Scenes And Incidents From The Life Of A Practical Miner
With A Treatise On The Ventilation Of Coal Mines

45 To prove this, let us take the extremes of two individuals, each perfect in his own sphereI am sure the noble Earl Russell will not take it amiss of the humble author using his name in conjunction with an intelligent practical miner, when this object is to illustrate a principle. Imagine the miner introduced by the noble Earl into the senate House of Parliament, and that too at a time when a great national question of high import is under discussion. See with, what a bashful simplicity he sneaks in behind the nearest object; lost in amazement, he seeks shelter in sil- i and listens to the finely tuned flow of rhetoric as it issues from, the resources of profound learning, of practiced states- manship. At length it becomes the duty of the noble Earl in his official capacity as representative of the government to rise an reply to the opposition members’ speeches. See with what consum- mate wisdom he takes each speaker’s speech in detail, and maik how the great analytical master reduces their compounds to single substances, modifying and confuting a part, and by liis exquisite skill reconciling the whole. Thus, by his almost infinite power, acquired by practical experience, he shows the folly of rashness, and the virtue ofi’cason, and effectually presents to view those elementaly pi in ciples, attention to which is essential to the perservation of our greatness and glory as a nation. It is now moved that the house be adjournec to another day; but where have we our miner. Is he wondering still at the material and intellectual grandeur around him, acknowledging the mig ity disparity of their spheres, and the superiority of education. He oo-s upon himself with an eye of pity, seeing clearly his own insigni caiice and ignorance of the world and the way we live, he concludes this is not the place for him, and wishes himself back to his own native mines ant humble cot. But stop, the noble Earl condescends to accompany him to see for himself, and endeavour, if possible, to fathom the depths of those hidden mysteries and deep secrets in the system of mining, for the future benfit of the miners, to enable him to remove obstacles and imposition from the government, to the satisfaction of the country. .When a is ready, off to the north they bend their course, and soon arrive at New- castle, the metropolis of the coal-mining district. Without delay they prepare for their descent into the mine, in search of knowledge, and to see the dangers thereof; fully equipped as an intelligent practical miner will be with book and yard wand, with candles and lamp they descend the shaft, alight at the bottom and enter the excavated drift that leads away into the interior of the mine and all its workings. The drift being a horseway, there is sufficient height, breadth, &c., for the convenience of men and boys travelling in and out. All is now m readiness. The noble earl expresses a wish to follow the miner, confiding in Ins honesty, honour, and qualifications to lead him through the interior and workings of the mine, and conduct him back with safety and satisfaction. a quic’ step the miner leads the way. See him, his fins expanded, his mind afloat, and visibly in his own native element. . Ihey txave onniai o half a mile, when they come to a part of the drift son» w la uni oim in its dimensions, where he stops, and holding out his aim is u < no. i in a horizontal direction, with the candle perpendicular, he gazes intent y