DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND. 141

After these letters it almost appears unne-cessary to dwell any longer upon the subject;but the ground is new, and society have neverbefore been presented with a complete workupon the state of these extensive coal mines,nor ever before been sufficiently informed ofthe extent of accidents. Under these consider-ations, therefore, every thing must be interest-ing ; and the nature of circumstances de-mand, that a publication, having in view a per-manent amelioration, to the state of certainbranches of the community, should argue everypoint, and simplify all necessary evidence tothe understandings of mankind in general.

There are many very valuable communica-tions and comments upon the subject of coalmines, scattered about in a variety of eminentliterary publications; and in them every ne-cessary corroboration will be found as to thesimilarity of sentiments and generality of opi-nions in regard to mining and explosions.

Could any individual, who sympathises inthe dangerous incertitude attached to the lifeof the poor miners, seat himself at the mouthof a pit and contemplate the horrors of theirlife, he would feel an increased anxiety intheir fate; and did the remembrance of anexplosion at that particular time strike upon1 .