LIGHTING OF STREETS.

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our friend,—the learned Dr. Thornton, who first conceivedthe happy idea of applying hydro-carbonic gas for thepurpose of illumination. This pure, this brilliant light,which now deceives the conscious sun, and adds new blushesto Aurora’s cheeks, is assuredly the happiest invention of thephilosophic mind. Its superiority stands confessed by everyorder of men,—except those, indeed, who are determinedto believe that nothing neio can be good ;—but their opinionsin such cases are not of much account.

The world may form an opinion of the decided preferencedue to the application of gas, who have not yet witnessed it,on being informed that the superior light which this affords,is, that one gas lamp will supply.the place of from six to tenlumps of the old construction, and with a brilliancy vastly supe-rior; as is proved by the number of old lamps recently removedfrom various streets in the city and in the west end of thetown, for the reception of the new invention.

There are established three gas companies in this metro-polis, for the purpose of supplying its various parts with gas ;most of the great public streets in the city of London , andabout the imperial residence at St. James’s, and also thevicinity of the Parliament house ; all public official stations,and the theatres, are lighted therewith already ; prepara-tions are making for lighting the parish of St. Pancras, andit will soon become general.

The public enjoys the benefit, and the gas companies will,doubtless, reap the profit,—whilst the learned and ingeniousauthor of those blessings enjoys the consciousness of seeingthe perfection of his designs :—and we believe that is all.Oh temporal Oh mores! Ilegulus lived, he died for thegood of his country,—but he enjoyed its gratitude :—’tw'asall, perhaps, he wished :—’twas all they could bestow uponthe individual. Lr. Thornton lives,—and we can say r , stilllives in the exercise of the plenitude of all those dis-tinguished acts which his peculiar skill in the new practiceof applying the powerful aid of the factitious gases inmedical cases, and a benevolent heart in aid of the atfiictedcan inspire.

•Among modern cities, if London be excepted, Parisappears among the earliest which observed the necessaryregulation of the police in lighting the streets. It appears,that in a very early period, that city was infested by streetrobbers, and other incendiaries, the inhabitants of whichwere, from time to time, ordered to keep lights burningalter nine in the evening, before the windows of theirrespective houses which fronted the street. This order was