Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 2.djvu/319



miners of many countries have engaged the care and attention of their governments, and have received support from national treasuries, or grants and immunities operating in favor of such undertakings. In some instances officers regularly educated to the profession of mining, are appointed and paid by the state for managing the executive departments. With such advantages it is probable that poorer mines may be worked, than in countries destitute of them, and where they must be undertaken entirely at private risk; yet it is found that the enterprize and ingenuity of individuals is equal to very considerable efforts, and that their calculations of real profit are often more unquestionable than in government undertakings.

If the spirit which is excited by the prospect of gain can be infused into a great portion of the persons employed on any object of this sort; and if the interest of the proprietors of mines can be made to go hand in hand with that of their workmen in their operations, a great degree of united effort may be reasonably expected to follow such a system, which being advantageous to all parties in proportion to their exertion, enlists at once their combined efforts into the service of the common good.