482 Chronicles of Science. [July, 



too early an age — and the present system of mine-clubs are also sub- 

 mitted as great evils,* 



Some causes, which have been hinted at, — but which are not suffi- 

 ciently clear, — induced all the Commissioners, except Lord Kinnaird, to 

 avoid proposing any legislative application, to remedy the evils which 

 they had themselves pointed out. That nobleman, actuated by the most 

 humane intentions, took upon himself the burthen of preparing a Bill, 

 by which he hoped to remedy some of the existing evils. Lord Kin- 

 naird desired to avoid the machinery of a large body of Inspectors, 

 and he proposed the formation of a Board of practical men, who, with 

 a few Inspectors at their command, might see that remedies were ap- 

 plied where they were thought to be necessary. At this idea of a 

 Central Board, the miners, especially of Cornwall, took alarm, and a 

 powerful opposition was organized. The influence of this has been, 

 that — especially as the Government expressed their intention of op- 

 posing Lord Kinnaird's Bill, if it was pressed this Session — the framer 

 has withdrawn it, expressing his intention to introduce an amended 

 Bill, which will stand over for consideration early in the next Session. 



It is by no means desirable that legislative interference should 

 take the place of any existing desire to remedy acknowledged evils. 

 It is stated that improvements have been gradually, and are being 

 continuously, introduced into the system of working our metal mines. 

 If this be so, then let us hope that evidence will be given of it so 

 strongly between this and next year, as to remove every argument 

 which may be brought forward for the introduction of another Metal 

 Mines Bill. We regard all attempts to improve the working classes 

 by legislative means as a blundering way of arriving at a desired end. 

 Let the working man, and the employer equally, be taught, in the first 

 place, to feel that their interests are identical — and then be instructed 

 in those truths which improve the powers of observation, and enable 

 them to see the existing evils, and apply the proper remedy. We may 

 depend upon it, the individual effort will effect a much greater reform 

 than will be possible with the best constituted Board. 



Great interest attaches itself to the phenomena of the diffusion of 

 gases, which appear to have been noticed in the first instance by Dr. 

 Priestly,f and subsequently investigated by Dr. Dalton J and by M. 

 Berthollet.§ Dobereiner, in 1825, also made some remarkable obser- 

 vations, but for the full investigation of the subject we are indebted 

 to Professor Graham. || It has been long known, that gases which do 

 not enter into chemical combination will diffuse themselves through 

 one another, though kept externally at perfect rest, and form a uniform 

 mixture, though their specific gravities may be very different. Pro- 

 fessor Graham, by the use of a very ingeniously-constructed instrument 



* The whole question has been dealt with by Dr. Angus Smith, F.R.S., in two 

 papers in the ' Quarterly Journal of Science,' — " On Metal Mining," No. v. p. 59 ; 

 M On the Health of Metal Miners," No. vi. p. 216. 



t 'Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air.' Vol. iii. p. 29. 



X ' Philosophical Magazine.' Vol. xxiv. p. 8. 



§ 'Mem. d'Arcueul.' Vol. ii. p. 463. 



| ' Elements of Chemistry.' Second edition. Vol. i. p. 87. 



