Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Economic Geology, Political Economy, Geology, Mapping, Politics, Government

    Notes a debate in the House of Commons on Britain's coal supply, in which Henry H Vivian 'delivered a highly scientific speech on Coal Supply, and stated his disbelief in the probable exhaustion of our coals' (thus opposing the views of John S Mill). Punch advises that we 'go deep into the bowels of the earth'. Agrees with William T M Torrens's suggestion that surveyors for the Geological Survey of Great Britain should 'report on the subject', but believes that a 'Commission', on which Roderick I Murchison is to serve, will be the outcome. In a parody of the nursery rhyme, suggests that Britain will 'coil [its] chains' around the 'grimy veins' of 'Old King Coal'.