Considerations on destructive fires, and the means of prevention in future / [George William Manby].

  • George William Manby
Date:
[1816]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Considerations on destructive fires, and the means of prevention in future / [George William Manby]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Every fire, even the greatest must arise from small beginnings, and when discovered in its infant and commencing state, is easily to be kept down and prevented from becoming tremendous, if means of early application were at hand. An arrangement for this purpose would undoubtedly have preserved the valuable property of Mr. Bone, in Berkley Square, and many other similar cases of great destruction ; but in a more recent instance, 1 shall, with the permission of the Hon. Capt. Pellewi, state an abstract of a letter trans¬ mitted to me, on a circumstance of conflagration that came under his view:— “ Having been one of those who witnessed with much satisfaction, the trial of your “ newly invented Machine for the extinction of fire in its early stages, I cannot refrain from relating to you, that in the late fire close to my house, at the coach makers, (JVimpole Street J and which I myself discovered, if I had had one of the Machines at my immediate command, I do not hesitate to say, I could have saved the whole premises, and an uninsured property of nearly .£12000. I can venture to assert this fact, because it came under my own inspection, and therefore cannot be deceived. The fire when I first saAv “ it Avas just caught, and I conceive Avas quite extinguishable by your Machine for at least tAventy minutes. “ I may also here give you my opinion as a naval man, as to its great use on board ships in case of fire beloAV, Avhere Avater is not easily conveyed. I shall never go to sea ‘‘ aarain Avithout one of them for the use of the store-rooms, &c. &c.” In presenting these suggestions to the Public, Avhich I am led to do by the opinions of many persons distinguished for their judgment, considering the design eminently calcu¬ lated to extinguish fires before the}’^ get to a head, and no doubt be extremely beneficial in many cases. I’his has induced me, respectfully, to conceive its adoption not unAvorthy the consideration of the Magistracy of this metropolis, and the Insurance Companies. I trust too, that it will be thought Avorthy the attention of those under Avhose authority and direction the Avatch-houses are placed; they surely possess a peculiar propriety as depositories of ^e appa¬ ratus. We often hear of the alarm of fire given by Avatchmen long before the arrival of the engines on the spot, and if they were provided Avith the apparatus, the alarm of the Avatch and the application of the means of extinction Avould be simultaneous. The liberality Avith which the Insurance Companies have ahvays remunerated those who have been successful agents in subduing fires, and even those who have exerted themselves strenuously, though without ultimate success, encourages me to expect that the prevention of great destruction by fire in the metropolis and other large towns, Avould be the consequence of such an arrangement. Sanguine as I am of general benefit from this method of instant and effective appli¬ cation to check flames, I consider it most peculiarly appropriated to fires on board ships, either in action, or from accidental causes ; the portability of the Machines admitting them to be easily carried and directed on flames which have broken out in the rigging, but particularly to parts beloAv, in the vicinity of the magazines or in recesses in store¬ rooms, to Avhich Avater by other means cannot be conveyed Avithout difficulty, and then can be used but with little effect, from the want of a just direction in a condensed and continual stream. GEORGE Wm. MANBY. LONDON, JULY, 1816. Printed by W. CALVEKT, Great Shite-lane, LincoIn’5-Inn,LoBd6n.
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