What you have written concerning the indifference of men with regard to the interest of the species in future ages, is perfectly just and philosophical; but the greatest misfortune is, that men do not attend even to their own interest, and to the interest of their own age in public matters. They think in moments, instead of thinking, as they ought to do, in years; and they are guided by expediency rather than by reason. The true political maxim is, that the good of the whole community is the good of every individual; but how few statesmen have ever been guided by this principle! In almost all governments, the plan has been to sacrifice one part of the community to other parts:--sometimes, the people to the aristocracy; at other times, the aristocracy to the people;--sometimes, the Colonies to the Mother-country; and at other times, the Mother-country to the Colonies. A generous enlightened policy has never existed in Europe since the days of Alfred; and what has been called "the balance of power"--the support of civilization,--has been produced only by jealousy, envy, bitterness, contest, and eternal war, either carried on by pens or cannon, destroying men morally and physically! But if I proceed in vague political declamation, I shall have no room left for the main object of my letter--your Mine. I wish it had been in my power to write decidedly on the subject; but your county is a peculiar one: such indications would be highly favourable in Cornwall; but in a _shell-limestone_ of late formation, there have as yet been no instances of great copper mines. I hope, however, that your mine will produce a rich store of _facts_. Miners from Alston Moor, or from Derbyshire, would understand your country better than Cornish miners, for the Cornish shifts are wholly different from yours. It would be well for you to have some workmen at least from the North, as they are well acquainted with _shell-limestone_. The Ecton copper mine in Staffordshire is in this rock: it would be right for you to get a plan and a history of that mine, which might possibly assist your views. Had I been rich, I would adventure; but I am just going to embark with all the little money I have been able to save for a scientific expedition to Norway, Lapland, and Sweden. In all climes, I shall be your warm and sincere friend, H. DAVY. On the death of Dr. Edward Whitaker Gray, Secretary of the Royal Society, Davy was elected into that office, at an extraordinary meeting of the Society, on the 22nd of January 1807; and at the same time he was elected a member of the Council.