5 20 Reviews — Report of the Coal Commission. 



and the Forest of Dean ; and Mr. T. E. Forster investigated the 

 Northumberland and Cumberland Coal-fields. Durham and North 

 Staffordshire were reported on by Mr. G. Elliott ; South Stafford- 

 shire, East Worcestershire and Shropshire, by Mr. D. Jones ; York- 

 shire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Warwick- 

 shire, by Mr. J. T. Woodhouse. 



The most elaborate report, however, and that most interesting to 

 geologists, is, as might be expected, the report on the quantities of 

 coal wrought and un wrought in the Coal-fields of Somersetshire and 

 part of Gloucestershire, by Mr. Prestwich, President of the Geo- 

 logical Society of London. He points out the extent of the Coal- 

 field, giving lists of the seams, and also notices the minerals associated 

 with them, the faults and disturbances by which the beds are affected, 

 and the conditions under which the coal is now worked. 



It having been arranged that the outcrop of each Coal-seam should, 

 so far as possible, be mapped, this was done by Mr. Anstie, upon 

 copies of Mr. Sanders's excellent map of the Bristol Coal-field, and 

 the details which he has collected will form a valuable record of the 

 workings and capabilities of these Coal-fields. In Appendices Mr. 

 Prestwich has given sections of the Coal-measures as proved in the 

 collieries of Gloucestershire and Somerset, also lists of the Coal- 

 seams, with remarks on each, stating for what purpose used, its 

 character and quality. 



The Scotch Coal-fields are somewhat briefly treated by Mr. J. 

 Geddes, and those of Ireland by Professor Hull. 



The vast amount of practical information contained in this the 

 first volume of the Eeport shows at once the great value of the 

 results which have been brought about by the Coal Commission. 

 We learn that we have an accessible supply of coal that will last 

 about 276 years, but after that the coal that will remain could never 

 be worked except under conditions of scarcity and high price. As 

 we approach this exhaustion, the country will by slow degrees lose 

 the advantageous position it now enjoys in regard to its coal supply ; 

 for although other countries would undoubtedly be in a position to 

 supply our deficiencies, it may well be doubted whether the manu- 

 facturing supremacy of this kingdom can be maintained after the 

 importation of coal has become a necessity. 



This being the opinion of the Commission, we are led to wonder 

 that they have not more strongly pointed out to the Government the 

 great importance of settling the question as to whether or not there 

 is coal in the Southern and South-eastern portion of England.^ With 

 one exception, the members are of opinion that workable coal may 

 reasonably be looked for at certain points in this area. The view is 

 certainly purely theoretical ; it is opposed by Sir E. I. Murchison, and 



' Mr. Prestwich remarks, that " a few trials for coal would not be very costly, and 

 could hardly fail in important results, as in case of failing at once to hit the Coal- 

 measures we might possibly find the Lower Greensands, and thus solve one or other 

 of the great questions, — of discovering the productive Coal-strata of the Somerset and 

 Belgian band, or of obtaining the pure and abundant waters of the Lower Greensands, 

 both considerations of high importance for this great metropolis." (p. 165.) 



