1880.] 4^" [Lesley. 



and chains, guides and carriages were introduced, high speed direct acting 

 hoisting engines replacing the slow, geared machine of the condensing 

 type. These improvements required corresponding facilities, and extended 

 operations underground, so that much larger areas of mineral were by 

 these means won through one shaft. 



He left this colliery in 1857 for the purpose of sinking the New Shafts 

 for the Exhall Coal Company, for winning the coal and ironstone under- 

 lying the Blakeslee estate, to the dip of the Hawkesbury Colliery. He 

 succeeded in passing the waterbearing strata and reaching coal, although a 

 former attempt by others had failed. He here met with an accident from 

 which it was thought he could not recover. In descending the shaft he 

 was caught between the carriage and surface plate ; receiving injuries 

 about the head and face which disfigured him, and no doubt shortened his 

 life many years. After his recovery he made a professional trip to this 

 country, from which he derived so much benefit that he determined to 

 settle in America, and did so in 1865, and for a time had charge of the 

 Anthracite Mines of the Plymouth Coal Company, in Luzerne county, 

 Pennsylvania. 



In 1866, he with his sons, established and maintained a large professional 

 practice in Wilkesbarre until 1870, when he removed to Philadelphia, 

 continuing practice until physical disability confined him to the house. 

 His last report was made in August, 1874, for the Cameron Coal Company. 

 He retained all his faculties, and continued to give advice up to within two 

 weeks of his death. 



He was married three times, and leaves a widow and two children, be- 

 sides four grown sons by his first marriages. 



He was a member of the North of England Institute of Mining and 

 Mechanical Engineers, the American Philosophical Society, and the Amer- 

 ican Institute of Mining Engineers. 



My acquaintance with Mr. Harden commenced on board the Liverpool 

 steamer in the autumn of 1863. I was going to make a special investiga- 

 tion of the alleged success of a new process for hardening the heads of 

 rails, which led me on to an examination of the Bessemer experiments in 

 various parts of Europe ; and he was returning from the journey to which 

 I have already alluded. 



His face was disfigured by the terrible injuries it had received ; but that 

 could not conceal the dignity and amiability which was natural to it. He 

 was attractive in all respects, and I soon found the utmost, satisfaction in 

 our intercourse. Sir Henry Holland was our constant companion in our 

 walks on deck, and it would be hard to say which of the two, unlike as 

 they were, inspired one with more pleasure. 



No one could long know Mr. Harden without loving him and confiding 

 in him. His judgments of men's motives were kind ; his criticisms of 

 their acts tempered by justice and guided by a long experience ; his 

 opinions were liberal and manly ; his business decisions were gravely and 



