DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND. Ill

phosphorus could supply a sufficient light forthe purpose ; an observation equally applicableto the miserable scintillations of steel-mills (asthey are termed) which have often explodedthe inflammable air of the coal mines.

“ I find it needful here to remark that, asfar as applies to myself, the idea of insulatingthe light, and also the plan which I haveadopted of carrying this plan into effect, bythe construction of the apparatus or lamp, areperfectly original. This lamp may be managedwith the greatest care by any boy of commonunderstanding. It is so strong, that shouldlarge pieces of coal fall upon it, they cannotin the least injure it. Nor is there any chanceof its being upset by any accident, as it maybe worked at the very bottom of the mine,and it is likewise conveniently portable.

“ The combustion of the candle within thelamp is supported by the ordinary atmosphericair of the coal mine, which is supplied by apair of common bellows, through a stratum ofwater below the candle; at the same time aportion of the air, already in the lamp, isdriven through another stratum of water abovethe candle; and thus the air supplied may ex-plode within the body of the lamp, withoutcommunicating the effect to the air in the