A LIGHT of a novel character, which, from the circumstance of its being inextinguishable by water, bids fair to be a valuable acquisition, has been recently introduced and patented by M. Silas, a French gentleman, who has lately been exhibiting the same on different occasions, in the Thames and at the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

M. Silas having invited the attention of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION to his lights, the Committee, considering that an inextinguishable light might often be of much service on board vessels, or in life-boats, on occasions of shipwreck, deputed REAR ADMIRAL McHARDY, one of their body, and CAPTAIN WARD, R.N., their Inspector, to witness a trial of these lights; in order to ascertain how far they might be applicable to the service of the Institution, or might promise to be useful as night signals for ships. Thinking the subject of much interest and importance, we herewith give the report of the above officers to the Committee ; and desire to call the serious attention of shipowners to these lights as a means of signalizing to the shore in the event of shipwreck, when all other lights may have got extinguished.

Since the subjoined Report was made, an illustration of the great value of such lights in some emergencies has occurred. On the 5th of November last, at about 4 A.M., the ship Canton was driven ashore near Rye.

The night being dark and very thick, the vessel could not herself be distinguished.

A light was seen for a short time, but, notbeing repeated, her position could not be ascertained, nor was it known whether she was in danger or not. At daylight she had gone to pieces, and all her crew, excepting two, had met with a watery grave.

As there were two life-boats stationed within reach of the spot, had their crew been aware of the situation of the ship, the lives of 12 unfortunate men might probably have been saved.

Now it may fairly be presumed that at the time when lights ceased to be visible from the shore, the only available light had been extinguished by the sea on board the ill-fated ship. If she had then had stowed in convenient places on her upper deck a supply of M. SILAS'S floating inextinguishable lights, which self-ignite on coming in contact with water, one of them might have been thrown overboard from time to time.

These, floating to the shore, to which they would have been quickly carried by the waves, and casting their brilliant rays far and near, would have told their own tale, and would have been so many eloquent although silent appeals to the sympathy of those on shore, who would no doubt have done their best, at the risk of their own lives, to succour their fellow-creatures in such dire need of their aid.

We believe that floating lights, such as above referred to, would not cost more than 5s. or 6s. each : they will burn brightly for about half an hour, and continue alight for a much longer time; there will, therefore, be no excuse for any ship being unprovided with them on the plea of expense.

The following is a copy of the Report referred to above, addressed to the Secretary of the Institution:— SlB, London, 30tfe WOT., 1859.

WE have the honour to report, for the information of the Committee, that on the 1st and 28th November we witnessed experiments at Blackwall with M. SILAS'S inextinguishable lights.

On the first occasion there was a dense fog; on the second, the night was clear.

Our opinion is as follows:— 1. That M. SILAS has satisfactorily shown that a brilliant light can be produced, which is inextinguishable by water, and which will even burn at considerable depths, the flame then ascending through the water, and being emitted at the surface in Hidden and irregular bursts or jets.

2. That in the present state of the invention the light is not sufficiently steady or enough under control to be generally useful for signal purposes; and that a large volume of smoke or vapour which is generated by it must make it unsuitable for use in any apartment or confined enclosure.

3. That the application of the invention may, however, be susceptible of great improvement in the above respects.

4. That the importance, under some circumstances, of possessing a powerful light, inextinguishable by water, yet so slightly inflammable as with difficulty to ignite any other substance, cannot be doubted, and that M. SILAS'S invention is therefore entitled to a full trial, and deserving of a careful series of experiments.

5. That the most apparent uses to which it is at present applicable, are:—1st, As a floating light to be thrown into the sea from a ship, or boat, or pier, to show the position of drowning persons, or of floating spars, or other objects on the surface.

2ndly, As a signal of distress, or for assistance in the night, when other powerful lights might be unobtainable, or might get extinguished.

6. That whilst admitting the superiority in general of a steady permanent light, which can yet be shown or concealed or extinguished at pleasure, and sufficiently under command to confine its light to any required direction; we yet think that " the inextinguishable light" even in its present rudimentary state, might at times be important on occasions of night shipwrecks. "We beg, therefore, to recommend that the Institution should order a small number of the floating lights (No. 1), of two or more sizes, to be placed in some of the life-boats of the Society, and to be submitted to trial on suitable occasions. We are, &c., J. B. B. McHARDY, Sear-Admiral and Member of Committee.

J. R. WARD, Captain, R.N., Inspector of Life-boats.