On the Purification of Salts ofManganese from Iron, 35 



points, it is the more necessary to endeavour to overcome 

 these obstacles; and provision might, perhaps, be made for 

 appointing teachers, whose duty it should be to visit, in suc- 

 cession, the different localities where the large pits are opened 

 from time to time. Among the many thousands whose thoughts 

 are now continually engaged in the coal mines, there will be 

 always some individuals of strong natural powers, who, if they 

 had mastered the elements of the sciences above enumerated, 

 might be enabled to invent new methods, or at all events 

 would be far more capable than persons unconnected with the 

 business to appreciate the dangers to which they are exposed, 

 and to judge correctly of the adaptation of philosophical prin- 

 ciples to practice. We believe, therefore, that if the educa- 

 tion of the miners generally, and especially of those set over 

 them, can be materially raised, it will conduce to the security 

 of the lives of the men, and the perfecting of the art of mining, 

 more effectually than any system of parliamentary inspection 

 which could be devised. 



There is no reason to fear but that the owners, and all the 

 authorities, high and low, would combine with the men in en- 

 forcing regulations for the application of scientific principles 

 to practice, if their minds were prepared by instruction to 

 estimate the true value of the new methods proposed, and if 

 by that instruction those prejudices were removed which dis- 

 incline the ignorant to every change of system. 



There are here no conflicting interests to contend with, for 

 the proprietors are always anxious to prevent explosions and 

 accidents, not only by their feelings of humanity, but by a re- 

 gard to the property they have at stake; while the viewers, 

 underviewers, and other officers, are continually risking their 

 own lives, and share in every danger with the men. 

 We have the honour to be. Sir, 



Your obedient humble Servants, 



M. Faraday, 

 Chas. Lyell. 



III. On the Purification of the Soluble Salts of Manganese 

 from Iron. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal, 

 Gentlemen, 

 'VT'OUR correspondent Mr. Kemp, in the last Number (169) 

 of your valuable Magazine, has given a process for the 

 purification of the soluble salts of manganese from iron, which, 

 doubtless, he considers new, but which is identical with the 

 formula of Sir J. Herschel, published in the Philosophical 



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