TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 8^ 



puted upon the produce of 1814, the difference between 1836 and 1841 amounts to 

 130 per cent. The increase during the whole period of twenty-seven years has been 

 412 per cent. The number of coal mines in work during 1841 was 256, showing an 

 average production of 13,321 tons per mine. The average production in 1836 was 

 only 9863 tons. The number of workmen employed in raising various kinds of coal 

 in France in 1841 was 29,320, of whom 22,595 worked in the mines. The average 

 quantity raised to each person employed was 116 tons, being the same quantity as in 

 1836, when the number of persons employed was 21,913. The value assigned to the 

 produce makes the cost of each ton in 1836 to be lis. 3^d. per ton, and in 1841 to 

 only 7*. 9irf. The average value raised by eaeh workman, which in 1836 amounted 

 to 651. 9s. lOd., had therefore fallen in 1841 to 451. Is. 5d., or nearly one-third. Whe- 

 ther this reduction arose from oEConomy in the working, or from diminished wages or 

 profits, did not appear. It is, however, singular that a reduction of 30 per cent, should 

 take place in five years without preventing the continued extension of this branch of 

 employment. The quantity of coal raised in this country is believed to be ten times 

 the amount raised in France. The quantity shipped coastwise in Great Britain and 

 Ireland in 1841 was 7,649,899 tons; and the quantity exported to the British colonies 

 and coastwise was 1,848,294 tons. The quantity used in our iron works, potteries, 

 glass works, factories, &c., is not included in the above numbers, being produced on 

 the spot. The quantity of coal sent by canals and other modes of inland communica- 

 tion from the coal-fields of Yorkshire, Durham, Notts, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, 

 and Staffordshire, amounted in 1816 to 10,808,046 tons. These quantities amount to 

 more than thirty-four millions of tons, and as the number of persons employed in coal 

 mines in Great Britain in 1841 was 118,233, it follows that the average quantity raised 

 by each person is 253 tons, or about 120 per cent, more than the average quantity 

 raised by the miners of France. After some further comments on the subject of coal, Mr. 

 Porter proceeded to detail the statistical facts relative to iron. The increase which 

 had taken place in this branch of mining since 1 836 was not nearly so great as the in- 

 crease that had attended the production of mineral fuel, for which result he accounted 

 by the fact that the iron trade in France had not been subjected to any diminution of 

 fiscal protection, but continues hedged round by high prohibitory duties. In 1836 

 there were 894 distinct establishments engaged in the manufacture of iron; in 1841 

 the number of distinct establishments was increased to 1023. The value of the iron 

 and steel made in France amounted in 1836 to £4,975,424, and in 1841 to £5,671,582, 

 showing an increase in 5 years of barely 14 per cent. The number of workmen em- 

 ployed in 1836 was 43,775, and in 1841 there were 47,830. The prices of iron in 

 France are exorbitantly high — arisingpartly fromtheless efficient application of labour, 

 and partly from the high price of fuel. Great Britain makes 4 tons of pig iron to 1 

 ton made in France, whilst the number of persons employed for the purpose is less 

 in England than in France. Each person employed produces in France 8 tons, in this 

 country more than 35 tons. The cost of fuel is very great in France, being 41 per 

 cent, on the value of the metal made in 1836, and 381 per '^'ent. in 1841. Charcoal, 

 which is very extensively used, costs 57*. 5d. per ton. The expense of conveying 

 coals from the pits to the smelting-housesis also very great, amounting on the average 

 to about 7*- per ton. The quantity of pig iron made in 1836 was 331,679 tons, and 

 in 1841 it was 377,142 tons. Of malleable iron in 1830 the quantity was 224,613 

 tons, and in 1841 it was 263,747tons. The native production was consequently greatly 

 inadequate to supply the wants of that country ; yet every obstacle was thrown in the 

 way of imjjortation from other countries, by the imposition of high duties. The pro- 

 duction of metals other than iron is inconsiderable, and of no national importance, and 

 does not at all interest us except as it points out that country as qualified to be a good 

 customer for a portion of our superabundance. Of lead, the quantity produced in 1841 

 was 638 tons ; silver, 73,680 oz. ; antimony, 1 12 tons ; copper, 100 tons ; manganese, 

 1978 tons. France imports these articles to supply her wants, her lead being princi- 

 pally drawn from Spain, and her copper from England. The declared value of British 

 metals exported to France in 1842 was £1,048,960, and of coals £173,278. 



On Agricultural Schools near East Bourne. 

 Self-supporting reading, writing, and agricultural schools succeed beyond the most 

 sanguine expectations, and afford a ready plan for teaching the poor the use of spade 



