1868. ] Mining, Mineralogy, and Metallurgy. 109 
nearly two hundred lives were sacrificed. This accident, in all pro- 
bability, arose from some act of gross carelessness on the part of 
some of the coal hewers, as Safety Lamps were found with their 
caps off, and it is said keys for opening them have been discovered 
hidden in the dresses of some of the dead men. 
It has been repeatedly stated that colliery explosions have been 
connected with a sudden depression of the atmospheric column, and 
this, there can be no doubt, has often been the case. Although it 
has been so reported with regard to the Ferndale expiosion, it is 
curious to find that really a very high barometer prevailed both 
before and at the time of the explosion. At Clifton the mercury 
stood at 30°60 inches; at Bristol at 30°69; and over every part of 
the British Isles the barometer exhibited that high reading which 
marks the passage of the great November atmospheric wave. 
In connection with mines and quarries, a very important de- 
cision has been given by Vice-Chancellor Malins. In a codicil to 
Lord William Powlett’s (the Duke of Cleveland) will it was said, 
“JT bequeath all shares, debentures, or securities, in railways and 
mines, of which I shall die possessed, to my wife, Lady William 
Powlett, absolutely.” Upon this the question arose whether the 
bequest included shares in the Welsh Slate Company. It was 
contended on the part of Lady Wm. Powlett that the quarry had 
been worked for the last eight years underground, and had there- 
fore become a mine; while the opposing party showed that the 
property was rated as a quarry up to 1866, whereas if it had been 
considered a mine it would have been exempt from rating. The 
Vice-Chancellor said that the only thing to distinguish a mine from 
a quarry was the mode of working. This one was worked as a 
mine; and therefore it would go to the plaintiff. 
In Metallurgy there is really nothing of interest to commu- 
nicate. Every branch of the metal trade suffers severely; and 
there is but little prospect of any speedy amendment. Yet our 
spirited Iron-masters, not discouraged, are building blast-furnaces 
of gigantic proportions, and fitting them with all the appliances of 
science. The Rosedale and Ferry Hill Company have just com- 
pleted two blast-furnaces of the height of 105 feet by 28 feet, blown 
by four powerful blast-engines, and fed by two hydraulic lifts con- 
structed by Sir Wm. Armstrong. 
Puddling by Machinery still engages attention. Mr. Thomas 
Roper, of Ulverstone, has specified a process of manufacturing Iron 
and Steel, in which a modification of the processes of Nasmyth and 
Bessemer are involved. High-pressure steam is blown through the 
iron, in a puddling furnace, to remove the sulphur as sulphuretted 
hydrogen, and then air to decarbonize the iron. The puddling 
furnace employed is of a complicated structure, but its principal 
features, as we understand them, are a circular bed, which holds 
