and the absorption of power, in relation to the effects produced, is
small. With his larger machines M. de Meritens maintains a
considerable number of lights in the same circuit. [Footnote: The
small machine transforms one-and-a-quarter horse-power into heat and
light, yielding about 1,900 candles; the large machine transforms
five-horse power, yielding about 9,000 candles.]

*****

In relation to this subject, inventors fall into two classes, the
contrivers of regulators and the constructors of machines. M. Rapieff
has hitherto belonged to inventors of the first class, but I have
reason to know that he is engaged on a machine which, when complete,
will place him in the other class also. Instead of two single carbon
rods, M. Rapieff employs two pairs of rods, each pair forming a V. The
light is produced at the common junction of the four carbons. The
device for regulating the light is of the simplest character. At the
bottom of the stand which supports the carbons are two small
electro-magnets. One of them, when the current passes, draws the
carbons together, and in so doing throws itself out of circuit,
leaving the control of the light to the other. The carbons are caused
to approach each other by a descending weight, which acts in
conjunction with the electro-magnet. Through the liberality of the
proprietors of the Times, every facility has been given to M. Rapieff
to develope and simplify his invention at Printing House Square. The
illumination of the press-room, which I had the pleasure of
witnessing, under the guidance of M. Rapieff himself, is extremely
effectual and agreeable to the eye. There are, I believe, five lamps
in the same circuit, and the regulators are so devised that the
extinction of any lamp does not compromise the action of the others.
M. Rapieff has lately improved his regulator.

Many other inventors might here be named, and fresh ones are daily
crowding in. Mr. Werdermann has been long known in connection with
this subject. Employing as negative carbon a disc, and as positive
carbon a rod, he has, I am assured, obtained very satisfactory
results. The small resistances brought into play by his minute arcs
enable Mr. Werdermann to introduce a number of lamps into a circuit
traversed by a current of only moderate electro-motive power. M.
Reynier is also the inventor of a very beautiful little lamp, in which
the point of a thin carbon rod, properly adjusted, is caused to touch
th