1915.) On Coal-Mines. 10g 
which they seem so desirous of maintaining, affordsybut too mucli 
room for censure, and subjects them to unfavourable imputations, 
of which they are probably wholly undeserving, and from which a 
different conduct would assuredly exempt them. Of theirrepugnance 
to grant information, both yourself and Mr. Bakewell have had 
experience, and have seen cause to complain publicly ;. and it is to 
be hoped that it will at last give way, if not to a spirit of liberality, 
or the power of conviction, at least to the force of necessity.» In- 
stances of the loss of lives are becoming so frequent, and of such: 
frightful magnitude, that proprietors, occupiers, and workers, of 
coal, must in the end be driven to the necessity of rousing them= 
selves in their own defence, for the benefit of their suffering work-' 
men, and of their own interest. 
-It would, Sir, require but few arguments to prove that the’ 
system. of mystery which they are anxious to preserve, so far from: 
enhancing the value of their concerns, must, in every point of view,: 
operate to its. depreciation; and that the tendency must, instead of 
diminishing, be every day increasing. It would also be easy to show’ 
that the only mode Jeft of averting the ruinous finale to which the: 
whole.is hastening, is to promote, and even to invite, investigation 
and publicity. But, Sir, it is unnecessary, if 1 were capable, which 
I certainly am not, of writing a dissertation on coal-mines, ‘The 
subject is not new ; and in the present state of our information there 
is scarcely any thing very interesting to be offered on it. The whole 
that:1 intend at present is to draw your attention, and, through your 
means, the attention of the public, to certain points in the economy: 
of coal-mines, which are already known, from which I am inclined. 
to think advantage may be derived, if they should come to be im- 
ved’ with that eagerness and energy which their importance sor 
justly demands. I shall advert to these in the order they occur to 
my mind, without much adherence to methodical arrangement. 
- Fire-damp, or, in scientific language, the explosion of carbureted 
hydrogen, as: being the most frequent, apparently the most destruc- 
tive, and, (as in the present instance) the most recent, cause of mor 
tality im our coul-mines, naturally aud forcibly claims precedence. 
Iris to the prevention of this occurrence that the principal attention 
has been directed; yet, notwithstanding all that has been done, the 
seeurity against its ravages is still very imperfect. The generation 
of carbureted hydrogen, from whatever cause it originates, is so in- 
cessant and so, enormous, that with all the perfection to which ven- 
tilation bas hitherto been, carried, it is found altogether impracti-’ 
cable wholly to guard against those tremendous subterranean com-' 
bustions, the effects of which produce lamentation, and woe, andi 
misery, to all in their immediate vicinity. Two years ago a society’ 
was established in Sunderland for the express purpose of preventing 
accidents in. coal-mives. Its first Report was lately published, con- 
taining a letter addressed to Sir Ralph Milbanke, the President, by: 
Mr. John Buddle, who is, I understand, deservedly considered one} 
af the most scientific and experienced coal viewers in this quarter. 
