On the Illumination of light-houses

The author, after briefly describing the different methods at present employed for illuminating light-houses, proceeds to detail what he considers an improvement upon those now in use. This consists in substituting for the Argand burner a small ball of lime, ignited by the combustion of oxygen and hydrogen. From this small ball, only three eighths of an inch in diameter, so brilliant a light is emitted, that it equals in quantity about 13 Argand lamps, or 120 wax candles; while in intensity, or intrinsic brightness, it cannot be less than 260 times that of an Argand lamp. These remarkable results are deduced from a series of experiments made lately at the Trinity House; and having been repeated with every precaution, and by different individuals, there seems no reason to doubt their accuracy.