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courfe of bufinefs; they commonly bring 

 out a gang at a time, which is four or fix, 

 and as loon as they are out of the tunnel, 

 they are drawn by mules to Mdnchefter, &c. 



The tunnel, where it pafTes through earth 

 or coal, is furrounded with brick-work, but 

 through the rock it is only hewn out. 



At the diftance of about a thoufand yards 

 from the mouth, it divides into two, which 

 branch different ways, for the convenience 

 of loading coals in the above compendious 

 manner in every part of the mine; and more 

 branches are in contemplation : It has been 

 afferted, that thole who go up bothpaflages 

 travel therein three miles; but this is an 



exaggeration. 



Every here and there along the tunnel are 

 wells, bricked from it to the top of the hill, 

 for the admimon of air, the exhalation of 

 damps, and the letting down men for repa- 

 rations in cafe of accidents. 



I have read of tin tubes for the convey- 

 ance of air into this mine, but there is no 

 luch thing; the fhafts, paffages, and tunnel 

 fupply it fufficiently. 



As there generally is much fuperfluous 

 water in coal mines, it was a very benefi- 

 cial fcheme to cut this tunnel for draining 

 that water away, anci, at the fame time, 

 lor carrying the navigation into the heart of 

 the colliery: Such bold and decifive ftrokes 

 are the i I if inventive genius, of 



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