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Unpublished paper, 'Experimental enquiries upon gas light on the continent with some observations upon the present state of the illumination of London' by [Giovanni] Aldini

Reference number: AP/9/1

Date: c. 1817-1821

Description

Aldini discusses the illumination of streets using gas lights, taking particular notice of the way that London streets are lit. He explains the extraction of illuminating gas on the European continent and contrasts this with the methods used in England.

The paper is undated but a graphite inscription at top of first page reads '1817-21'. Further annotations appear throughout in graphite.

Subject: Chemistry

Communicated by the President [Sir Joseph Banks].

Reference number
AP/9/1
Earliest possible date
c. 1817-1821
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
14 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Unpublished paper, 'Experimental enquiries upon gas light on the continent with some observations upon the present state of the illumination of London' by [Giovanni] Aldini, c. 1817-1821, AP/9/1, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_9_1/unpublished-paper-experimental-enquiries-upon-gas-light-on-the-continent-with-some-observations-upon-the-present-state-of-the-illumination-of-london-by-giovanni-aldini, accessed on 11 May 2026

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_9_1/unpublished-paper-experimental-enquiries-upon-gas-light-on-the-continent-with-some-observations-upon-the-present-state-of-the-illumination-of-london-by-giovanni-aldini

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/ap_9_1/unpublished-paper-experimental-enquiries-upon-gas-light-on-the-continent-with-some-observations-upon-the-present-state-of-the-illumination-of-london-by-giovanni-aldini" title="Unpublished paper, 'Experimental enquiries upon gas light on the continent with some observations upon the present state of the illumination of London' by [Giovanni] Aldini" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

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