77 



study in itself, and demanding more time than could be devoted 

 to it in a sliort visit. The Wick Rocks alone would well repay 

 more than a day's devotion to their history. 



This classical spot was quitted with regret, but only for 

 matter of fresh, it may be said of deeper interest ; for under the 

 guidance of Mr. Cossham the party was conducted to the 

 Kingswood Pit, the property of that gentleman, where they 

 were invited to descend the shaft, and to examine below, the 

 seams of coal which they had passed over on the surface. 

 About a dozen or so were " caged," and descended some 1500 

 feet to inspect the " Giller's End" and "Five-Coal" seams at 

 the bottom of the shaft. The relation of the seam of coal to 

 its roof and under-clay, and to the associated strata, were 

 explained in detail by Mr. Cossham ; and the least initiated must 

 have quitted the recesses of the mine wiser if not better men. 



Having learnt something of the nature of that fossil fuel 

 which ages ago flourished in a tropical forest, was converted 

 into coal, and is here stored to be the source to-day of the 

 wealth and power which so pre-eminently characterize Great 

 Britain, it was felt how little even educated people know of the 

 internal resources of their country. How little is known of 

 those laws and those phenomena which prevailed in the remoter 

 periods of the earth's history, and of the growth and deposition 

 of this one item of national prosperity. Order, system, energy, 

 industry, science, were everywhere visible in the well-appointed 

 under-ground workings, where nature is seen under one of her 

 sternest aspects, and strong men are day and night toiling face 

 to face with danger, but danger minimised or averted by 

 science, and that so successfully, that du.ring a space of seven 

 years only one life has been sacrificed in these workings. 



One and all reached the surface safely ; and all the party 

 were then invited by Messrs. Cossham and Wethered to par- 

 take of a substantial cold dinner in the large room of the works. 

 May the Club never fare worse than on that occasion ! They 

 were never more heartily nor more hospitably received, and 

 though apology was made for the ^^ rough and ready," none 

 was needed. 



