of a School of Mines in Cornwall. 139 



It is contended, and as I believe most truly, that the present 

 means for the acquisition of knowledge, which various ad- 

 mirable institutions afford to the most intelligent classes of 

 artisans, are likely to produce a more favourable change in the 

 state of society than any thing hitherto proposed with a view 

 to enlarge the usefulness of a most valuable class of men : if 

 this be so, there can be no reason why such advantages should 

 be withheld from the miner ; unless it can be shown that it will 

 do his art no service, or that the persons who are to be taught 

 are incapable or unworthy of such education. 



On both these points I may first observe, that they seem to 

 have been settled long ago by the example of the Germans 

 and Hungarians, who have, until lately, been deemed, and 

 perhaps justly, the masters of the art. Their colleges of Frey- 

 berg and Schemnitz have been long in existence, and have 

 always been organized for, and devoted to, the purposes I re- 

 commend : if, therefore, what has become the theme of praise 

 in other parts of Europe be not applicable to England, it must 

 be either because our mines do not require intelligence and 

 skill for their management, or that our miners are not likely 

 to have their intelligence and skill advanced by the most ob- 

 vious means for doing so. 



As to the first, it is well known that one effect of late efforts 

 in mining in England has been to deepen the mines with a ra- 

 pidity totally unprecedented, to consolidate smaller concerns 

 into larger ones, to explore more perfectly the ground in all 

 directions, to adapt means that might render labour productive 

 of profit, to stimulate the labourer by combining his interest 

 with that of his employer, to watch every symptom with care, 

 and to employ every device that ingenuity could suggest to 

 overcome difficulties. It must then obviously follow that there 

 is a greater demand for skill in the conduct of these affairs: as 

 the mines are increasing in depth and extent, numerous ex- 

 pedients to counterbalance these difficulties are required ; and 

 as the expenses increase, compensations must be looked for in 

 the aids that science may afford. Many mines, even in England, 

 are yet shallow, and are drained by levels from the nearest 

 valleys : here the operation is a simple one ; and those who are 

 accustomed to work them know but little of the means by 

 which water is drawn from great depths, or ventilation is 

 produced under certain circumstances which exist where works 

 have been pushed down even far below the surface of the sea. 

 All mines were originally in the state of those above alluded 

 to; and no other good expedient being known, a limit was put 

 to their extent and productiveness. Ingenuity and science have 

 removed the barrier from those who are placed in the way of 



S 2 instruction 



