guidance from the scientific evidence itself than from the verdict of a coroner's jury; and it is believed much good has resulted in preventing locomotive boiler explosions by publishing the reports of the government inspecting engineers, who have gained their knowledge of the facts in conversation with all those concerned, and have added recommendations which have been promptly acted upon. The writer's object has been that the boilers found most convenient and best suited for the different purposes for which they are used should be made to work with safety, rather than that reliance should be placed upon the qualities of any particular kind of boiler or fittings. No form of boiler at present admits of absolute reliance upon its freedom from risk. The following general conclusions appear to arise from the consideration of the records of boiler explosions. 1. That the force accumulated in an ordinary boiler is enough to account for the violence of an explosion. 2. That no form of boiler, however well constructed and fitted, is free from the liability to explosion, if allowed to get out of order; and that boilers which bear the hydraulic test may still be dangerous. 3. That the condition of a boiler can be satisfactorily ascertained only by periodical examinations, and that no boiler should work without being thoroughly examined at short intervals. 4. That the cost of periodical examination is so little as to be far outweighed by the greater security obtained; and that the settings of all boilers should be constructed with a view to facilitate examination. 5. That the surest way to make systematic examination general is to spread as widely as possible correct information as to the facts and ascertained causes of boiler explosions, and to inform boiler owners and minders what dangers to guard against; and that this is preferable, and more likely to lessen explosions than enforcing any system of inspection by legal enactment. TABLE I. _Summary of Records of Steam Boiler Explosions_ _up to 30th June, 1870,_ _showing Description of Exploded Boilers._