4^6 Accidents in Coal-pits are important to le known. 



sity, as to resemble a. jet d'eav ; it is then that, in the langimee 

 of the country, it is said, *' the gipsies are up," and the rivulets 

 overflow. 



NotriiiK,!iain, Nov. 5, 1814. John StoRER. 



LXXVI. On certain Accidents to u hick Coal-ivorks are liallp, 

 pnrticiilnrhi those nf IVater burstivg into the Pits from old 

 ff'orks tliat are near adjacent^ as recently occurred at Heaion 

 in Northumberland : the accidental Explosions of Fire- damp, 

 setting Fire to the uaste Coals in the IVorks, as happened 

 last Suimner at Brora in Sutherland ; and the spontaneous 

 Firing of loose small Coals and pyritic Dirt, d^c. By Jonx 

 Farky, Sen., Mincal Surveyor, 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sik, — 1 HE vast importance both to their owners and the 

 public, of the extensive and curious Works which are carried on 

 underground in these Kingdoms for ))rocuring that truly essential 

 article fossil Coal, seems to have failed of attracting such a ge- 

 neral attention to them, and to the principles on which they are 

 or may be best and most securely conducted, as their importance 

 has demanded; until of late, that the sympathy and feelings of 

 a portion of the public has been roused, by the lamented losses 

 of Lives that have occurred. Although on one hand, the rights of 

 private property, and the respect due to characters of the first re- 

 spectability who are Owners and Lessees of Coal-uorks, to the 

 professional talents and to the private characters of the Agents, 

 Over-lookers, and Men employed, call for and require the utmost 

 delicacy, in speaking or writing for the public Eye, on their in- 

 dividual concerns or proceedings ; yet, on the other hand, in a 

 matter of so much importance as the preventing of the distressing 

 tata'strophes wliich have of late years wrung the hearts of the 

 Inhabitants of Durham and Northumberland, it may appear lit- 

 tle short of criminal apathy, in those who may happen to have 

 iccn much of the management of Collieries in this or other di- 

 ttiicts, not to endeavour, by as plain and intelligible descriptions 

 cii possible, to make the true circumstances of the unfortunate 

 ca-scs fully known to the public, and in temperate and proper 

 terms to describe, the defects of svstem or management that they 

 may perceive therein, in order that the influence and weight of 

 opinion, of persons conversant with the subject, and of the in- 

 telligible part of the public, may be brought in aid of the recora- 

 mendatj'jns thi't may be made^ of an improved system or manage- 

 ment 



