BRITAIN'S COAL CELLARS. 85 



jet such as in their very nature must needs be unable 

 to pass beyond a certain range of increase. Thus the 

 population of Great Britain has been steadily increasing, 

 and at present the annual increase is itself increasing. 

 Then the amount of coal used in inland communication 

 is increasing, not only on account of the gradual exten- 

 sion of the railway network, but also on account of the 

 increase of population, of commerce, and so on. Again, 

 our commerce with other countries has increased with 

 great rapidity since the year 1860, when the French 

 treaty came into operation, and it will continue to in- 

 crease with the increase of our population, of our means 

 of communication within our own country as well as 

 with foreign countries, and so on. But all these causes 

 of increase are now growing in activity at a rate which 

 must inevitably diminish. Our population cannot 

 increase beyond a certain extent, because the extent 

 of the country will suffice for but a certain number of 

 inhabitants. If emigration do not prevent increase 

 beyond that number, other causes will, or else a much 

 more serious evil than the exhaustion of all our coal 

 stores awaits the country. Again, the requirements of 

 inland communication will before long be so far met 

 that no such rapid extension as is now in progress will 

 be called for. After convenient communication has 

 been established between all parts of the country 

 whether the process require the formation of new 

 lines or of new services no important increase can 

 be required. As regards our commerce, its increase 

 depends necessarily on the increase at present going 



