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 XLV. Notices )csvecfi7ig Netv Books. 

 Records of Mining. Edited by John Taylor, F.R.S. S^c. 



THERE has been no work published which relates specially to 

 mining, in the English language, since the Treatise by Dr. Pryce, 

 of Redruth, in 1778, and his book must now be esteemed as more 

 curious than useful. There are a lew detached papers m the trans- 

 actions of some of our learned societies ; and these comprise all that 

 is to be found on this subject in the literature of this country 



By the tables of produce given in the work under our considera- 

 tion, we observe that the quantity of the soft metals raised m Great 

 Britain in a year, may be computed at the following large quantities : 

 copper 12,635 tons 5 lead 47,000 tons; and tin 5316 tons, imply- 

 ing a« we should suppose, the application not only of a large amount 

 of capital, but also of sufficient skill, energy and experience to ren- 

 der capital itself productive to so great an extent. , ^. , . 

 We have often been struck with the difference of rank which is 

 assi'^ned to the art of mining, and to its professors, m foreign coun- 

 tries and in England. There, the art is valued as one most impor- 

 ant to the state, and respected as requiring certain experience m 

 a most difficult pursuit, and demanding considerable attainments in 

 science : and those who direct its application, enjoy privileges and 

 titles of distinction. 



Here, mining is held to be a pursuit barely reputable; to be some- 

 what allied to gambling, to resemble a lottery in which are many 

 blanks and few prizes, the whole dependent upon chance, and 

 therefore the proper business of speculators and shallow projectors. 

 Now how does it happen that as the mines of England produce 

 a value ten times as large as those of all the German States, such 

 a different estimate should be made of the efforts that lead to such 

 a result? Our answer would be, that there is in this country but 

 little knowledge diffused upon the subject, and that in others there 

 is a great deal For want of information, a narrow view is taken of 

 the whole ; and in the absence of the just standard, by which a due 

 measurement may be taken, empiricism is confounded with experi- 

 ence, pretence is mistaken for judgement, and the results of chance 

 pass for those of skill. There is much in mining to favour such 

 delusions : it is a work of experiment ; it encounters the greatest dif- 

 ficulties, and deals in many uncertainties ; and thus its most intelli- 

 gent practitioners, like thoseof another uncertain though most use- 

 ful art, may sometimes be outdone by an ignorant quack. We be- 

 lieve, however, that the tendency of mankind towards quackery of 

 all kinds is most easily dispelled by the progress of information ; 

 and as the subject of mining includes the consideration of many in- 

 teresting branches of science, and relates to an important part of 

 productive industry, it can hardly be deemed unworthy of investiga- 

 tion. ..11 

 Such a work as we have now before us, may efiect a great deal 

 in the communication of knowledge on subjects connected with 

 N. S. Vol. 5. No. 28. April 1829. 2 Q mining. 



