Thomas Christopher Maynard to Faraday   7 February 1845

Durham 7th Feby 1845

My dear Sir,

A fact has come to my knowledge today connected with the Haswell explosion, which appears to me very extraordinary and which I think will be interesting to you. About three weeks ago the Pitmen working in the Pit where the explosion took place expressed to Mr. Forster¹ their fear of the safety of the Pit, upon which he requested them to appoint four of the most intelligent of their body to examine every part of the Pit, and he would pay them for their trouble. The four men were appointed, and minutely examined the waste and all the Goafs, in some of which they succeeded in getting up about 18 feet, in others 13 feet and some less, but could not in any part find the least indications of Gas. You will not fail to see how this corroborates the statements on the Inquest of the Deputy Viewer and overmen that they had never observed gas at the edges of the Goafs². The Mr. Taylor who wrote the letter to you having heard of this extraordinary fact himself went down and made a most minute examination, and not having in his examination been able to find any Gas in the Goafs could scarcely credit the fact, and actually sent for the four men and examined them, to satisfy himself on the point. This is a circumstance as it seems to me which ought to be most thoroughly investigated, because if the fact is so it would seem that the Gas is only given out in large quantities occasionally, when the Goaf becomes filled with it. And if it is so then it would seem that the rumbling noise which was heard shortly before the Haswell explosion might be the consequence of a large body of Gas pent up in the strata above which on its getting vent occasioned the explosion.

I shall be glad if this information is of any use to you; at all events you must consider it as coming from a novice; if there is any part of the statement you would wish to have more fully, if you will give me the points, I will be most happy to ride over to Haswell and examine the men most carefully so as to obtain the information you require. At the same time I cannot but think that if you were to come down and examine the Goafs yourself it would afford very great and general satisfaction. The two Reports³ you were so kind as to forward to me have formed since I received them my circulating library. They have scarcely been a day at one time in my possession. If the evidence taken on the Inquest should be printed I would feel particularly obliged if you would obtain a copy for me. Probably on your applying to Sir James Graham he would order a copy to be forwarded to me[.]

Believe me my dear Sir | Yours truly | Thos. Christ. Maynard

M. Faraday Esq | Royal Institution | London