within three years from the time the charter should be granted. For managing the affairs of the corporation, a governor, a deputy governor, and ten directors, were to be elected; and holders of two shares, and less than four, to have one vote; four, and less than eight, two; eight, and less than sixteen, three; sixteen, and less than twentyfour, four; and twenty-four, and upwards, five votes; and no person was to be entitled to vote unless he held two shares, and had possessed them for six calendar months. A variety of minuter conditions were included respecting general meetings, dividends, &c., which it is unnecessary to detail, but such is a general outline of the act. Thus, by perseverance, the persons who had engaged in this great speculation succeeded in the attainment of the leading point which they had so anxiously sought; and Mr. Winsor's plan of a National Light and Heat Company was in part accomplished, by the legal formation of a local Gas-Light and Coke Company.

Whatever reflections were made at the time the subject was so much agitated, it must be admitted that the zealous and unremitted exertions of the individuals engaged in this arduous business have been productive of very important consequences; but the advantages resulting from their success have proved beneficial to the public in a much greater proportion than to the original projectors,

or the present proprietors. From the extent to which Gas-lighting has since been applied, if Mr. Winsor could have unquestionably shewn his just right to a patent for the discovery, the pecuniary benefit he might have derived from it would have been very considerable; but whatever praise may be due to him for attracting attention to the subject, it is now generally allowed that he was not the discoverer, and that his pretensions to be such had no foundation.

The incorporation of this company conduced to fixing the art of Gas-lighting upon such a basis as promised its permanent establishment, and increased the probability of its ultimate success. Various and plausible as were the objections urged against it at the time, experience has proved that the property of any individual was neither adequate to the magnitude, nor likely to be risked in such large and expensive undertakings; and this was shewn by some facts adduced in the evidence to support the bill. By calculations that were made from actual surveys, it appeared that the expense of laying down pipes for the city of Westminster alone would be £150,000, without including any thing else. There were also other circumstances that entitled this company to particular attention; for, previous to this period, their experiments for making, purifying, and applying the use of coal gas to the purposes of lighting, had been made on a

large and expensive scale. And although the public had been partially benefited from the knowledge obtained by their means, hitherto no pecuniary advantage had resulted to themselves, notwithstanding their zealous exertions to improve and introduce the art of Gas-lighting. However, the hope of future benefits animated them in their farther efforts to attain their object. Perseverance enabled them to overcome the great difficulties which attended their pursuits; the success of their endeavours has excited and encouraged others to engage in the same course and imitate their example; and how many similar companies may trace their origin to the stimulus produced by the successful establishment of this!

CHAPTER VIII.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMPANY AFTER OBTAINING THEIR ACT. MR. ACCUM BECOMES A DIRECTOR. MR. CLEGG APPOINTED ENGINEER. EXPLOSION

AT PETER STREET.

When science has suggested the means of improvement in art, how numerous are the instances where those sordid feelings which are occasionally generated by the spirit of trade, have unfortu

nately interposed to prevent or delay their adoption! Whenever this occurs, it is much to be regretted, but such was at first the case with respect to Gas-lighting; and independently of the powerful opposition and interference of private interest, it had to contend with the strong current of inveterate prejudices. Moreover, from the novelty of the art, the requisite knowledge of its principles and processes, and a proper degree of skill for conducting them, were confined to comparatively few persons; and these were circumstances which inevitably retarded its progress. But this company having now been embodied by legal authority, and with a large capital at their command, had recourse to the most effectual means to obviate such inconveniences. To accomplish their purposes, those who were invested with its management, and interested in its success, diligently sought men whose scientific acquirements, and superior mechanical abilities, were most likely to enable them to suggest improvements and carry their plans into effect. Circumstances prevented the rapid advance of their operations; nevertheless their useful labours conduced to the perfection of the art. But in every new scheme, however great may be its ultimate advantages to the public, it often happens that the perception of its utility is very slow. The introduction of it is usually at

tended with difficulties and discouragements; and. this company had to struggle with many of them for several years.

All the first attempts at Gas-lighting, by the persons who afterwards formed the Chartered Gas Company, were made in Pall Mall. But after they became a legalized body, they purchased the lease of a large wharf and premises in Cannon Row, Westminster; however, they found the place inconvenient, and were afterwards obliged to abandon it. Their experiments at this place were very expensive, and absorbed nearly the whole of their first deposits of ten pounds per share on the four thousand of which the company consisted. Although not named in the act of incorporation, Mr. Winsor was a principal person concerned in it; and it has been asserted, and circumstances render it probable, that Mr. Accum commenced his career in Gas-lighting in conjunction with him. Mr. Accum admitted in his evidence that he had made, experiments for Mr. Winsor's committee twelve months before; and it is certain that both were directors after the charter was obtained; that they were joint operators, and pursued their own particular plans of experimenting; and that Mr. Accum was allowed a salary of five hundred a year. A Mr. Hargreaves also assisted Mr. Accum in directing some of the operations.

On the 30th of April, 1812, a charter was