The safety-lamps and fire-sieves constructed from these experiments, were very properly subjected to the severest trials; to trials, indeed, much more severe than they could ever meet with in the mines.

I submitted the safe-canals,' says SIR HUMPHRY, tubes, and wire gauze fire-sieves to much more severe tests. I made them the medium of communication between a large glass vessel filled with the strongest explosive mixture of carburated hydrogene and air, and a bladder half full of the same mixture, both insulated from the atmosphere. By means of wires passing near the stop-cock of the glass vessel, I fired the explosive mixture in it by the discharge of a Leyden jar. The bladder always expanded at the moment the explosion was made, a contraction as rapidly took place, and a lambent flame played round the mouths of the safety apertures, upon the glass vessel, but the mixture in the bladder did not explode; and, by pressing some of it into the glass vessel, so as to make it replace the foul air, and subjecting it to the electric spark, repeated explosions were produced, proving the perfect security of the safety apertures, even when acted on by a much more powerful explosion than could possibly occur from the introduction of air from the mines.'

These experiments led to several excellent contrivances, which simplified themselves as they proceeded, and ended at last in the Safe-Lamp, made of wire gauze, in the shape of a cage or cylinder. The apertures in the gauze should not exceed th of an inch in diameter; and though the thickness of the wire is not of much importance, as the fire-damp is not inflamed by ignited or red-hot wire, yet from th to th of an inch is found most convenient. The wire cylinder, that serves as a cover to the lamp, and is fastened to it by a screw of four or five turns, should not be more than two inches in diameter. If it is larger, the combustion of the fire-damp within, renders the top inconveniently hot. The size of the lamp, according to the dimensions in the figure which SIR HUMPHRY has given, is one inch six-tenthis for the diameter of the wire cylinder, and six inches and a half for its length. This is screwed down on a cylindric box, containing the oil and the wick, and about two inches and a half in diameter. The gauze cylinder is defended by six strong upright wires, fixed in the upper part of this box, and supporting a cylindric top of metal, to which is fixed the hook or ring by which the lamp is carried. A small cylinder, obliquely projecting from the side of the under part of the lamp, serves to convey the oil to the wick. The whole is so perfectly simple, so easily used, and so little in danger from accidents of any kind, that it is singularly accommodated to the circumstances in which it is to be placed, when it has to encounter ignorance, and the carelessness which even the most iniminent danger cannot repress for a continuance of time.

When this lamp is used, and where the fire-damp has a certain degree of strength, the whole of the wire cylinder is filled with flame; the fire-damp burning with a greenish blue colour, so that this lamp serves to consume the damp, and, of conse quence, not only to discover the enemy, and defend from his attack, but also, finally to destroy him altogether. In no instance could the motto be better applied, NATURA PROPRIIS

ARMIS VICTA.

It is not necessary to say much in commendation of an invention which speaks so forcibly by the effects it has already produced. It has been received by the miners at Whitehaven and Newcastle as a gift from Heaven, which, by its action, equally excited their thankfulness and their astonishment. We have read with much satisfaction, a paragraph from the Newcastle Journal, which far outweighs all other praise.

That when Sir H. DAVY lately passed through that town, a deputation from a general meeting of those interested in the coal trade of the Tyne and Wear, waited on him to testify their respect and admiration of his great and splendid discovery of the Safety-Lamp for exploring mines when charged with inflammable gas. Messrs Watson and Buddle,' it is added, (coal-viewers very much distinguished for their skill and accuracy), ‘have made a variety of trials with this lamp, in places which it was impossible to approach with a common candle without certain destruction, and have completly proved its safety and utility.'

6

If we might presume to add any thing on the subject, it would be with respect to what may be called the scientific merit of this discovery, and of the experiments which led to it. The safelamp is a present from Philosophy to the Arts, and to the class of men farthest removed from the influence of science. The discovery of it is in no degree the effect of accident; and Chance, which comes in for so large a share of the credit of human inventions, has no claims on one, which is altogether the result of patient and enlightened research. The author of this invention had been too long trained in the school of Experimental Invesgation, not to be well aware, that the riches of Nature and the resources of Art are not to be found but in the diligent and scrupulous examination of Phenomena. He began, therefore, with inquiring into the peculiar nature of the gaseous substances, by the inflammation of which such terrible effects had been produced. When he perceived the high temperature required for their inflammation, it immediately occurred, that, on this circumstance, some defence against its violence might perhaps be founded, and some limits set to the rapidity of its communication. By following this suggestion through a train of laborious, difficult,

and often dangerous experiments, the obstacle which this principle set to the communication of flame from one portion of the fire-damp to another; the effect of narrow tubes, of perforated plates, and, finally, of wire-gauze, came all successively in view. Through the whole, we find a series of experiments judiciously directed to their object, and steadily pursued, till, without the intervention of any thing casual, they led to the simple and effectual contrivance which has just been described.

This is exactly such a case as we should choose to place before BACON, were he to revisit the Earth, in order to give him, in a small compass, an idea of the advancement which Philosophy had made, since the time when he had pointed out to her the route which she ought to pursue. The great use of an immediate and constant appeal to experiment, cannot be better evinced than in this example. The result is as wonderful as it is important. An invisible and impalpable barrier made effectual against a force the most violent and irresistible in its operationsand a power that, in its tremendous effects, seemed to emulate the lightning and the earthquake-confined within a narrow space, and shut up in a net of the most slender texture-are facts which must excite a degree of wonder and astonishment, from which, neither ignorance nor wisdom can defend the beholder. When to this we add the beneficial consequences, and the saving of the lives of men, and consider that the effects are to remain as long as coal continues to be dug from the bowels of the earth, it may fairly be said, that there is hardly, in the whole compass of Art or Science, a single invention, of which one would rather wish to be the author. It is little that the highest praise, and that even the voice of national gratitude, when most strongly expressed, can add to the happiness of one who is conscious of having done such a service to his fellow-men. We hope, however, that some distinguished mark of such gratitude will not be wanting, to a person, who, by disarming one of the most powerful agents of destruction, has so well merited a Civic Crown. In this, indeed, the honour of the giver is more interested than that of the receiver: The latter may not admit of much increase; but it nevertheless becomes those, who administer the affairs of a free People, to show themselves grateful for benefits conferred even on the humblest and most obscure of their fellow-citizens.

QUARTERLY LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS, From October 1815, to February 1816.

AGRICULTURE.

The Farmer's Magazine, No. 65. 3s.

Prize Essays and Transactions of the Highland Society of Scotland. To which is prefixed, an Account of the principal Proceedings of the Society, during the Years from April 1807 to January 1815, both inclusive. Drawn up at desire of the Society, by Henry Mackenzie Esq. one of the Directors. Vol. IV. 8vo. 15s. Directions for preparing Manure from Peat, and Instructions for Foresters. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

ARTS AND SCIENCES.

A Practical Treatise on the Disease of the Foot of the Horse, with Observations on Shoeing. By R. H. Budd. 8vo. 10s, 6d. A Treatise on Canals and Reservoirs, Corn Mills, &c. Sutcliffe. 8vo. 12s.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

By J.

The Third Volume of Dibdin's Ames, containing Portraits of Dr Farmer, George Steevens, and Isaac Reed. 31. 13s. 6d.

A Catalogue of the Singular and curious Library, originally formed between 1610 and 1650, by Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, Bart., Author of the Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.' 4s.

BIOGRAPHY.

Remains of William Reed, late of Thornbury; including Rambles in Ireland, with other Compositions in Prose; his Correspondence, and Poetical Productions. To which is prefixed, a Memoir of his Life. By the Rev. John Evans, Author of the Ponderer. 8vo. 10s. 6d. (Royal 15s.)

The Ninth Volume of the Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, comprising Biographical Memoirs of William Bowyer, Printer, F. S. A., and a considerable number of Eminent Writers and ingenious Artists. By John Nichols, F. S. A. Illustrated with ten Portraits, and three other Plates, 17. Ss. A very copious General Index to the eighth and ninth Volumes, which completes the Work. 14.s.

CLASSICS.

Euripidis Alcestes, ad Fidem Manuscriptorum ac Veterum Editionum; emendavit et Annotationibus instruxit Jacobus Henricus Monk A. M., Collegii S. S. Trinitatis Socius, et Græcarum Literarum, apud Cantabrigiensis Professor Regius; accedit Georgii Buchanani Versio Metrica. 8vo. 6s. 6d.

Ovidii Opera Omnia. 3 vol. 18mo. 18s.

No. I. of Stephens's Greek Thesaurus. 1s. 1d. small-2s. 2d. large paper.

COMMERCE.

Lowe on Discount and Interest. 8vo. 12s. 6d.

The Hundred-weight Fraction Book, containing one hundred and twenty-five Tables, which exhibit at a single View the precise value of each respective Weight, from 1 lib. to 3 qrs. 27 lib at the several charges occurring between 2s. and 56s. per cwt. Gayner. 5s.

DRAMA.

By John

The Portfolio; or, the Anglade Family, a Drama, founded on a Memorable Trial. By James Kenney Esq. 1s. 6d.

EDUCATION.

Village Conversations; or, the Vicar's Fireside.

Vol. II. 6s.

An Introduction to Latin Reading; taken from the most approved Classical Authors, arranged in progressive Lessons, from the more easy to the more difficult Rules in Syntax, according to the Eton Latin Grammar, and Ruddiman's Rudiments. By William Ballantyne. 12mo. 3s. 6d.

Clavis Virgiliana; or, a Vocabulary of all the Words in Virgil's Bucolics, Georgics, and neid; in which, 1. Each word is marked with an accent; 2. The several significations of each word are ascertained; 3. These various significations are reduced into proper classes. 8vo. 7s. 6d.

Key to the Exercises on the Elements of French Grammar. By the Rev. I. Gerardot, B. A. 12mo. 1s. 6d.

Symbolic Illustrations of the History of England, from the Roman Invasion to the present time, accompanied with a Narrative of the principal Events; designed more particularly for the Instruction of Young Persons. By Mary Ann Rundell. 4to. 21. 2s.

A Familiar History of England by Question and Answer. 3s. 6d. A new Introduction to the French Language, being an Abridgcment of the Grammar of M. de Levizac. By A. Picquet. 12mo. 2s. 6d.

GEOGRAPHY.

The New Geography, or an Introduction to Modern Geography, in Question and Answer; compiled from the best Authorities. By William Jillard Hort. 12mo. 8s.

Practical Geography, in a Series of Exercises, illustrative of the Geography of all the Countries in the Civilized World; with twentyfive coloured outline Maps, and a copious Appendix of the chief places. By Miss Cleobury of Nottingham. Imp. 4to. 17. 15s.

Egypt, a Series of Engravings, exhibiting the Scenery, Antiquities, Architecture, Hieroglyphics, Costume, Inhabitants, Animals, &c. of that Country; with accompanying Descriptions and Explanations, selected from the celebrated Work detailing the expedition of the French. By Vivant Denon. Part I. Folio. 5s.

Geographical Institutions, or a Set of Classical and Analytical