James Timmins Chance to Faraday   13 November 1860

Hamstead, Birmingham | 13 Nov. 1860

My dear Sir,

I received your note of the 7th inst¹..

I returned from Whitby last Saturday², after adjusting the South Light according to your directions. My men have not yet finished the puttying & other supplementary requirements; when, however, all is done, I will transmit to you a report of the work.

The South Light will now be a most efficient one.

I have commenced in earnest the experiments with the lenticular panel; & I will follow up the matter consecutively, as time is an important matter in consequence of the urgency of the “Smalls” Light.

I am greatly pleased that you are taking up this additional investigation; for it is quite a mistake to adjust all the bands to the same focus in the axis. We thus throw away one peculiar advantage in the compound lens. Thank you for your diagram of the respective foci:- its meaning is thoroughly clear. I will postpone any opinion upon the matter until after actual trial.

It is better, as you will, I am sure, agree, to confine ourselves now to the “Smalls” Light, which, as its elevation is not high, will not require any very great divergence; so that the most suitable arrangement of the foci of the respective lenticular bands will be that which combines the transmission of the brightest light to the Sea-horizon with the largest compatible divergence taking into account the prevalence of low flames. I can easily imagine cases where the Sea-horizon might yield some light in favor of increased divergence: such, however, as I understand, is not the case with the “Smalls” Light.

One main point in regard to height of flame is the faithful performance of duty on the part of the Light Keepers:- I strongly suspect that they are in the habit, generally, of leaving the flame unvisited for hours together, and that they are tempted to keep a low flame as being more certain to behave well without personal superintendence.

Would not a tell-tale clock be some check? Any check founded upon the consumption of oil is a great temptation to throw or give oil away.

Most truly yours | James T. Chance

1. Letter 3881.

2. That is 10 November 1860.