The Objection to sinking more Pits, olv/aicd. 441 



proper time, while extensive parts of the same or other Coal- 

 seams remained unwrought, in situations where they might le 

 raised and conveyed at less expense * ; or 2d, the Coal-owners 

 had stipulated for a higher part or share of their Coals, than 

 their depth, and not being yet ripe for market, had entitled them; 

 or 3d, that the Lessees or workers of the Coals, required greater 

 profits than the nature of the adventure they had entered on, 

 «ntitled them : or 4th, that too great a spirit of rivalry and co)n- 

 petition had existed among the v.-orkers <if Coals in this deep 

 district, in lowering the price of their Coals, so as to have sunk 

 the general profits below their just standard. 



It would be unjust in me, to leave what I have said, subject 

 to the interpretation, that I have anyv/here found the blame of 

 this niggardliness of sinking Pits, directly or fairly chargeable, in 

 any case, on the Owners or Lessees of the Coal- works I have 

 alluded to, because the facts seem rather to have been, that the 

 Overseers, to whose skill and practical knowledge entire defe- 

 rence has been paid, as best understanding #hat was necessary, 

 and as daily and hourly sharing loith their Men the dangers, of 

 omitting or neglecting any necessary plan or precaution, have 

 alone made themselves responsible, for the deplored consecjuences 

 that have followed: and their Superiors have remained ignorant, 

 of the dangers and risks that were umiecessarily run in their 

 works, until apprised of it by the shocking relations, that hav« 

 ■come before the public. 



And respecting these Superiors, I will not suppose that a British 

 Land or Coal-owner, when properly instructed and advised, on 

 ;he system of precautions proper to be pursued in his Coal- 

 ^^•orks, would not as highly and indeed more truly value a Coal- 

 overseer, who should be ready and anxious to prove to him, that 

 the Hues of the Men were never nnavoidaLly risked in the works, 

 under his care, yet with due regard to oeconomy in all the plans 

 pursued, than he would another Overseer, who should pride 

 himself, on hii\'mg netted as much or more money from the quan- 

 tity and nature of the Coals wrought, than any of his bmther 

 Overseers, on the same or adjoining Estates, v.'ithout mention 

 )f the comparative security in which this was accomplished ; much 

 ess would they value or retain one, who should evade this in- 

 ijuiry, or gloss over the cruel facts, by saying, that no greater 



* I furbear on tlio prcscDt occasion, otUcriiig on the unparalMc! cii- 

 > iimstanco, of these vast expoMinir districts of the Tyne and ihf Wear, 

 <(!inj; yet ui.runiiiihetl witli any public Canal or Rail-w.'iy (wlieie so many ot 

 •.!ie latter are wanted) for tlie conveyance of Coals to the siiips or the Itire.- 

 Harge? or Keels, and the system of '"'way leaves" bein^ s:il)6titiittd, wliert- 

 \)y so grievous and direct a tax is levied' by j^nvate individuals, on the In- 

 li!il)itants of all the cast and south coabt of England, and even of its sjuih- 

 tastcrn interior. 



riiks 



