DRUMMOND, Thomas.

On the Means of Facilitating the Observation of Distant Stations in Geodætical Operations.

London, W. Nicol, 1826. 4to, pp. [2], 14, with an engraved plate; title and blank verso of last leaf slightly dust-soiled; disbound. THE INVENTION OF LIMELIGHT, FIRST EDITION, an offprint from the Philosophical Transactions. Developed for use in surveying, the light was immediately put to use in light-houses and in street lighting, but its most celebrated use was in the theatre. Drummond coined the word 'limelight' in this paper, although to begin with it was called 'Drummond light.''In 1811 Drummond became acquainted with Colonel Thomas Frederick Colby in Edinburgh, and in 1820 joined that officer in the work of the Ordnance Survey. Drummond was now twenty-three years of age, and he entered into his new labours with zeal. He devoted himself with increased energy to his favourite studies, mathematics and chemistry, in which he made rapid progress under Professors Brand and Faraday at the Royal Institution. Among the difficulties felt in carrying out the survey the labour of making observations in murky weather was very great. This labour was minimised by the scientific genius of Drummond. His two inventions - a limelight, better known as 'the Drummond light,' and an improved heliostat, an instrument consisting of a mirror connected with two telescopes, and used for throwing rays of light in a given direction - immensely facilitated the work of observation both by day and night, and armed the survey officers with powerful weapons for carrying on their operations. The light soon made a sensation in the scientific world. Sir John Hersehel describes the impression produced when the light was first exhibited in the Tower: "The common Argand burner and parabolic reflector of a British lighthouse were first exhibited, the room being darkened, and with considerable effect. Fresnel's superb lamp was next disclosed, at whose superior effect the other seemed to dwindle, and showed in a manner quite subordinate. But when the gas began to play, the lime being brought now to its full ignition and the screen suddenly removed, a glare shone forth, overpowering, and as it were annihilating, both its predecessors, which appeared by its side, the one as a feeble gleam which it required attention to see, the other like a mere plate of heated metal. A shout of triumph and of admiration burst from all present."' (DNB).Parkinson Breakthroughs p. 279.

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