reaches the gasometer, is passed through a receptacle of lime water, which totally deprives it of all the bituminous and sulphurous matter inherent in it, and thereby causes it to cease from having a noxious smell.

From the gasometer it enters a pipe, and passes through other conduits to the burners, or lamps, where it is intended to be consumed. These burners are formed in various shapes, either by tubes ending with a simple orifice at which the gas issues in one regular stream; and, if once lighted, continues to burn with a steady and brilliant light, as long as any gas is supplied from the main pipes. At other times a number of very minute holes are made in the end of the burner, which is screwed on to the end of the tube or pipe, which forms as many "Jets de feu," and produces a very brilliant appearance.

It would be well if something grand were displayed by means of gas, during the ensuing carnival, or guild, and exhibited to the vast eoncourse of nobility, gentry, and others, expected to assemble, in order to shew what the town possessed within its own immediate suburbs, as well as to display the utility and beauty of gas.

If the gasometer of a gas light apparatus has a diameter of 5 feet, by 7 feet high, it will contain a sufficient quantity of gas at 4 cubic feet per light, per hour, to give 10 hours light to a brilliant argand lamp; or 5 hours to eight lamps, equal in intensity to 140 supplied with oil.

Such a gasometer will be filled by the distillation, in the retort of about half a bushel, or a quarter of a hundred weight of coals. The remains which are found in the retort, after the process is finished, consist of most excellent coke, which, in point of real value, for culinary fires or manufactories, returns a considerable portion of the whole expence !!

This invaluable discovery, which at this present time bestows additional lustre on our houses of worship, theatres, inns, coffeerooms, cotton-mills, shops, houses, and streets, is rapidly spreading its extraordinary benefits throughout the various commercial towns in the kingdom.

No doubt remains but that since its first institution great and ingenious improvements are forming, in the making of this valuable elastic matter, and more particularly so in the works belonging to

the Preston Gas Light Company. The worthy inhabitants of this town have great reason to return thanks for so invaluable a discovery; as well as for its introduction, directed by a set of spirited individuals, and continued by their praiseworthy exertions.

WATER WORKS.

The Water-works contribute much to the comfort of the inhabitants; they display a vast ingenuity in their contrivance, by forcing water into main pipes, and thence conveying it, by subordinate pipes, through the different streets, so as to afford an ample supply to the inhabitants; as well as to provide against fires, by fire plugs being inserted in the main streets, which may be considered amongst the most useful improvements. The water can be effectually raised thirty-five feet above the level, whence it can rise into the second and third stories of the houses.

These works were first erected by Mr. Robert Abbatt, and Mr. Woodcock, in the third year of George the Second, A. D. 1729, and first had wooden pipes, but afterwards were exchanged for leaden ones. These pipes, in their turn, have been taken up, and cast iron ones placed in their stead; together with an entire new engine of three horses power. The pipes extend as far as the Chapel yard of St. George's, Winckley-street, and Water-street end. According to the grant of the corporation, the proprietors have the liberty of erecting a reservoir in the Market-place. The large reservoir, or what is generally called "the Folly," is situate at the bottom of Mid-sprit wiend, which supplies the various pipes with water, in order to serve the town. These Water-works were granted for the long space of nine hundred and ninety-nine years.

*

There is a well at the bottom of Pettycoat-lane, now called Midsprit-wiend, supplied with water from the Folly, where the people of the town resort too, in numbers, daily. Notwithstanding all this, water-carts are permitted to parade the streets three or four times per day, (Sunday excepted,) for the special purpose of supplying those people who have not the opportunity of having the water conveyed by pipes.

It has been said, but with what truth we know not, that the corporation objected to water being sent into the town on Good Friday: "Why then," replied Mr. Robert Abbatt, the proprietor, "if this be so, every Friday shall be called Good Friday;" hence no water comes through the pipes on this day. Sunday is also a day of exception.

MANUFACTORIES, &c.

The mechanical skill and invention displayed in the construction of the variotis apparātus used in a cotton-spinning mill, exceed all expectation, and would alone suffice to do honor to the genius of Great Britain. The mutual communication of the various wheels is promoted by means of the steam engine; a prodigy of wonder to the sage and the philosopher.

PRESTON is situate in the very heart of the county palatine of Lancaster, and may be ranked as the second emporium for the cotton-spinning and manufacturing businesses, and will probably remain so, from the aspect it wears at this time. The chief person's who carry on the business, are men of opulence, probity, and spirit, and deserve well of society for their public conduct, in giving life to the town, by the number of individuals employed in their works, and from whom the various trades-people look to, în some degree, for support. The chief of their raw material is got from Liverpool, which lies very well for the purposes of land and water carriage. There are at this time 16 spinning-factories, or cottonmills, in full employ, Messrs. S. Horrocks, Esq. M. P. and Co.'s concern, shall begin our first account, as they have a right to the precedency in this case; and so we shall proceed in regular order, describing, impartially, each edifice alternately.

HORROCKS'S YARD COTTON-MILLS AND WAREHOUSE.

This mass of building stands at the bottom of Church-street, on the right hand side going down, consisting of four factories, toge ther with an extensive warehouse, consisting of a compting-house, and other offices, lighted in the front range with eleven windows, by four stories high, with a pedimental front, mounted by a fine statue of Britannia, the genius of Britain, finely carved, with a balcony behind this figure, in the centre of the roof, surmounted

by a gilt vane. Contiguous to this may be seen a commodious edifice, being the first house that John Horrocks, Esq. M. P. built for his own immediate residence, with an open space to its front, cultivated as a flower garden, and recently embellished by neat gates leading to the entrance; at present this house is occupied by Thos. Miller, Esq. one of the partners, (now mayor of this borough.) The residue of the factories have seven windows in front, by five stories high* ; a spiral staircase has been lately erected, adjoining the factory at the bottom of the yard. There are other commodious buildings, or out-offices, for the use of the mechanics, warpers, and sizers; and for various purposes connected with the spinning and manufacturing businesses.

There are two powerful steam-engines, of eighteen and twentyfour horses power. The engine of 18 horses power is, perhaps, inferior to none, for beauty and cleanliness, and is well worth the attention of the visitor.

The first and chief business belonging the firm of Messrs. Horrockses, Whitehead, Miller, Bairstow, and Co. is transacted here. On the 16th day of June, 1820, a new chimney was erected here, upon iron plates, tapering by degrees to a height of one hundred and thirty-seven feet. This towering edifice, of brick, overlooking the town, is built for the sole purpose of destroying the gaseous fluid issuing from their steam-engines, and other furnaces connected and used in their various works. The method consists, as far as we can learn, in causing the smoke of the fresh fuel, whilst passing from the fire, to combine with the current of oxygen, and then return through fuel which had already ceased to smoke; by this means the smoke, and grosser parts of the flame coming in contact with the burning fuel, is completely consumed, and thereby converted into pure flame; this flame boils water for sizing and various other purposes. This, it is hoped, will become prevalent, and will consequently cease to annoy the vicinity, where it has been hitherto offensive, by continually mixing with the atmosphere, and injuring by its deleterious qualities, the health of numerous individuals who are compelled to breath it.

The Preston Chronicle stated the following item upon this sub

* The reader will be pleased to observe, that when the number of windows they are lighted by are described, that quantity which appears to the front are only mentioned, consequently, there are, with very few exceptions, as many on the other side; and sometimes the ends also have windows fixed in them,

ject, which may, perhaps, in some degree, throw a still further light upon the matter." A chimney, the highest, we believe in the kingdom, has been completed at the works of Messrs. Horrockses, Miller, and Co., near Church-street, in this town. The perpendicular height from the base is 137 feet. It is intended to bring into this chimney, by means of subterraneous flues, the smoke generated at the factory steam-engine, sizing-house, and at all the other fires of these extensive works. This measure will remove, in a considerable degree, the inconvenience arising from smoke thrown into the atmosphere at low altitudes. But we are not without hope that we shall, in a short time, see those means become general, by which an entire combustion of the coal used in steam furnaces is effected, and the nuisance of these fires be thus entirely abated." It is truly astonishing to see the various evolutions of the machinery caused by means of the steam-engines in all the different factories in the town; and in Messrs. Horrockses particularly. What strikes the attention of the visitor is the economy of cleanliness observable in the various wheels and other apparatus so essentially dependent upon each other. Great praise is due to Mr. Elsworth, the mechanic to Messrs. Horrockses and Co.; he most certainly is a man of ability in mechanism, and superintends with superlative judgment, the whole of the machinery, and other improvements connected with steam-engines. He had the sole management of

the chimney alluded to above.

SPITTALL'S-MOSS COTTON MILLS.

The first factory was built in 1796, of brick, consisting of eleven windows in length, by five stories high; the balcony right opposite the pedimental front, in the centre of the roof. The other factory has got the same number of windows as the first; with a fine engine-house, of brick, appended, and other out-offices, such as the mechanics' shop, counting-house, &c. This concern is for the spinning of cotton only. They have two engines, of sixteen and eighteen horses power. Firm, Messrs. Horrockses, Whitehead, & Co.

CANAL-STREET COTTON MILLS.

This large factory stands at the bottom of Canal-street, going out of Friargate, on the western side, built of brick, with a pedimental front, containing sixteen windows in length, by six stories