations were made for improving the streets of London, the inhabitants were reminded to hang out their lanterns at the usual time; and in 1690 an order was issued to hang out a light, or lamp, every night as soon as it was dark, from Michaelmas to Christmas. By an act of the common council in 1716, all housekeepers, whose houses fronted any street, lane, or passage, were required to hang out, every dark night, one or

Company; and, having a patent for his plan, he published some pamphlets to recommend it. At the period of their appearance his statements were combated, and those who scrutinized his calculations pointed them out as fallacious and absurd; but subsequent experience has demonstrated them to be most egregiously erroneous. According to his representations, by a deposit of five pounds, a a person might secure a handsome annual income, and the profits would nearly equal those of the New River Company!* The expectation of such extraordinary pecuniary advantages induced many

more lights, to burn from six to eleven o'clock, under the penalty of one shilling. In 1736 the lord mayor and com. mon council applied to parliament for an act to enable them to erect lamps; and in 1744 they obtained farther powers for lighting the city. Birmingham was first lighted by lamps in the year 1733, so that in this improvement it preceded the metropolis. See Beckman's History of Inventions, Vol. III. The following is copied from a circular of Mr. Winsor's in 1805. After enumerating various royal, noble, and says too numerous to men

scientific persons, "who are," he

tion," he continues,-"I have made great improvements in my patent light stoves, purified the gas-lights from all scent, and increased their lustre.

"Persuaded of immense advantages, and encouruged by numerous friends, I beg leave to offer you the inclosed plan, for a profitable national company; because most institutions owe their rise to the support of great philanthropic and commercial men, such as I have now the honour of addressing.

persons to pay the deposit; but circumstances have long since undeceived these original subscribers, and proved the utter impossibility of realizing such felicitous prospects. But how often has the love of gain induced men to give a willing ear to the flattering and delusive tales of projectors! Perhaps, however, it is well for the world that self-interest sometimes disposes men to pursue and cherish these hopeful illusions, till time and experience disabuse them of their mistakes; for though individuals may occasionally suffer, the public is often greatly benefited. In favour of Mr. Winsor, it ought to be observed, that, notwithstanding the preposterous notions he broached respecting the profits to be obtained by his scheme, he, probably, may be considered as remotely the

"With the patronage of you and your friends, a national concern will soon be raised to open a mine of wealth in Britain, and add to the despair of our foes in their devices for our ruin.

"Two houses are now fitting up as a standard for a general introduction of gas lights, now clarified to their utmost brilliance.

"The five pounds' deposit will suffice for realizing the plan in London and its environs, and all further sums wanting will prove but a small deduction from speedy profits.

"The official experiments, as the basis of my greatly under-valued estimates, will be repeated to any number of my subscribers."-See Appendix B.

cause of the formation of public companies to carry on the operations, and to diffuse the benefits, of Gas-lighting.*

It has been stated that Mr. Winsor raised nearly fifty thousand pounds by the subscriptions for establishing his New Light and Heat Company; but large as was the amount he was not enriched by it, for the whole was expended upon his projects. The retort in which he distilled his coal was an iron vessel, similar to a pot with a lid, well fitted and luted to the top of it. To the centre of the lid a pipe was fixed, to convey the gas to his condensing vessel, which was a circular cistern, made of a conical form, broader at the bottom than the top; it was divided into two or three separate compartments, and the plates that formed the division were perforated with a great number of holes, in order to spread the gas as it passed through them, to purify it from the sulphuretted hydrogen and ammonia; but the operation was very imperfect with respect to the former. But in his first trials at the Lyceum, and for a considerable time afterwards, the gas was

* About this time a few individuals, among whom was the present Alderman Wood, attempted to light with gas the Golden-Lane brewery, and a part of Beech Street and Whitecross Street. The first street mains, laid down in Pall Mall, were lead pipes.

burnt in a very impure state, which produced head-ache, and other unpleasant consequences to. his auditors who inhaled it. As it was condensed by passing it through water, it was of course deprived of a great part of the ammonia; but when he had afterwards recourse to lime and water to purify it, the process was very defective, and a great part of the sulphuretted hydrogen remained, The pipes which he employed to convey the gas from his apparatus consisted chiefly of lead, and only those parts which connected them with the burners were made of copper. His burners were Argands, jets, batswings, &c., similar to those now in use. He continued his exhibitions in Pall Mall for several years; he was constantly soliciting the public, by advertisements and pamphlets, to attend to and patronize his plans, and events have proved that his exertions were not ineffective.