Think on us hinnies, if you please,
An' it war but to show yor pity;
For a' the toils and tears it gi'es
To warm the shins o' Lunnun City.

The fiery "blast" cuts short wor lives,
And steeps wor hyems in deep distress;
Myeks widows o' wor canny wives,
And a' wor bairns leaves faitherless.

The wait'ry "wyest," mair dreadful still,
Alive oft barries huz belaw;

Oh dear! it myeks wor blood run chill,
May we sic mis'ry nivver knaw:

To be cut off frae kith and kin,
The leet o' day te see ne mair,

And left, frae help and hope shut in,
To pine and parish in despair.

If ye could on'y tyek a view,

And see the sweet frae off us poorin'-
The daily dangers we gan through,
The daily hardships we're endurin!

Ye wad send doon, aw ha'e ne doubt,
Some chaps on what they call a "mission,"
Te try if they could ferret out

Somethin' to better wor condition.

The following statistics furnished by Martin Jude to Mr. Duncombe, will show the number of men killed at a few of the collieries in Northumberland and Durham, during the few years for which they are given :—

The explosion at Felling Colliery was one of the most terrific, if not the most fatal on record. Though it occurred in May, it was not till the 17th or 18th of July-six weeks after that access could be gained to the workings, nor were the whole of the bodies removed before September, four months after the explosion. An obelisk to commemorate the sad event was erected in Heworth churchyard, and on its four faces brass plates were inserted, containing the names of the 91 men and boys who had lost their lives.

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The miners found a firm friend in Mr. T. S. Duncombe who then represented the Borough of Finsburry.— Something must be done" said he, "to protect the miners from the dreadful effects of explosions in mines; and he did all he could to get a measure introduced into the House of Commons for that purpose. In Lord Ashley, Mr. Duncombe found a very useful and active assistant in the work, and the latter in writing on the subject said:-" I will lose no opportunity of pressing on Her Majesty's Government the necessity of attending to the ventilation of mines." The following is a copy of the letter sent to Mr. Daniels, of Newcastle, by Mr. T. S. Duncombe :—

DEAR SIR,-On Friday last I put a question to the Government upon the subject of the dangerous state of the mines arising from bad ventilation, and in some places from inundations of water, and inquired whether any objection existed to a Commission issuing, for the purpose of inquiring into that important subject; also into the allegation that

women are employed in coal-pits; also into the practice of keeping back men's wages for some weeks instead of paying them weekly, whereby an encouragement was given to the iniquitous system of "truck." I am sorry to see that the morning papers have given no report whatever, either of the question, or Sir James Graham's answer. The cause of their silence I am unable to conjecture, but I give you the substance of his reply:-1st, That as the Government were about to issue a commission for the purpose of inquiring into the alleged unhealthy nuisances in large towns, composed of Professor Faraday, Dr. Playfair, and Sir Henry Delabiche, all scientific men, he promised that they should also inquire into, and report upon the question of a better ventilation of mines, and, he added, that of danger from flooding. 2nd.—He promised that the illegal employment of women should be inquired into by other competent authorities, as also the system of truck, and that whereever it could be proved to exist, the parties guilty of it should be prosecuted at the public expense, and an example made of them. I think you will agree with me, that the course the Government are about to pursue is very satisfactory, and is as much as we could at present expect; therefore, the numerous petitions which I have had the honour to present, I do not think have altogether failed in the object the petitioners had in view.

I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully,

T. S. DUNCOMBE.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MINES AND COLLIERIES' BILL. THE DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT ON THE BILL. ITS

WITHDRAWAL.

This action on the part of Mr. Duncombe was very soon afterwards followed by the introduction into the House of Commons of the "Mines and Collieries' Bill." It was entitled " a bill for the better ventilation of mines and collieries, for the protection and preservation of persons employed in and about the same, and to make other provisions relating thereto," and was endorsed with the names of Mr. T. S. Duncombe, Mr. Bernal, and Mr. Aglionby. The following are the leading provisions of the proposed measure :—

Clause 1 recites-The Queen to appoint three inspectors. 2. The Treasury to pay them annual salaries not exceeding a sum left blank in the bill. 3. The inspectors to enter and examine every mine or colliery in their respective districts, at least four times a year, and may do so whenever they choose, by day or by night without notice. They may examine on oath any person connected with a mine or colliery, and call to their aid whomsoever they choose. Whatever they may observe in the mine that is dangerous or defective, so as to threaten or tend to bodily injury, they shall notify to the owner or his agent, and direct him