and the jet was thrown very forcibly out of the nozzle of the pipe; the blower was sufficiently strong to propel the stream of gas across the engine-house. I well recollect the pipe was held at the entrance of the engine-house, and the jet passed the explosion nearly to the far end of the room, for it was very powerful; the distance that the blower fired it was from nine to twelve feet, I should think. I held the lamp in the direction of the jet, and not having seen it before, I was not very apprehensive of its firing. It did not fire at first, but as I approached the end of the nozzle-pipe, the gauze became heated red-hot, and passed the explosion. The flame was as long, or longer, than the breadth of the engine-room; I remember that it burnt the nap off my great coat and spoilt it. This experiment was repeated over and over again. Lord Durham himself was present, and a great many other persons, professional men and others, were present on this occasion. The force of Sir Humphry's remarks at the time was-'Now, gentlemen, you see the nature of the danger to which you are exposed in using the lamp, and I caution you to guard against it in the manner I have shown you. This is to show the only case in which the lamp will explode, and I caution and warn you not to use it in any such case when you can avoid it, without using the shield.'”

The experience of Mr. Buddle was in direct opposition to the allegations of those who cavilled at the value of the Davy lamp. He informed the committee that during the twenty years that had intervened since the invention of the lamp, there had been from 1,000 to 1,500 lamps in daily use in the collieries under his care, and he never knew an explosion to happen from it "not even one solitary instance." At this time the collieries superintended by Mr. Buddle were amongst the most fiery in the kingdom; but the

safety-lamps were tended with great care, and, in accordance with Sir H. Davy's instructions, were cautiously sheltered when being carried in dangerous currents. The necessity for protecting the lamp in this way, however, was not universally known, some mining engineers now learning of it for the first time.

Among the more novel suggestions made to the committee may be mentioned Mr. Goldsworthy Gurney's proposal to exclude fire altogether from the minesto effect the lighting of the workings by means of reflected light, and the ventilation by means of jets of high-pressure steam; and that of John Martin, the artist, to substitute a large exhausting fan, driven by a steam-engine, in lieu of the ventilating furnace.

After having taken a large amount of evidence, besides having witnessed a series of experiments with many varieties of safety-lamps in the laboratory of London University, the committee drew up a report, which they presented on the 4th of September. They regretted, they said, that the results of their inquiry had not enabled them to propound any particular plan whereby mining accidents might be avoided with certainty. They expressed their conviction that some mines required more shafts than were ordinarily provided; that the use of bratticed shafts was deservedly reprobated; that the foul and free air-courses were frequently too near to each other, the communications not adequately protected, and the

length of the air-courses excessive; that in some mines lighted with naked lights the use of the safety-lamp ought to be compelled by the owners; that it was essential to have correct maps and plans, &c. They suggested that notice of accidents attended with great loss of life should be transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and that some fit and proper person or persons should be appointed on such occasions to attend the inquest and assist the coroner and jury in their investigations.

They had also seriously considered how far legislative enactments might promote the safety of the miners, but regarded it as impossible then to lay down any precise directions, or to frame any rules of universal application. They thought, however, that great benefit might be anticipated from men of known ability being encouraged to visit the mines, whether in the character of distinguished chemists, mechanists, or philanthropists; that great advantages might be obtained from the establishment of associations in the mining districts similar to the Polytechnic School, recently formed in Cornwall; and that the employment of properly qualified persons, supported by a sufficient number of subordinate overseers, together with the observance of strict discipline in the mines, might be the means of preventing many accidents.

The labours of the Select Committee of 1835 resulted in the collection of much interesting and

valuable information regarding the subject of their inquiry, which, together with their comments based upon it, was laid before the House of Commons and the country; but they did not suggest the adoption of any measures to give force to their recommendations, and nothing further was done in the matter, so that the inquiry, for the time being, proved practically abortive.

The dangerous condition of the mines, however, continued to force itself into public notice by means of the explosions which occurred from time to time, and in consequence of a heavy explosion which happened in the St. Hilda pit at South Shields in June, 1839, by which fifty-two lives were lost, at the suggestion of Mr. James Mather, made at a public meeting called together to consider the matter, a number of gentlemen immediately formed themselves into a committee to investigate the causes of mine accidents.

This committee-known as the South Shields Committee-carried on investigations for a period of three years, taking great pains to acquaint themselves with the subject in a variety of ways, viz. by visiting and making experiments in the mines; by the examination of good practical pitmen; by communication with some of the ablest viewers of the country; by correspondence with distinguished scientific men; and by investigation of the mining laws and regulations of foreign states.

In 1843 they published their report, a most able

and valuable document, the views promulgated in which were in many respects far in advance of the standard of the time. Their opinions, if somewhat pronounced, were on the whole remarkably correct, sound, sagacious, and practical.

With regard to safety-lamps, they came to the conclusion that no mere safety-lamp is able to secure fiery mines from explosion, and that to rely upon the safetylamp is a fatal error; that the naked Davy lamp, without a complete shield, is a most dangerous instrument; and that the best form of safety-lamp is of the Clanny or Mueseler description, in which the supply of air is derived entirely from the upper part of the construction, over the glass shield.

But that, whether from overmuch reliance on safetylamps, or other cause, the far more important and safer system of ventilation had been comparatively neglected, and the condition of the ventilation of the fiery mines of the north was of the most dangerous description, caused by too few shafts in proportion to the extent of underground workings, the only remedy for which was more shafts and more air. No new mine they said, should be allowed to be worked unless two distinct and separate shafts had previously been put down, which should be secured by Act of Parliament.

They were very favourably impressed with the system of ventilating mines by jets of high-pressure steam, as proposed by Mr. Goldsworthy Gurney, and strongly