545 
excursion of this nature, with a view to the examination of 
some of these ancient barrows. 
Dr. Evans seconded the motion, expressing a hope that 
the Philosophical Society would seek to induce Mr. Green- 
well to visit the town again, and that the result of his future 
visit would be to add to our archaeological knowledge of the 
district. 
ON THE FIRE AND CHOKE DAMP INDICATOR, INVENTED BY 
GEO. F. ANSELL, ESQ., OF THE ROYAL MINT. BY 
RICHARD REYNOLDS, F.CS. 
No apology can be needed in such a district as this for 
introducing the subject which forms the title of this paper, 
but I must disclaim any pretension to possessing superior 
information upon it. Having the pleasure of Mr. AnselTs 
acquaintance, I have agreed to become, though very imper- 
fectly, his representative to-day, in order to bring his 
admirable invention under your notice. Dependent, as our 
national industries are, upon an adequate supply of coal, we 
are bound to consider the extraordinary perils which surround 
those who obtain it for us. Mr. Holland, one of the Royal 
Commissioners of Mines, has ascertained that explosions of 
fire-damp in coal mines cause 365 deaths per annum. Thus, 
we may say, that one life is lost every day throughout the 
year from explosions alone, but as this estimate was made 
two years ago, how much higher will be the figures that 
include the slaughter wrought by the late explosions at 
Barnsley and in Staffordshire. 
Out of the 1,644 lives sacrificed in 1864 to our necessity 
for coal, being at the rate of one life for every 109,715 tons 
raised, we cannot but feel that the accidents resulting from 
explosion are the most terrible of all, from their suddenness 
and the wholesale destruction which they deal, and we shall 
