Indian Coal. 



615 



"Thus the practical man, as he is called, seldom accomplishes any 

 one object in deputations of this nature, while his failure consigns 

 the district he has visited to unmerited neglect for another indefinite 

 period.* In the mean time the Government continue to pay exorbi- 

 tant rates for coal, the whole supplies of which are derived from a 

 single district which remains in the hands of a few, whose interests are 

 of course opposed to every thing calculated to interfere with their 

 profits. 



" Much may be in time expected from the liberal policy of the Govern- 

 ment, but I doubt if any thing is likely to be accomplished within a 

 reasonable period of time, except a system of operations on a great- 

 er scale be resorted to for the investigation of the coal formations of 

 India, than any Government is likely to adopt, except at the sugges- 

 tion of the highest scientific authorities. 



" Perhaps, if you were to consult with Sir John Herschel and Mr. 

 Murchison, something might be done ; at all events your opinion could 

 not fail to have great weight with the Court of Directors.! 



** Suppose a geologist, with a distinguished assistant competent to suc- 

 ceed him, was to be assigned the investigation of the Assam and the 

 Sylhet coal districts ; the indications of coal along the Malay coast 

 from Arracan to the 10th degree of latitude to a second; Cuttack district 

 to a third; Palamow to a fourth; Rajmehal and the Nerbudda to a 

 fifth ; a sixth sent to Port Natal in South Africa, where coal has recently 

 been brought to notice, and offered by the Portuguese authorities to 

 the British Government. J In five years the whole investigation might 

 be completed in a manner calculated to confer the highest service on 

 science, as well as on the resources of the nation at large." 



In reply to the above, Mr. Murchison, in a letter dated 

 16, Belgrave Square^ 22d September 1842, states, that our 

 letter to Mr. Lyell had only reached him a few days before, 



* An instance of this kind' has occurred to Arrakan since the above letter was 

 written; an officer appointed to examine the indications of coal along that Coast, 

 for a distance of 200 miles, ascribes them all to a single vein of coal of 

 no value, a phenomenon quite opposed to the details he has himself fur- 

 nished. — Ed. 



f We have only as yet heard from Mr. Murchison in reply to this reference. 



t The recent discoveries of coal in the Straits, should render this quarter a seventh 

 field of enquiry, while the South Sea Islands, where Coal is found at several 

 points, would also require a separate enquiry. We are much mistaken if the 

 interests of steam navigation will not soon demand some such liberal measure on 

 the part of the British Government.— Ed. 



