Frederick Madan to Faraday   6 October 1848

Trinity House | Oct 6th / 48

My dear Sir

You will receive a letter¹ requesting your opinion on the subject of our floating Light Lanterns. We should be glad to have it generally as to the area desirable pr: lamp, taking into consideration the amount of ventilation we can command without risk of the lights being puffed out in bad weather.

We have Lights with 4 burners, 8, 10, & 12 burners, & 3 sizes of Lantern, the smallest of which has been nearly discontinued, as being only large enough for spherical Reflectors.

A few years ago we tried 16 lamps in the largest-sized Lantern, but the great heat was complained of, & we were told that it was enough to affect the burning of the lamps, & the efficiency of the Light.

As the Lanterns have to be hoisted up on the Masts the weight is also a consideration, as well as the increased cost of the larger ones, & of course we only want to have as large as is really required[.]

in haste Your's sincerely | Fredk Madan

You will see the sizes of the lanterns best by a visit to Wilkins[.]

M. Faraday Esq | &c &c