Mr Bald an the Fires that take place in Collieries. 121 



most intense solicitude: a situation altogether different from 

 that of our brethren who are surrounded with death, in the fury 

 of battle, or in the overwhelming storm of the uplifted ocean. 

 In these last cases, the hurry of action, and the necessary con- 

 tinued exertion, give but little time for the mind reflecting on 

 approaching fate, or on the ties of friendship, or of home, and 

 its endearments. 



Such casualties in coal-mines as I have described, shew the 

 necessity of great watchfulness to prevent the generating of fire; 

 or, if generated, of preventing its becoming irresistibly power- 

 ful ; and also, how necessary it is to act in all cases with prudent 

 decision, having, at the same time, in view a due care for the 

 lives of the workmen, who, in every instance, when required, go 

 with cheerful alacrity into danger with those who conduct the 

 necessary operations. 



To the laborious and hardy miner we owe much ; not only, 

 as regarding many of the comforts of life, but also as regard- 

 ing their direct influence in increasing our national prosperity 

 as the greatest manufacturing country in the world. 



Edinburgh, May 22. 1828. 

 Register of the Thermometer, taken at Whitehill Colliery, by Mr Detear, tiie Di. 

 rector of the Works. 



1828. 

 April 18. Pit stUl covered, . 



21 



23 



1828. 

 Mar. 8. Above the reach of the Ther 

 mometer Scale of Fahr. 

 9. Do 



10. Do 



11. Do 



12. This day the Pit was cover- 



ed, 



14. 

 15. 

 17. 

 19. 

 20. 

 22. 

 23, 

 25. 

 28. 

 April 1. 



4. 



«. 



8. 

 11. 

 14. 



212' 

 165 

 160 

 140 

 137 

 134 

 130 

 128 

 121 

 118 

 115 

 112 

 109 

 108 

 106 

 104 



100" 

 97 

 95 



26. 



28. 



29. 



May 2. 



5. 



6. 



7. 



Same day covering remov- 

 ed from Pit, - - - 



10. 

 13. 



14. This day the Pit was again 



covered. 



15. 

 16. 

 17. 

 19. 

 21. 



92 

 90 

 88 

 87 

 86 

 85 



108 

 108 

 109 



97 



94 

 92 

 89 

 87 



84 



