3193. FRANKLIN (Benjamin), Argand's lamp.—
A little before my arrival in
France, Argand had invented his celebrated
lamp, in which the flame is spread into a hollow
cylinder, and thus brought into contact
with the air within as well as without. Dr.
Franklin had been on the point of the same
discovery. The idea had occurred to him; but
he had tried a bulrush as a wick, which did not
succeed. His occupations did not permit him
to repeat and extend his trials to the introduction
of a larger column of air than could pass
through the stem of a bulrush.—
To Rev. William Smith. Washington ed. iii, 213.
Ford ed., v, 291.
(Pa.,
17911791)gt;
