1301,] Mineral Surveys. 157

As for the Daniſh and Swediſh ſettlements in the Weſt Indies, I thiak they might be kept by this country as an expenditure to- wards a provoked war; and even now I am of opinion that the north'of Europe, with all its friendlineſs, ought to be very care- fully inſpected, and more dreaded by this country than thoſe who tell publicly that they are enemies. I mention this here, becauſe it is materially conneÎed with the commerce of Great Britain, and ſhall enlarge upon it, provided theſe lines meet your appro- bation.

I am, with great regard, Sir, your obedient humble ſervant, Set. 19, 1807. 17 GD LS regie MINERAL SURVEYS.

To the Editor of the Commercial and Agricultural Magazine. SIR,

T is of infinite importance to a commercial and manufaQuring

nation, like this, to be independent of foreign importation, for as many as poſkble of the materials of’ its ſtaple arts of primary utility,

Pit-coal, copper, tin, lead, iron, are the materials perhaps the moſt eſſentially uſeful to the manufaQures of Great Bétirain.- Pit- coal we poſſeſs in abundance, though not in the moſt convenient diſtribution of it, throughout the kingdom. But, none of the metals is furniſhed from Britiſh mines in quantity fully adequate to the demand of our manufaQures and trade.

Now, Sir, it is well known, that almoſt all the mines now open in Britain were firſt opened in conſequence of ACCIDEN- TAL diſcovery. There has been no ſuch thing as a reguiar mi- neral ſurvey of the lands. Although thoſe landholders, on whoſe eſtates mines bave been fortunately opened, have, in many in- ſtances, derived prodigious additions of fortune from the working of them; yet, others have not been in general induced by the exampie, to procure ſuch a mineral ſurvey of their lands, as ſhould aſcertain, whether they had not ſimilar ſources of wealth within their power.

Indeed, till within theſe laſt thirty years, mineralogy was not ſo much ſtudied in this country, as that gentlemen gualified for the taſk of a mineral ſurvey could have been eaſily found in it. But the caſe is altered. Though there may be few or no mi- neral ſurveyors by profeſſion; yet, T ſhould. think, there can be no want of perſons whoſe ſtudies.and courſe of obſervation have fully qualified them for the taſk.

Upon theſe conſiderations, Sir, T, who am, myſelf, proprietor of a ſmall eſtate, in which IT am inclined to ſuſpe& the exiſtence of ſome rich metallic veins, ſhould rejoice to procure, through your Magazine, ſatisfa@ory anſwers to the following enguiries: