The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-23 00:00:00

accords with common sense and philosophy—that no
one should leave that until to-morrow which may be
done to-day. The memorable remark of Sir Robert
Peel, that the battle of the constitation is to be
fought in the registration courts es one
which ought never to be forgotten It holds
eminently true at the present time. The
probability amounts to a moral certainty, that
before the return of another season for
registering the names of the electoral body, we shall
have a dissolution of Parliament, and a consequent
appeal to the country. And, let it be recollected,
that the next Parliament may have a prolonged exist-
ence, and, consequently, exercise a powerful influ-
ence on the destinies of the country. If there be any
apathy, any remissness, on the part of the Liberal
constituencies, the result will be that the Conservae
Lives will have a majerity on a new election, and if
that contingency occur, we need net speculate as to
the results. To say that the cause of popular progress
will be arrested, would be saying nothing. Matters
could not remain in a stationary state. The process of
retrogression would forthwith commence, and where
that process would terminate is more than we can tell.
Retrogression is the order of the day just now, all over
the Continent. A Stanley Mioistry, with Lord Aber.
deen as Secretary for Foreign Affairs, weuld cordially
sympathise with continental retrogression, and do all
in their power to make this country retrogressive too.
The counsels which we deem it so necessary to
give to the friends of progressive reform are not
needed by the Conservative portion of the constitu-
encies of the country. They never slumber or sleep.
They are ever alive to events—ever awelte to what is
passing- around them. We venture to say that there
is not a thoroughgoing Conservative in the country
who has not preferred his claim to have his name en-
tered on the electoral list, but will take care that it
be done to-day. It is reserved for the Liberals
alone to be remiss in this matter. They need not be
reminded of their duty, and to be urged to its per-
formance. We know not that we can say anything more
than we have done, with a view to induce the friends
of Liberal principles, having a legal right to the
franchise, to see that they do not, by their owu ne-
gligence,
.allow thenacelves to be deprived of that
right. It we could advance anything in addition to
what we have already urged, it would be the consi-
deration, that no one• can say how important a single
vote may be. \Ayn have seen the question decided
at the poll by a very few votes, in some of the
largest constituencies in the kingdom, as to whether
a Liberal or Conservative candidate was to be re-
turned. Most of our readers will remember that at
the election in 1847, for the city of London, one of
the Liberal candidates was returned by a majority of
only six, although more than 6,000 electors voted on
either side. Mr. Brotherton, the Member for Sal-
ford, was, in the same year, returned, out of the large
constituency of that borough, by a majority of only
two. It is therefcre the duty of every Liberal, who
has a right to the elective franchise, to take care that
he be not deprived of that right ; or rather that be
does not disfranchise himself. No one can tell of
what importance his individual vote may be to the
cause of popular progress, and consequently every
Liberalis bound to see that he contributes his iota to
the general fund of Liberalism. " England expects
every man to do his duty," has been a universally
received maxim since the memorable moment in
which it was uttered by the greatest naval hero which
any age or country has produced. The maxim is
one which :applies with great propriety in the present
case. The country expects every man to do his duty,
in the almost certain contingency of a general elec-
tion, by taking care that his name, if he possesses the
legal right, should be entered to-day, or on Monday,
the latter being the latest day on which it can be en-
tered, on the electoral list of the borough or town in
which he resides.

THE LATE FATAL COLLIERY
ACCIDENT NEAR BRISTOL.
Bars Toe, AUG. 22.—A thorough inspection of the
Malago Vele and the Northside Collieries, at Bedmin-
ster, near this city, where the recent fatal and deplo-
rable accidents occurred, has taken place during the
last three days, by Mr. Dickinson, one of the Go-
vernment inspectors, sent specially down for that pur-
pose. The inspector has likewise visited various other
collieries at Bedminster, and the following brief ana-
lysis of his observations will be found of some value
to coal proprietors generally. It should be premised
that Mr. Dickinson has had considerable experience
in mining casualties, his own district including Lan-
cashire, North Wales, Cheshire, Staffordshire, and
Shropshire. This district has been under the inspec-
tion of Mr. Blackwell, but who has recently resigned
his appointment, and Sir G. Grey has been prevented
by severe indisposition from filling it up.
The inspector, on his arrival, first visited the Ma-
lago Vale coalworks, the scene of the recent frightful
catestrophe, but the rope for the purpose of descending
the shalt not being coaipleted, he proceeded to the
Northside Colliery, the property of Messrs. Gemlstor,
Beeman, and Co., intimating his intention of examin-
ing the Malago Vale works on the following day.
The inspector went down the shaft at the Northside
Colliery, having been made aware that a serious acci-
dent occurred there not long ego. He did not approve
of th( manner in which the shaft was timbered. The
plan of ticit,ering adopted he considered to be of a
rude, imperfect, and insualcient character. It was
deficient in strength, and too weak to bear either la•
teral thrusts or perpendicular weight, and the pro-
jecting timbers he considered liable to be torn off by
the bucket in descending. Some long and thin birch
sticks were placed to stand lateral thrusts, but which,
in point of fact, were incapable of resisting the pres-
sure of more than a few pounds; and, in short, the
whole timbering of the shaft he considered to be of a
mere temporary nature, and such as he bad nev:r
met with in any permanently finished shaft, not even
where the plan of timbering was adopted. It is but
right to state that when this was mentioned to the
proprietors they at once agreed to adopt all the sug-
gestions of the inspector, and to wall the whole of the
shaft from top to bottom with bricks. This of course
will prove a heavy expense. In examining the Ma-
lago-vale Coal-works the inspector descended the shaft
about two-thirds of the entire distance, this being the
lowest point to which at present it is safe to descend.
lie examined the upper works of this and other col-
lieries in the district, but did not see anything by which
danger was to be apprehended to any individual.
They were mostly deficient in plans of the work-
ings, but the proprietors undertook to get them im-
mediately. The inspector remarks that there appears
to be a general want of ventilation in the district,
although in the Malagovale-pits there was a sufficient
quantity of air. The diameter of the drum, in his
opinion, had a great deal to do with the durability of
the rope. In the course of his inspection of other
collieries in the district he remarks that there is not
that attention paid to the working plans which is
compatible with a well-regulated colliery. The
owners, ho wever, had paid the utmost attention to his
representations, and they had undertaken to provide
the requisite plans forthwith. It is well known, Mr.
Dickinson observes, that in consequence of the ab-
sence of firedamp in this district, ventilation has not
assumed that importance that it has among the
"fiery collieries," where firedamp existed. Ventilating
furnaces were indeed almost unknown, and in those
shafts where mechanical plans at all existed, they
consisted in a stream of water being turned
down the downcast shaft. The consequence
of this was, that in sultry weather, like the
present, the current of air was extremely
sluggish ; it became charged with " black damp,
which, although not liable to explode,
was very per-
nicious to the health of the miners. In many of the
Bedminster collieries a small fire placed at the bottom
of the shaft would be quite sufficient to insure good
, ventilation, which was imperatively necessary in large
collieries. With good shafts and geed rope there
was, he considered, verylittle danger in descendingd pits;
and in almost every case it
the appearance of the rope, was ponible to judge, by
when it was. fna fit. and
propet state for a man to depend upon The
ntro-
duction of a large quantity of _oakummelnnt
oota. ropet mixed"
with hemp might base the d
as to the precise time when $
among practical men
agent. Differences of opinionju gmight. cer.taienlmylenxinisgt
man would
remove the
err on the safe side, rope as soon as he
and
danger. rag
rope should be condemned, but a prudent
d to the tim-
beringsaw the appearanceorthside Colliery Pitar
, the timber there
used, Mr. Dickensonobserves, is such as is used in
on the
Northside
•
this district for atemporary purpose,
until a founds-
' tion could be got to build the wall from. The in-
spector that be found the mana-
gersgenerally
opt his suggestions ; and he
ho ievesthey concludeshave
readybhithertosaying erred more from the sin of
ignorance than that of wilfulness.

[ADVERTISEMEN—THE GREAT EXHIBITION
Tsi.xsnorEs.—A new and most important invention in
telescopes, possessing such extraordinary powers that some,
inches, with an extra eye piece, will show distinctly
Jupiter's moons, Saturn's Ring, aild the double stars with the
same telescope, weighing only three ounces, can be seen a per-
son's countenance, 3 (~,2 miles distant, and an object from 16 to
20
miles ; they supersede every other kind for the waistcoat-
pocket,, arid are of larger, and all sizes, with increasing powers
accordingly ; also a valuable newly invented very small
powerful waistcoat-pocket glass, the size of a walnut, by which
a person can be seen and known, 142- miles distant, they
answer every purpose on the race-course, at the Opera-houses ;
country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at twelve to four-
teen miles, they arc invaluable for shooting, deer stalking,
yachting, hunting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, game-keepers,
and tourists To he had at Messrs. S. and B. Solomon.,
opticians, 39, Albermarlc-street, Piccadilly, opposite the York
Hotel. Opera and race-course glasses with wonderful powers;
an object can be clearly seen from fourteen to sixteen miles.
Invaluable preserving spectacle lenses. The invisible organic
vibrator and all kinds of acoustic instruments, for relief of
extreme clearness. 39, Albermarle-street, Piccadilly, opposite
the York Hotel.
LEICESTER TRADE.—The improved demand still
continues and will, no doubt, progress. If the harvest be got
in well, of which there is every prob Ability, the improvement
in trade will become, it is hoped, still more manifest and de-
cided. The prices dm:Aerials remain about the ea/Le...Not.
tisghani Journal..