§ Sir F. Trenchwished to ask by what responsible authority the new operations for lighting the House now carrying on had been commenced. If hon. Members would only turn their eyes to the ceiling, they would there see eight lenses far greater than those employed by Archimedes at the burning of Syracuse.
§ Mr. Humestated, that he had given notice to the hon. and gallant Member of the intention at a convenient opportunity to try Mr. Gurney's new light. That trial had been made upon a small scale, at which the hon. and gallant Member, notwithstanding the notice he had received, did not attend; but the Speaker, together with himself and other hon. Members, did, and the result of that experiment was, that it was thought desirable that Mr. Gurney should have an opportunity of trying the effects of his light on the House; and therefore it was that the present preparations had been made.
§ Sir E. Knatchbullasked at whose expense these experiments had been made, and by whose authority.
§ Mr. Humesaid, Mr. Gurney offered to make the experiment at his own expense, if, when the lights had been tried, the House intrusted him with the lighting of the House. But the Chancellor of the Exchequer had preferred so far sanctioning the experiment as to allow him 100l. to make the experiment.
§ Sir F. Trenchonly asked justice. He now moved—"That the ten branches removed from each lustre during the recess (each holding two candles) be replaced; and that Mr. Rixon be directed to colour the inside of the shades with distemper of 232 the green tint pointed out to him by Sir Frederick Trench."
§ Motion agreed to.