DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND. 3$

process to accumulate sufficiently for such aneffect is difficult to ascertain; but it might pro-bably be ascertained that the earth, having beensupplied with openings in those parts wherethe most combustible principles were collected,had ceased to vibrate upon her poles fromearthquake, or form new surfaces by eruption.

Having gone thus far in the regular grada-tion of the subject, it will be necessary next togive a short outline of the commencement ofmining. This, however, cannot attain the exactpoint of origin, as there does not appear anycertain record to proceed upon, nor does an-tient tradition afford much assistance: there islittle doubt, however, that the Romans wereacquainted with the use of this fossil whenin Britain, but to what extent is very un-certain.

Indeed the extension of the coal trade toits present importance has proceeded rapidlywithin the last few centuries, as the generaluse of wood fuel till within a very short com-parative period clearly demonstrates that ourforefathers did not participate so much in theinternal provisions of nature as ourselves.Many circumstances may be found to corro-borate the evidence of coal being known at avery early period, but no particular mention. d 2