2

but even whole streets are lighted by itsapplication—and in furnishing the elementof activity in the steam engine, it has givena wonderful impulse to mechanical and che-mical ingenuity, diminished to a great ex-tent human labour, and increased in a highdegree the strength and wealth of thecountry.

Every thing connected with the perma-nent supply of such a material, is worthyof scientific consideration; and to removeobstacles, difficulties, or dangers connectedwith its production, is not unimportant tothe state.

Since the earliest period of the applica-tion of mineral coal* to the purposes offuel, the explosions in coal mines from in-flammable airy or fire damp, have been re-garded as the greatest evil occurring in theworking of the mines. The strata of coallie usually parallel or nearly parallel to thesurface, at certain depths beneath it, and

* Coal was certainly worked in the neighbourhoodof Newcastle in 1245. See Brande’s History of New-castle, Vol. II. p. 253.

t Called Grisoux in Flanders, and Feu Brissonin the southern departments of France.