if the remote end of the tube was immersed in water, a 
continuous stream might be circulated and evacuated, pro- 
vided the machinery, by clever mechanical contrivances, was 
rendered perfect. By this means, a river twenty miles from 
London might, by being dammed in its course, be readily 
elevated to the metropolis by means of the exhausting 
system; and being deposited in reservoirs on elevated 
ground, be dropped down into the city, to conduce to the 
health and comfort of the inhabitants. 
It is the same principle precisely which I now recommend 
for trial, with the view of rendering secure the lives of those 
valuable men — the miners — who constitute, in reality, the 
foundation of the wealth and strength of society in this 
country. I say the same principle might be made applicable 
to gaseous substances. Then comes the question — Who is 
to carry it out, or undertake the experimental trials ? If 
successful, who is to ensure its general application ? Now, 
I think there ought to be no half measures on a subject 
of such extreme importance, and that a Government Com- 
mission ought to be appointed, with powers to carry out 
the objects in view. I cannot conceive the mere appointment 
of inspectors a sufficient step for the Government to take on 
a matter of such grave consequence to the nation. They 
are not armed with the necessary powers. The laws relating 
to pauperism or to lunacy are administered by Commissions, 
and yet I cannot deem them to possess a tithe of the interest 
that this mining question possesses. This relates to the 
existence or non-existence of the (strictly speaking) most 
valuable class of society ; and it is most lamentable to hear 
so frequently of their being blown to atoms, or, indeed, to 
hear of their emigrating, on account of bad times, to add 
their strength and their wealth to the interests of foreign 
rival nations. I see by the newspapers that such is the 
case from the mining districts of Wales, and I deem it to 
