VI

In connecting general views on the sub-ject with extracts from papers published inthe Transactions of the Royal Society, Ifear I shall sometimes be accused of repeti-tions; but in a case where human life isconcerned, and by which human happinessmay be deeply affected, I shall not dreadthe accusation of dwelling too long upon,or treating too often of, precautionary mea-sures.

The names of three persons will be foundmentioned in these pages as having assistedin the investigations. The public owe muchto the Rev. John Hodgson and to Mr.Buddie for having been the first persons tomake experiments upon the Safety Lamp inexplosive atmospheres in the mine, and forelucidating its practical application and ren-dering it familiar to the miner; and I ammyself indebted to Mr. Michael Faraday formuch able assistance in the prosecution ofmy experiments,