IS'23.] Mr. Luckcock on the Consumption of Pit-Coal. 401 



mile of annual supply. And, supposing; mote period, is outstretching all pro- 



the coal to extend throughout tiie bability and human foresight. On the 



wliole sub-surface of the country, then contrary, instead of raising an outcry 



tlie wliole quantity would be exhausted against the present consumption, it 



in about 10,000 years would be the most patriotic aim to 



Orif only {contained coal- which the legislature could direct its 



mines in ....5,000 ardent attention, to increase even to 



J ditto 2,500 a hundred-fold the now limited de- 



j( ditto 1,250 mand. We might furnisli all the 



■^ ditto 62,5 world for a thousand years witliout 



■jfj- ditto 312 fear of exhaustion ; and tens of thoii- 



^ ditto 158 Siiuds of our population might, during 



■j-^^ ditto 78 that period, be furnished with employ- 



If the above lowest estimate be admit- ment, which would enable them to 

 ted, or that only one mile in 128 may subsist in comfort; and, at the same 

 be supposed to contain coal, then time, would yield an addition to our 

 there would be fiOo square miles of national wealth, — so abundant, as to 

 coals in tiie country, and no more, or leave all other sources far behind in 

 in other proportions as the scale exhi- comparative amount, 

 bits; and, at one yard only in thickness, These representations may, to a 

 about 74 miles w ould bo annually ex- considerable degree, be correct ; and 

 hausted. It is not, however, intended the motives and inferences may do cre- 

 to be insinuated, that one yard is the dit to the hearts and understandings 

 average thickness of the strata (I of their advocates. But, in reply, it 

 should prefer saying stratums) ; it is may be stated, — that, whatever may 

 only taken for the formula, as accoun- be the real extent of the supply, the 

 tants calculate annuities on a single present generation has no right to 

 pound. It seems impossible to form squander profusely whit equally be- 

 any reasonable conjecture on this longs to future ages. Let the amount 

 point; tlie quantity varying so widely be admitted to the most unlimited sup- 

 as from a foot to ten yards or more, ply, yet a profligate expenditure must 

 Perhaps the greatest part of the Staf- at some period be a subject of bitter 

 fordsliire mines may not exceed ten regret. " Posterity has done nothing 

 yards ; those of Shropshire not more for us," is a common and flippant 

 than two. truism ; but it is not the less a demon- 

 This statement, then, will be cxa- strable truth, that we ought not to 

 mined w itli very different views and burden our descendants with our blun- 

 feelings by two distinct classes of ders and crimes. As it is at present, 

 readers : those who are advocates for every Englishman is born chin-deep in 

 an increased consumption of the arti- taxation ; and, though to load him on 

 cle, and those who would recommend one hand with expenses, and on the 

 a rigid economy in all its applications, other to cut olf his sujjplies, may serve 

 It is idle (say the former), and betrays as a joke to us when talking of j)oste- 

 an unpardonable ignorance of facts, to rity, it is w hat no honest bencvoUnt 

 indulge in gloomy and unwarranted mind would attempt seriously to vin- 

 forebodings as to the exhaustion of a dicrvto. 



supply which is all but endless. Re- Again, it is no trivial matter that 

 cent discoveries in some of the Staf- the supply should bo continually dimi- 

 fordshire mines have shown that, nishing, and that every district whore 

 w here some of them ha\e been worked it was exhausted would be imnie- 

 out, the w orkmcn have only lo go diately subjected to additional ex|)ense 

 l()«er down, ancl they find stratum lie- and inconvenience: the moment, there- 

 low stratum, beyond all conjecture fore, that the failure begins to l)c felt, 

 where it shall »to|). Already have it will he a p('r])etual subject for in- 

 engines been erected hundreds of yjirds creasing anxiety and aliirm. IMnnaii 

 below the surface of the land, and the food may be |)rofusely wasted by the 

 beds of coal to which these improve- <lisappointed avarice of speculators, 

 inents have l(<l appear more extensive or by military campaigns and naval 

 than those hitherto worked ; and so on armaments ; and the next fruitful 

 to comparative indnity. 'J'o pretend, harvest may more than make up the 

 then, to calculate upon the failure of loss. M(nny may be squandered in 

 such resources, even at the most re- all the madness of piofiigacy ; which, 

 Aiosrui-Y Mag. No. 382. 3 1' passing 



