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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
article regards tlie present excitement on tlie “ Coal Question ” 
as giving an undue importance to it. At the same time 
he hopes that it may lead to such an examination as will, 
approximately, determine the questions already propounded. 
There is considerable uneasiness amongst the coal proprietors, 
lest this inquiry should be instituted by the Government, 
and vigorous efforts are being made to persuade the public 
that our coal is, virtually, inexhaustible. Trade interests of 
various kinds, many of them of the most short-sighted de- 
scription, will interfere to check inquiry, — and to lead it astray, 
if persisted in. The existing uncertainty is regarded most 
favourably by the interested few, but the removal of that 
uncertainty, would greatly benefit the great mass of coal 
consumers, and certainly introduce a far more healthful con- 
dition amongst the coal owners, than that state of inter- 
mittent fever which, ever and anon, prevails. 
Our coal-fields may be sufficient to supply all our wants for 
many centuries ; but within one century it may be found that 
we are beaten in our manufactures by America, because with 
the Americans coal will be cheap, whereas with us it will be 
dear. For several years there has been a slow but steady 
advance in the price of coal in the very centres, of production. 
To determine if this increase of price is legitimate, and if it 
must continue to increase, — to suggest, by the aid of the 
physical and mechanical sciences, means by which the re- 
quired amount of heat may be obtained with the consumption 
of less coal, and to introduce engineering appliances by 
which the coal-seams, at great depths, may be worked 
without any greatly increased cost — are the true objects of 
any inquiry which may be instituted into the exhaustion op 
OUR COAL-FIELDS. 
While these pages have been passing through the press, 
Mr. Hussey Vivian has moved, in the House of Commons, 
“ That an humble address be presented to Her Majesty, praying 
that she would be graciously pleased to issue a Royal Commis- 
sion to investigate the probable quantity of coal contained in 
the coal-fields of Great Britain ; and to report on the quantity 
of such coal which may be reasonably expected to be available 
for use ; — whether it was probable that coal exists at workable 
depths under the Permian, New Red Sandstone, and other 
superincumbent strata ; and whether they would recommend 
that bore-holes should be sunk in any and what localities ; to 
ascertain and report on the quantity of coal at present con- 
sumed in the various branches of manufacture, for steam navi- 
gation, and for domestic purposes, as well as the quantity 
