LIGHTING THE HOUSE.

HC Deb 13 August 1839 vol 50 cc260-1

Sir F. Trench

rose to bring forward his motion: To call the attention of the House to the experiments submitted to the Bude Light Committee, and to move, that the lustres be furnished with candles, short threes to the pound, instead of long threes, which give no more light than six to the pound, and which, therefore, defeat the intention of making a fair comparison between the power of the wax light and Bude light. The hon. and gallant Officer said, he was aware of the ridicule which attached to the subject, but his object was to add to the comfort of the House, and to obtain fair play for the wax lights, in competition with the Bude light. He wished fair play for the gentleman's light, against the philosopher's light. Nothing could be more unfair than the proceedings of the committee. He admitted that the Bude light was magnificent, but it was utterly unfit to be used in that House, It might answer in a new House, but it could not be adopted in the present House without great danger, and he was astonished that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should have lent himself to the wild proceedings of the committee. Among other suggestions, it had been proposed that the House should be furnished with calico curtains— calico covers for the seating—and it was recommended, as the means of adding still more to the effect, that the Members should be attired in calico garments. The additional sixty candles added to the lustres, were of an inferior quality, so that they gave no more light than formerly. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman in the chair, would recollect a letter which he had the honour to address to him on this subject, in which he proposed that the lustres should be furnished with short threes instead of long threes. He wished to have the comparison tested fairly, and although he was aware of the contempt with which such a matter must be viewed, yet, as it had been originally put into his hands, he felt called upon to go through with it, and only asked for a fair comparison between the power of the wax light, and the Bude light.

Sir R. Inglis

thought the House greatly indebted to his hon. and gallant Friend for the trouble he had taken in the matter, and for the improvements he had introduced in the lighting of the House.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

suggested that the hon. Member should leave the matter in the hands of those who was responsible for lighting the House.

Motion withdrawn.