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tribute, but all in proportion to their means. Having raised 
funds, then, by these legitimate means, applicable to the 
objects we have in view, depend upon it, gentlemen, those 
objects would be attained, and that without in the slightest 
degree affecting the interests of the coal masters, or touching 
their pockets, beyond those of the rest of the community, 
but, on the contrary, greatly benefiting them by establishing 
order, regularity, and security in the mines and amongst the 
men employed in them. It may be that the coal masters 
would prefer to keep these matters in their own hands, rather 
than be interfered with ; but is it not hopeless to expect 
unanimity ? The remedy ought to be complete and univer- 
sal, — if partial, it will not be satisfactory. It must be 
general and compulsory, and paid for by the public at 
large. 
I certainly think it behoves the masters now to combine 
and subscribe towards establishing and proving the soundest, 
safest, and most practical principle as a remedy against 
inflammable gas in mines ; and having done that, to memo- 
rialise the Government to appoint a Commission with full 
powers to carry it out to the widest extent. And there are 
many other evils and dangers to which the mining community 
are exposed, which such a Commission would sweep away. 
P.S. If the principle of accelerating and effecting the 
circulation of fluids by a series of consequential vacua, in 
imitation of the natural forces employed in the circulation of 
blood in the venous system of animal life, — in physiological 
language termed vis a tergo, but which is, more properly 
speaking, the result rather of a preceding power, consisting 
of an alternate exhausting or suction force, and a propulsive 
or evacuating action, at the head of the column of fluid, 
rather than of any force from behind, — could be once fairly 
imitated artificially, and applied to the various purposes of 
