"Must Britons be condemned for ever to wallow In filthy soot, noxious smoke, train oil, and tallow, And their poisonous fumes for ever to swallow? For with sparky soot, snuffs and vapours, men have constant strife,-- Those who are not burned to death are smothered during life." Mr. Winsor's absurd statements--in the truth of which he potently believed--and the wild, random manner of making them known, excited much ridicule and opposition. Among his opponents was Mr. Nicholson, the editor of the _Chemical Review_, who not only challenged Mr. Winsor's estimates, but the validity of his patent, on the ground that Mr. Murdoch was the original inventor. Mr. Winsor's plans and calculations were burlesqued in a cleverly written "Heroic Poem," published in a quarto volume, which, whilst professing to extol the virtues of gas and coke, quizzed its hero most unmercifully. The poem concluded with this address:-- "And when, ah, Winsor!--distant be the day!-- Life's flame no longer shall ignite thy clay, Thy phosphur nature, active still, and bright, Above us shall diffuse _post obit_ light. Perhaps, translated to another sphere, Thy spirit--like thy light, refined and clear-- Ballooned with purest hydrogen, shall rise, And add a PATENT PLANET to the skies. Then some sage Sidrophel, with Herschel eye, The bright _Winsorium Sidus_ shall descry; The _Vox Stellarum_ shall record thy name, And thine outlive another Winsor's fame." "Though we may smile at Mr. Winsor's extravagant plans and calculations," observes the _Journal of Gas Lighting_, "we cannot but admire the enthusiasm with which he pursued his object, and ultimately succeeded in establishing the first gas company. The lighting of Pall Mall with gas, in the spring of 1807, gave increased stimulus to the project, and application was made to Parliament to carry it into effect. The bill was opposed by Mr. Murdoch and thrown out; but in the following year (1810) the application was successfully renewed. The scheme, however, as sanctioned by Parliament, was sadly shorn of its magnificent proportions; and, instead of a 'Grand National Light and Heat Company, for Lighting and Heating the Whole Kingdom,' its operations were limited to London, Westminster, and Southwark; nor were any special taxes imposed on those who should obstinately refuse to use the light and burn the coke. The Chartered Gas Company, established by Mr. Winsor's persevering efforts, has served as the guiding star to all other gas companies in the world."