TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS, 101 
In 1838 the total number of coal-mines in Belgium was 307, with 470 pits in work 
and 172 in process of construction, employing 37,171 persons; being an increase of 
8454, or twenty-eight per cent. on the number employed in 1829. The increase of 
the quantity of coal raised was not accurately ascertained, but it appeared to be about 
thirty-seven per cent. The average cost of production is 10s. 8d. per ton, and the 
average price 23s. 1d. for first quality, and 16s. 63d. for the second quality of coal ; 
the average rate of wages is 1s. 6;%d. per day. The establishments for preparing 
other mineral productions for market in 1838 were—for iron, 221; copper, eight; 
zine, seven; lead, two; the total number of furnaces was 189, of which forty-seven 
used coke and ninety-two charcoal. The total number of accidents from 1821 to 
1840 was 1352, which occasioned severe hurts to 882, and deaths to 1710, making 
a total of 2592 sufferers. 
On Plate Glass-making in England in 1846, contrasted with what it was in 
1827. By H. Howarp. 
The writer furnished carefully all the materials for establishing this comparison. 
Amongst other results he stated, that in 1827 plate glass was sold for about 12s. 
average per foot, to the extent of about 5000 feet per week; in 1835, for from 8s. 
to 9s. per foot, to the extent of about 7000 feet; in 1844, for from 6s. to 7s. per foot, 
reaching about 23,000 feet; andin 1846, for from 5s. to 6s.,—about 40,000 feet per 
week, The sale is now about 45,000 feet weckly. He mentioned that, in 1829, a 
plate glass manufactory ceased operations because of the small profit realized when 
selling at 12s.; while, in 1846, a company, with a paid-up capital of 130,000/., realized 
a net profit of 30,000/., selling at from 5s. to 6s. Looking at this extraordinary in- 
crease, in spite of the seyerity of excise restrictions, the author asks, what would be 
the probable demand if the price were reduced to 4s. or 3s. 6d, per foot, which, 
free as the trade now is from excise interference, would yield an ample profit? 
On the Statistics of Education in Gilasgow in 1846. By A. LippExt. 
This enumeration was collected by the Statistical Committee of the Sunday School 
Union of Glasgow. The returns show great disparity in the amount of instruction 
in the different districts into which the city has been divided. In Glasgow, instruc~ 
tion in the common branches of education may be had at the lowest rates; and when 
parents are so poor as to be unable to pay, it may be had gratis. The great amount 
of ignorance that prevails arises therefore from the apathy of parents; and in many 
cases, from their cupidity in sending their children to work at very tender years for 
the produce of their labour. To counteract this evil, various acts of parliament have 
been passed for the purpose of regulating the labour of children. The Factories Re-= 
gulation Bill (Lord Ashley’s) restricts the labour of youths in the factories named to 
about seven hours per day, thereby giving leisure for education and recreation; but 
it has been found that unless the service of youths can be got for as many working 
hours as that of an adult they cannot be profitably employed in these factories. No 
record exists by which we can learn the exact number of children employed in Glas 
gow prior to the passing of this Act, but there must have been several thousands; 
‘whereas, in March last, only 53 were so employed; and in Aberdeen, where for- 
merly there were about 1000, there were at the same date only 45. The Act 8 and 
9 Vict. c. 29, which came into operation in the beginning of this year, seems to be 
working more efficiently in promoting the education of the youths in the calico print 
works, to which class of factories this Act is restricted. It provides that the children 
shall have 150 hours’ instruction every six months, between the hours of 8 in the 
morning and 6 in the evening. It is found that this enactment does not materially 
interfere with the ceconomical working of this class of factories: consequently the 
children are still continued in employment; and, as far as can be ascertained from 
the few months’ operation of the Act, they are making much more rapid progress 
than when receiving the same amount of instruction after work hours, which, being 
optional, was in many cases neglected altogether. In Glasgow, lack of education is 
much greater among the lower orders than in the country districts of Scotland; this 
in part arises from the wretchedly low pittance hitherto allowed to paupers; which 
compels many of them to resort to manufacturing towns for the purpose of obtaining 
