112 
It was well remarked some thirteen or fourteen years 
ago, by one of the most venerated members of this 
society, and one whose persevering labours in the geology 
of the mining districts of Yorkshire entitled his opinions 
to be received with the utmost deference and respect 
(the Rev. W. Thorp, late of Misson), "that the person 
who would discover any safer modes of ventilation, or 
even any additional precautions to those now in use, 
and should succeed in having them generally adopted, 
would be for ever conferring a lasting benefit upon the mass 
of our mining population." 
Ten years later than the period of this declaration, and 
at the last meeting of this society in Barnsley, the writer 
undertook in a paper, hastily prepared like the present, 
to bring before the society the views he entertained on 
the subject of colliery ventilation, as the result of a 
somewhat limited, though by no means unreflecting 
professional practice, extending over several years, in the 
lower and thin seams of the Yorkshire coal field. His 
views were subsequently maintained in a more elaborate 
paper read by Mr. Brakenridge at the Huddersfield meeting. 
And no doubt can now exist of there being a very general 
acquiescence on the part of scientific and practical men, in 
the soundness of the theory, that colliery ventilation becomes 
more perfect and effectual in the ratio in which the currents 
of ventilation can be maintained in ascending columns, after 
they have once penetrated the workings ; and, a fortiori, 
that system is defective, which involves the necessity of 
conducting such currents along avenues of descent, as now 
practised with all but universal consent. The exceptions are 
happily increasing as new collieries are being commenced, 
and examples are not wanting of a laudable resolution to 
unfetter the prejudices of custom, and to bring under opera- 
tion of the more natural and philosophic plan, workings which 
