54 A TREATISE ON GAS-LIGHT.

at the manufactory, instead of its being in thewick of the candle or lamp—in having theinflammable material distilled at the station,instead of its present exhibitions in oil, wax, ortallow, and then in transmitting the gas to any-required distance, and igniting it at the orificeof the conducting pipe instead of igniting it atthe apex of-the wick. The principle is rational,and justified by the universal mode in whichall light is produced. Indeed, this discoveryranks among the numerous recent applicationsof chemical science to the purposes of life,which promise tp be of the most generalutility.

It is evident from the outline here given ofthe production and application of coal-gas, thatall the uses of pit-coal are not exhausted; itwill be sufficient to observe, that the completeanalysis of coal, which has been hithertoconfined to the laboratory of the chemist, re-quiring skill and nicety in the operator, andattended with great trouble and expence, isnow so far simplified, that many chaldrons ofcoals may be decomposed by one gas-light ap-paratus in the space of six hours, and all thecomponent parts produced in their most useful