TREATISE

ON THE

COAL MINES

OF

DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND.

CHAPTER I.

General Description of the Coal Districtof Durham and North umber land.—Soils,Mountains, Rivers, 85c .

The county of Durham, which has beenthe principal theatre of calamity from explo-sion, has been long famed for its valuable minesof coal, lead, and iron; its extensive quarriesof marble and free-stone, and its importantmanufactories of every species of hardware;its founderies, lime, brick, and tile-kilns.Indeed such is the extent and flourishing stateof commerce, mining, manufactory, and ma-ritime consequence, of this county, that it very