1864. | The Industrial Resources of the North Country. 369 
and Tees. This title, indeed, scarcely expresses the real character of 
the volume. It is rather an account of the present state of man’s 
industry upon the banks of those rivers, and an indication of resources 
which are yet to be made available. Three rivers rising amidst. the 
varied scenery of the Mountain-Limestone-hills of Durham, Cum- 
berland, and Northumberland have gathered upon their margins some 
of the most remarkable evidences of man’s power which this country 
can present to the inquirer ; and of these, the several writers, who have 
contributed to these volumes, have endeavoured to furnish genuine 
information. 
The two works which stand first on our list are almost the same 
in matter. The first appeats as a handsome royal octavo volume, with 
excellent maps, sections, and plates. ‘he second is very humble in 
its appearance, and has neither maps nor plates. Both are, however, 
reprints of the address delivered by Sir William Armstrong, and of cer- 
tain papers read before the different sections of the British Association, 
*‘yevised and corrected by the writers.” In the first, these papers take 
the form of special reports; in the second, they are given as isolated 
papers, and the larger and illustrated volume adds important “ Reports 
on the Improvements introduced in the Rivers of the District.” 
The little volume which stands last on our list, is one of the most 
complete ‘“ Handbooks” which has ever fallen into our hands. Its 
archeological and descriptive division being the work of a man eminent 
in that department cf knowledge, while the portion devoted to the 
manufactures of Newcastle has been produced by the mayor of that 
town, who, by his vocation and special knowledge, is peculiarly fitted 
for the task. 
With this notice of the general character of these books we leave 
them, except in as far as they aid in obtaining a correct knowledge of 
the present state and of the prospects of those industries which come 
under notice. 
The present annual produce of coal from the Great Northern coal- 
field is given by the reporters at 21,777,570 tons. This is somewhat 
in excess of the quantity given in the “ Mineral Statistics of the United 
Kingdom.” The vend of coals both Coastwise and Foreign, was, in 
1791, 2,079,605, which advanced in 1862 to 10,134,790 tons; the re- 
mainder having been consumed in the manufactures, railways, and 
mines, and for domestic purposes at home. 
With this great drain upon a limited area, the question raised by 
Sir William Armstrong, of the duration of the supply, becomes a most 
important one. In our last number, however, we gave this subject 
sufficient attention. The engineering of coal-mining is clearly treated 
of. Boring, coal-cutting, coal-washing, ventilation, and lighting 
coming under notice. ‘The ccal-cutting machine of Donesthorpe and 
Co. is especially noticed; and the reporters say :—“ We shall thus be 
enabled to work profitably seams of coal varying from one foot six 
inches, to two feet in height, or even lower, and thus vastly prolong the 
duration of the coal-field.’ This view was not embraced in our notice 
of the coal-cutting machines in our last number. 
