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merit, and precluded any actual observationsbeing made, which might tend ultimately toestablish means of safety; but it is to be hopedthat the alarming extent of these accidentshavingr now assumed such a national feature ofcalamity will prepare the legislature for en-couraging the efforts of philanthrophy, andenabling persons with sanction and authorityto penetrate the gloomy regions of a coal minein search of experiments, and in the adoptionof improvements.

“ Villages nearly depopulated, and starvingfamilies, are the effects of these disastrous oc-currences ; and the increase of pauperism inthis case must always exceed its due proportion,so long as private prejudices are enabled tofrustrate public improvements: and it oughtto be considered that the interest or theprejudices of any individual person, or class ofpeople, ought not to militate against the pre-servation of general equability and public se-curity.

“ I write this as a private letter, but sub-ject to your better judgment in regard to anyother use. I am informed that a more accu-rate report, up to the present time, will shortlybe obtained, when some active steps will be