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Ás wé are not able to procure ſufficient information of the number of people in the coal trade, we ſhall take the liberty of extracting from Mr M‘Nab’s Letter to Mr Pitt, that the number of perſons employed and dependent on the coal trade, in the year 1792, were,

On the river Tyne- 38473 On the river Wear- 26250

Total 64725

To the coal-owners the winning and working theſe collieries are very expenſive, and frequently attendéd with conſiderable riſque; for tho’ very large fortunes have been made in the buſineſs, yet many have been loft; the unexpected alteration of the frata, from dykes and other troubles; the freguent and dreadful exploſions from in- flammable air; the great depth of the ſhafts, and increaſ- ing quantities of water to be raiſed from them, bafMe the moſt experienced artiſts, and overcome the amazihg pow=- ers of the fire-engine, which of.-late years has received many improvements, and been made to perform what was thought abſolutely impoſible at its firſt introduétion.*

Theſe powerful machines are‘ now applicd to the pur- poſes of drawing coals, which buſineſs was formerly uni- verfally performed by horſes; frequently 8 to a ſhaft, where great quantities were drawn and diſpatch was ne- ceílary; but by the invention and application of the draw= ing machines, a great many horſes were diſmiſſed from

have taken ît at 358. per chaldron, as the average price for good coals, when there 1s no interruption to the trade and navigation 5 but in March, 1795, coals ſold ia London at the amazing price of 708. per London chaldron, on account of the ſcarcity occaſioned by the long froſt.

* We were informed that there was only one fire-engine in the neighbourhood of Newcaſtle, about 5° years fince,—that it raiſed the water only 40 yards, which, at that time, was thought a wonderful performance; at preſent water is raiſed, and probably in greater abundance, 160 yards, and upwards.

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