Charles Lyell to Faraday   19 October 1844

Dear Faraday

I will call on you at the Roy. Inst. today at 2 o'clk or 1/4 after & bring you back your report on the goaf¹ which I think excellent & remarkably clear & simple, though not a very easy subject to make so.

I have received from the Home Office a letter of one Evers² sent to the Pres. of Bd. of Trade³ on a scheme for ventilating mines which I will bring you. I shall write to Stutchbury not to lose another day. I will also draw up the little I have to say at present but as you perceive it does not happen to be a subject on which geolg tells particularly, the strata being so undisturbed.

I have been talking with F. Baring⁴ MP about working lower seams first who is horrified at the idea of any legislative interference. Nevertheless without recommending it I do not see why the improvidence of the system & the danger of gas from broken & creeping upper seams should not be adverted to⁵.

Education is also a point if we had data from a larger inspection.

But a sentence about the care of the French & Germans in educating miners in Chemistry, geology &c might be well considering how many lives are trusted to viewers & under viewers⁶. I incline to think that in the form of an "extract from the report" your plan of ventilation should appear with your name alone & your authority.

Yours sincerely | Cha Lyell

19th Oct | 1844 | 16 Hart St