Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Unpublished letters, regarding a safety lamp from Eugene du Mesnil to the Royal Society

Reference number: AP/22/14

Date: August 1839

Description

Du Mesnil describes a safety lamp he invented in December 1834, which he believes will be 'very invaluable' to colliers. He explains how the safety of the lamp depends entirely on its proportions. Du Mesnil's lamp can be burnt without snuffing for 14 hours, is not easily broken, and will 'make a loud noise in the case of a danger'. Includes one letter in English and one in French.

Subject: Engineering

Written by du Mesnil in London.

Reference number
AP/22/14
Earliest possible date
August 1839
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
11 pages
Format
Manuscript

Use this record

IIIF manifest

View​ IIIF ​ manifest Opens in new tab

Open in Mirador viewer Opens in new tab

Export this record

Download PDF Opens in new tab

Citation

Unpublished letters, regarding a safety lamp from Eugene du Mesnil to the Royal Society, August 1839, AP/22/14, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_22_14/unpublished-letters-regarding-a-safety-lamp-from-eugene-du-mesnil-to-the-royal-society, accessed on 08 February 2026

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_22_14/unpublished-letters-regarding-a-safety-lamp-from-eugene-du-mesnil-to-the-royal-society

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/ap_22_14/unpublished-letters-regarding-a-safety-lamp-from-eugene-du-mesnil-to-the-royal-society" title="Unpublished letters, regarding a safety lamp from Eugene du Mesnil to the Royal Society" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Explore the collection

  • Archived Papers

    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    Dates: 1768 - 1989

    View collection