Faraday report to Trinity House   28 February 1860

Royal Institution, 28th February 1860.

The appointed time, during which the Magneto-electric Light was to be placed under practical trial at the South Foreland, having come to an end, I may be allowed to say that it has, so far, justified itself in its results, as to make me hope that the Trinity House will see fit to authorise its application, either there or somewhere else, for a further and a longer period. The light has proved to be practical and manageable; and has supplied the means of putting into a lighthouse lantern, for six months or more, a source of illumination far surpassing in intensity and effect any other previously so employed. I do not know at what cost this result has been obtained, but unless that is very great indeed, I am of opinion that a large increase upon the expense of the old method (estimated upon the quantity of light obtained) ought to be permitted in the first establishment of a mode of illumination, which apparently promises many improvements during its further development¹.

(signed) M. Faraday