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COAL MINES OF

upon the publication of our respective lettersin the Morning Chronicle, for the reception ofthis letter, and for the appreciation of thosecircumstances which have resulted from myfirst statement. At the same time I must apo-logize for taking the liberty, unauthorized, ofusing your name in a public print; but as itwas only in such manner as was connectedwith your own invention of an apparatus whichpossesses general utility, and ought to claimpublic attention, I hope my anxiety to ques-tion, whether on the one hand it had beenused? and if not, on the other, why not?will be deemed justifiable by you, and affordan excuse for the liberty.

<e A day or two following the publication ofmy letter two gentlemen called at my lodgings,who stated that they were connected with a so-ciety which had in view the alleviation of acci-dents in coal mines, and the propagation ofimprovement for preventing explosions. Fromthem I received an expression of thanks forhaving in some measure brought the subjectbefore the public : we had much conversationUpon this important topic, and they expressedan intention of Waiting upon me again whenthey had received reports from the North, withconclusive information respecting the present