Even on the extreme supposition that it would annihilate the Greenland fisheries altogether, we should have no reason to regret the event. The soundest principles of political economy must condemn the practice of fitting out vessels to navigate the polar seas for oil, if we can extract a superior material for procuring light at a cheaper rate from the produce of our own soil. Indeed the fisheries will find ample encouragement, and the consequence of lighting our streets with gas can prove injurious only to our continental friends, one of whose staple commodities, tallow, we shall then have less occasion to purchase. There will be less waste indeed, but a greater consumption of coal. The lower classes of the community are at present very scantily supplied with firing; and nothing but a reduction of price is necessary to increase to a very large amount the whole average quantity of fuel consumed in the country. The lightness of the coke produced in the gas-light manufacture diminishing the expence of land carriage, will facilitate its general diffusion--the comforts of the poor will be materially augmented, and a number of useful operations in agriculture and the arts be carried on, which are now checked and impeded by the price of fuel. If any additional want were wanted for the coke it will readily be found in the continental market; coke being much better suited than coal to the habits of most European nations. The gas-light illumination cannot tend to diminish the coal-trade; on the contrary it will prove beneficial to it; it will contribute to lower the price of the superior kinds of coal, and keep a level which cannot be shaken under any circumstances; it will contribute to prevent combinations which do certainly operate to the prejudice of the public, and do sometimes put this great town at the mercy of particular proprietors in the north, who deal out coal in the way they please. The competition thus produced, it is impossible not to consider as an advantage, which would prevent in future such combinations, and put those in London out of the reach of them. It is worthy observation, that the annual importation of coal into this Metropolis, is above one million and eighty-eight thousand chaldrons.[31] [31] To give an idea how long there is a probability of Great Britain being applied with coal from the rivers Tyne and Wear only, it must be observed, _1st_. That the Seams of coal which are now worked at Newcastle and Sunderland, are equal to a seam or bed of 15 miles by 20 miles. _2dly_. That this seam, on an average, is at least four feet and a half thick. _3dly_, That 1-6th part of the above extent is sufficient for pillars to support the roofs of the mines, &c. And, _4thly_, It appears, by experiments, that a cubic yard of coal weighs 1 ton, or 20 cwt. London Chaldrons