The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-14 00:00:00

yet another and another of these disastrous oc-
turrences.

The misery of having to earn a wretched liveli-
hood by toiling in the bowels of the earth, hidden
all the day from the blessed light of the
heavens, is surely sufficient for those indus-
trious operative, without rendering any fur-
ther sorrow necessary, as an incitement to
their energies. Yet, added to the regrets engendered,
doubtless, amongst the more reflective members of
the class, are the horrid anxieties consequent upon
the sense of their continual peril. A knowledge that
at any moment, almost, they are liable to be instanta-
neously destroyed, or what is perhaps worse, fright-
fully and painfully mutilated, is enough, in all con-
science, to render them alien for ever to every feeling
of happiness. Besides which, the recollection of their
perpetual liability to destruction in this terr;fic man-
ner is sufficient to interfere with the proper per-
formance of their duties For the diesipation of these
great evils we shall continue to be most solicitous, at
any rate until such time as we shall see an endeavour,
at the very least, to bring about the prevention of
their continuance.
From the particulars already given of the latest
of these calamities, the one which took place as re-
cently as Monday in the Houghton Pit, near New-
bottle, it will be seen that, as in the majority of similar
cases, it was preceded by no premonitory symptomß
of the coming danger. In the midst of
their subterranean labours the unfortunate work-
men were startled by a loud but muffled explosion,
followed by all the horrors of that atmospheric
catastrophe. Their condition at this moment appears
to have been more than usually terrible. These who
were not actually killed, either by burning or suffo-
cation, are described as having retreated a few yards
into a little purer air and there become stationary,
" They soon discovered," says the report, " that they
were hemmed in by a body of choke-damp, to pass
through which would have been impossible, for any
of them on attempting to enter it but a few yards
were overcome, and would have fallen, had they not
hastily ,retreated. On consulting together, it was
considered the safest plan to remain where they were,
and trust to the exertions that would be made to reach
them from the shaft, by carrying in the air; and they
did so remain for between five or six hours, until their
delivery was effected. Before that time had expired
many a stout heart quailed in prospect of certain
death. A dread solemnity pervaded the mind of every
one ; impenetrable darkness increased the agony of
feeling, and the silence of this tomb of the living was
only broken by wild ejaculations of despair, feria nt
prayer, and supplications to the ALMIGHTY for deli-
verance, or at intervals by signal shouts intended to
guide any exploring party to the sepulchral abode.
It 13 impossible for the pen to portray the condition of
these poor men during this long and fearful period, or
convey any adequate conception of their joy and gra-
titude on being rescued from such extreme peril and
restored to their anxious and mourning friends, who
gathered round the pit-mouth awaiting in silence and
resignation the return of each exhausted party from
the poisonous atmosphere of the workings."
Any position more terrible under the cir-
cumstances we can scarcely imagine ; and yet,
grievous as was the character of this fa'al
casualty near Newbottle, it has frequently been ex-
ceeded in disastrous consequences by other explosions
within our recollection. Fortunately this time the
destruction of lite scarcely exceeded that of a quarter
of a hundred of individuals, including the roily- boys
and waggon-men. On many previous occasions the
result has been quadrupled, and in one or two in-
stances the victims have been even yet more nume-
rous. Notwithstanding, however, that previous
calamities of a similar description may have exceeded
the present one numerically, intrinsically the mis-
fortune has been in every particular sufficiently
calamitous. To the families of those who have
perished it hag, for exetnple, brought nothing but
destitution and wretchedness. To them it matters
Got that more millers have been before now blown to
atoms, or charred to mummies by a like explo.ion
elsewhere—they have lust their relations, and in some
instances their supporters, by a sudden and frightful
death. And with each of these occurrences through-
out the locality iu which it happens to transpire, the
sense of daring encountered iu mining operations
propsga'es itself in a manner so contagious
as to affect in a great measure the sentiments
of the entire population. Evils and evils of a very
appreciable kind, can alone arise out of this popular
dread of destruction. The influence soon pros-es
itself to be pernicious; and unless some active mea-
sures be adopted for the scientific prevention of such
calamities as those to which we are now reverting,
the baneful effects of this feeling of insecurity must
ultimately tend to mar the industrial energies of the
people living and labouring in the col ieries. Inso-
much are we persuaded of this, that a certain sense
of dread for the con& quences of further inactivity
begins to blend with our anxieties for the removal of
the existing danger. We look forward, therefore,
with renewed eagerness to the time when the prin-
ciple of benevolence shall be vindicated by philosophy
in reference to the condition of our mining popula-
tion. That science has the capacity to guard against
the recurrence of those continual perils we are
confident. The admirable invention of the miner's
lanthorn by Sir HUMPHREY DAVY is to our mind
but as the germ of a great system of precautions, an

incitement to further inquiry rather than an object

merely idle admiration. Tu our ,scientific exprimen

,alists, therefore, to our chemical and mechanics

philosophers, these colliery explosions appeal more

. _
peculiarly and i❑dividuaily. To them we look for the
ulterior guardians Lip of this large and important sec-
thin of our industrious fellow, countrymen. Let then,
be excited to new efforts at dit,covery by a convic-
tion that their success in those endeavours must tend

t) alleviate a vast amount of human suffering, and to
save the lives of those s►urdy toilers who can be least
spared out of the whole body of the community.

PrZOROGATION of PARLIAMENT

(From the Supplement to the London Gazette of
Tuesday, Nov. 12.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13.
At the Court at Windsor, the 13th day of November,
1850, present, the Queen's Must Excellent Ma-
jesty in Council.
It is this day ordered by her Majesty in Council
that the Parliament, which atands prorogued to
Thursday, the 14± day of November instant, be
further prorogued to Tuesday, the 17h day of De-
cember next.

THE Dugs of NEWCASTLE.-114 Grace is now
worse; his complaint proving water in the chest.
CARDINAL WlSRMAN.—Yesterday being in the
Romish rubric commemorative of St. Didacus, confessor,
Cardinal Wiseman commenced his archiepi9copal duties by
celebrating the eight o'clock mass, which it is said he will
continue to do throughout the week. As it was not under-
stood that his Eminence would officiate yesterday morning,
the cong-egation was very small.

THE EXHIBITION or 1851.—At an extraordinary
'pecial court Of the Goldsmiths' Company, held last week, it
was resolved to award the sum of 1001. for prizes to be giren
to those artists of the craft of the United Kit,goom, who can
produce works of the greastest merit, in gold and silver plate,
for the Exhibition.

Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the
East India House, when Lieutenant-General Sir John Grey,
8.C.8., was sworn in Ccuimander-in-Chiet of the Company's
forces and second member of Council on the Bombay Esttb-
liahment.

Tie more polilhA the society is, the less formalit)
:here is in it.—Eliza Cook's Journal.

LIVERPOOL, Nov. 14.—The screw-steamer Geneva
arrived from Gibraltar last night, at eleven o'clock, in five
days twenty-two hours, with dispatches, which are now in
possession of the Post-office, and will be delivered this
afternoon. The trail-packet left Gibraltar two days before
the Geneva.

THE LATE CHARGE AGAINST MR. SIIIRELL.---OH
Tuesday the property taken by the police from Mr. Sirrell's
premises in Barbican, pending the charges made against
him at the Mansion-house, wa.-, returned by order of the Po-
lice Commissioners. Immediately after the discharge of Mr.
Sirrell on Tuesday last, on the several London charges
made against him, Messrs. Lewis, his solicitors, made arpli-
cation to the Commissioners of Police fir the restoration of
the property seized, which led to an interview between Mr.
J. G. Lei and Mr. Aayr,e, the Chief Commissioner; and
the result wasthat the property, except some few art ic!es for
which pirties had applied, waa on Tuesday taken back.from
11 hitehall to Barbican.

Die Bishop cf Winchester has licensed the Rev.
W. G. Martin, M.A., curate of St. Mary Magdalene, Old
lient•road, to the incumbency of the district of Christchurch,
in the same parish, in the nomination of the trustees of
flyndmdn'i Bounty.

THE POLIsII BALL AT GUILDHALL THIS EVEN-
ING.—We rejoice to hear that the success of this charitable
undertaking is i.o longer doubtful. The brisk sale of tickets
tor the last tew days, and particularly yesterday, shows the
interest felt by the public in the fate of Poland, an'! the
popularity of the ball, which, in point of splendour and
brilliancy, has not its equal. The one which takes place
this evening will be rendered doubly so by all the arrange-
ments made, which will enure the comfort and enjoyment
of the company.