Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/332

 Paris, giving an account of Lebon's experiments, and urging that if anything was to be done about the patent it must be done at once. The matter was taken up again, and on the occasion of the rejoicings at the peace of Amiens, in March 1802, gas was used to a small extent in the extensive illuminations at Soho, but not in a manner to attract much attention. The earliest reference to the use of gas at Soho in 1802 is contained in an editorial postscript to an article by Professor Henry in Nicholson's 'Journal of Natural Philosophy,' June 1805, xi. 74.

Samuel Clegg [q. v.], who was then an apprentice at Soho, and who assisted Murdock in his experiments, states in his son's book on 'Coal-gas,' 1841, p. 6: 'In March 1802. . . Mr. Murdock first publicly exhibited the gas-light by placing at each end of the Soho manufactory what was termed a Bengal light. The operation was simply effected by fixing a retort in the fireplace of the house below, and then conducting the gas issuing from thence into a copper vase. This was the only gas used on that occasion.' As some misconception has arisen, it should be explained that there were at that time two buildings, situated at some distance apart : one was the Soho factory, now destroyed, and the other, the Soho foundry which still exists. It was the factory which was illuminated.

In 1803 apparatus was erected by which a part of the Soho foundry was regularly lighted with gas, and the manufacture of gas-making plant seems to have been commenced about this period, in connection no doubt with the business of supplying apparatus for producing oxygen and hydrogen for medical purposes. In 1804 George Augustus Lee, of the firm of Phillips & Lee, cotton-spinners, of Manchester, ordered an apparatus for lighting his house with gas [see under, d. 1781]. About the end of the year Messrs. Phillips & Lee decided to light their mills with gas, and on 1 Jan. 1806 Murdock wrote informing Boulton & Watt that 'fifty lamps of the different kinds 'were lighted that night, with satisfactory results. There was, Murdock stated,' no Soho stink 'an expression which seems to show that the method of purification in use at Soho was of a somewhat primitive nature. The work was not finished for some time afterwards, as the Soho books contain entries of charges to Phillips & Lee extending over the next year, and even later. From 30 Sept. 1805 to 1807 3,674l. was charged to Phillips & Lee's account. The early forms of gas apparatus made at Soho are fully described in the supplement to the fourth and fifth editions of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' article 'Gas,' which was written by Creighton, one of the Soho managers.

In February 1808 Murdock read a paper before the Royal Society (Phil. Trans. xcviii. 124), in which he gave a full account of his investigations, and also of the saving effected by the adoption of gas-lighting at Phillips & Lee's mill. This paper is the earliest practical essay on the subject. The Rumford gold medal, bearing the inscription 'ex fumo dare lucem,' was awarded to Murdock for this paper, which concludes with these- words : 'I believe I may, without presuming too much, claim both the first idea of applying and the first actual application of this gas to economical purposes.' As to the justice of this claim there can be no doubt.

By this time gas-lighting had fallen into the hands of the company promoters, and in 1809 application was made to parliament for a bill to incorporate the Gas Light and Coke Company. It was opposed by James Watt the younger on behalf of Boulton & Watt, who feared that their trade might be interfered with. The evidence given by James Watt and George Lee (of Phillips & Lee) before the committee to which the bill was referred contains valuable information concerning the history of Murdock's early efforts. Boulton & Watt were represented before the committee by Henry Brougham, and his speech was printed separately. It has been incorrectly stated that Murdock himself gave evidence. In answer to a statement put forth by the promoters of the bill, charging Murdock with plagiarism, he issued on 4 May 1809 'A Letter to a Member of Parliament ... in Vindication of his Character and Claims.' This tract and the paper in the 'Philosophical Transactions' comprise the whole of Murdock's literary efforts. Only two or three copies of the tract seem to have survived, but it was reprinted for private distribution by the writer of this notice on the occasion of the Murdock centenary in 1892. Murdock's connection with gas-lighting seems to have come to an end in 1809. The 'Monthly Magazine' for November 1814, p. 357, refers to a gas company established in Water Lane, Fleet Street, by Messrs. Grant, Knight, & Murdoch, but the relationship (if any) of the Murdoch there named to the subject of this notice has not been established. Murdock lighted up the house which he built for himself in 1816 at Sycamore Hill, Handsworth, by gas supplied from the Soho foundry, probably when he first went to reside there. Some remains of the apparatus are still in existence (cf. Birmingham Faces and Places, December 1889, p. 125).