DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND. 120

and indeed several unavoidable ones which youquote in your letter, from some conversationI have had with a gentleman from -the North,whose ideas and imaginary interest joined witha 'connexion in some collieries evidently cal-culated his opinions to give me every infor-mation which may be expected to opposescientific improvements, and to support oldand obstinate prejudice.

“ The fact is that the greatest extent of acci-dents which occurs arises from those causeswhich your lamp is calculated to prevent; con-sequently it becomes a question whether,because it is beyond the power of human in-vention to prevent them all, this inventionshall be excluded because it wdll only preventthe greater part.

« I think it necessary, as an apology for anyerror in my arguments, to state that my infor-mation is for the greater part theoretical, which,connected with the youth of my experience,will I trust be admitted in excuse.

« 6, Craven Street, « J, H. H. HOLMES.”

“ August 8,1815.”

K