THE 



PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE. 



I. On the Means of counteracting the Effects produced hy 

 the Formation of the Gases found In Coal Mines. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, 1 AM induced to request you to lay the following 

 pages before the public, from a desire to put a subject of 

 much importance in a train for investigation. Little has 

 hitherto been written on the subject, calculated to do away 

 the frequency of the dreadful accidents to which miners are 

 incident ; and what has been written has come from the 

 pens of those who were not every way qualified to do justice 

 to what they have taken in hand. 



As the manner of working mines varies according to cir- 

 cumstances, many things herein will ajjpear to some as 

 redundant, while to others much will seem to be omitted. 

 But let it be remembered that I lay no claim to general 

 knowledge: what will be advanced is chiefly the result of 

 practical observation in a particular district. 



To men of considerable experience in mining, probably, 

 nothing will be found worthy of attention : but if a few in- 

 dividuals should chance to reap any benefit, or should it 

 prove the. means of preventing one single accident, my t;nd 

 will, in no small degree, be obtained. With regard to the 

 experimental part, it may be proper to observe, that my 

 Situation renders it in many instarices impossible to pro- 

 cure apparatus of the best kinds; and hence, if any inac 

 curacies should chance to be discovered by the scientific 

 reader, it is hoped ample allowances will be made. 



In endeavouring to accomplish the important and de- 

 sirable object before us, we ought to adopt those measures 

 which have a tendency to prevent the accumulation of the 



Vol, 35. No. 141. Jaw. 1810. A 2 noxious 



