132

COAL MINES OF

« The gentleman who called upon you ac-companied by a friend would in all probabilitybe Mr. Wilkinson of the Temple, (it was:) whohas interested himself much, and with himoriginated the idea of the above-mentionedsociety. I assure you that nothing can be moredreadful than the present state of our coalmines, and the evil must increase. I feel hurtat the conduct of the viewers, as they sacrificeevery good principle at the mercenary shrineof self-interest, and willingly see hundreds oftheir fellow creatures hurled into eternity,rather than encourage any plans which mightmilitate against their pecuniary remunera-tion.*

the nature and extent of the evil should be fullyknown.’

“ To render the mines secure would be attended withadditional expense and labour, but the evil is of suchmagnitude that if the remedy be not applied it wouldclaim the serious attention of the legislature.” Tilloch’sPhil. Mag., No’. 202, p. 96.

* By reference to the matter of fact, though it mustbe allowed that new improvements which change thehabits of the poor must at first expose them to tempo-rary inconvenience and distress, against which in fairnessit is the duty of society to defend them, yet the invariableresults of such improvements is always to better the con-dition of mankind. Actum on Gas Lights*