The following note has been transcribed from Volume XXXII of Mines and Minerals which covers the period August, 1911, to July, 1912
First Mining School in England.
During Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887, the Newcastle Courant reproduced a copy of the Newcastle Courant, published at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, November 26, 1712, and from it is taken the first advertisement of probably the first English mining school on record.
MINES AND MINERALS is indebted to William Clifford, E. M., of Jeanette, Pa., who it will be remembered introduced the Capel and afterwards the Clifford fans in this country, for allowing it to
be reproduced.
As an advertising lesson it is a classic, and as an educational proposition it shows speed for its time; however, according to the adage that there is nothing new under the sun, we must assume from George Agricola's book, that mining schools had previously started on the Continent around the year 1500.
“ Whereas the Knowledge of Mechanicks may be generally ufeful to all Sorts of Perfons, but especially to Gentlemen concerned in Collieries and Lead-Mines; by enabling them, To examine and improve the Engines and Methods, commonly ufed for drawing their Coals and Lead Ore, and clearing their Pits of Water; As likewife, to form a certain judgment of any new Contrivance, invented by themfelves and others for thefe Services, which will prevent their being impofed upon by Pretenders to Perpetual Movements, and other vain and deceitful Projects; It is hoped that the following Propofals, for an evident and publick Good, will meet with fuitable Encouragment, from a Country, to which a defign of this Nature, may be of greater Service, than to any other Part of the Kingdom.
PROPOSALS
For carrying on by Subfcription
A compleat Courfe of Mechanicks.
By which Gentlemen, unacquainted with any Part of the Mathematicks, in the Space of twelve or eighteen Months, by meeting three Times a Week for an Hour at a time, may be enabled to compute
the Effect of any Machine whatfoever, or to folve any other Problem of the like-Nature.
That the Courfe confift of
1. So much of the Principles of Geometry, Arithmetick, and Algebra, as fliall be neceffary for this undertaking.
2. The general Laws of Motion, and the Principles of Mechanicks deduced from them.
3. The Doctrine of Percuffion, or the Effects which follow from the Stroke of Bodies upon one another.
4. The Natural Motion of all heavy Bodies.
5. The Motion of Bodies upon inclined Plains.
6. The Theory of all Kinds of Engines, fimple and compound, with a particular Explication of the Engines ufed in Collieries, and the Method of Examining their Advantages or Defects.
7. Hydroftaticks, under which Head will be demonftrated, by Experiment; The chief Properties of Water and other Fluids; as, That their Preffure is directed not onely downward, but fideways, and upward; That this preffure is always Proportional to the Perpendicular Height of the Fluid; The Method of Calculating the Weight or Preffurc of Water againft the Banks of Rivers, or Milldams, the Gates of Sluices, Sides of Pipes, and other Surfaces, and confequently determining the ftrength requifite for thofe Bodies to fupport the Preffure; The Explication and ufe of the Hydroftatical Balance, in finding the Specifick or Relative Weights of Bodies, and by this Means difcovering the Adulteration, either of folid Subftances, as of Money, Jewels, &c. or of Liquors.
8. Pneumaticks, The Weight and Spring of the Air, it's Rarefaction and Condenfation, It's denfity and fpring demonftrated to increafe in Proportion to the Force that Compreffes it. The Air-Pump, and Condenfer, together with the Barometer, Thermometer, Hygrometer, or the Instruments for meafuring the Weight, the Heat, and Moifture of the Air, their Nature and Ufes explained. The Effects of the Air applyed to Mechanical Ufes in Pumps, Syringes, Siphons, Engines for quenching Fire, &c.
9. Hydraulicks, or the Doctrine of Water and other Fluids in Motion. The Method of eftimating the Swiftnefs of Water running in any Canals open or clofed, as in. Rivers,or Mill-races, Drifts, Pumps, Conduit Pipes, &c. with the Quantities of Water that they Difcharge. A particular Application to the draining of Collieries in determining the Quantity of Water carry'd off by any Engine in a given Time, or the Time requifite for carrying oft any Quantity of Water by an Engine given; as likewife the force to be applycd to any Engine, and the requifite proportion of the feveral parts of the Machine, for drawing off any Quantity of Water in a certain time, or for clearing and keeping a Colliery clear of Water. Of the Force of Fluids, as Air, or Water, to carry about the Sails or Wheels of Mills and other Engines, and the befl proportion of the Machines driven by them, or by Horfes.
10. Laftly, The Important Theory of the Friction or Rubbing of Machines, with the Impediment caufed by the ftiffnefs of the Ropes, for want of which the greateft Engineers have been difappointcd in their undertakings, and the beft concerted Machines have been rendred ufelefs. As this has been lately fet in a clearer light by the Experiments and Difcourfes of feveral Members of the. Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, it will be explain'd in an eafy manner, partly by Experiment, and the Application of it to the Calculation of Machines will be Demonftrated.
That the Number of Subfcribers do not exceed 10, or 12 at the moft; And that after all have Subfcribcd, fuch proper Hours for their meeting be agreed on, as may be for their general Convenience.
That every Gentleman intending to be prefent at the Courfe, pay upon Subfcription 2 Guineas, and afterwards half a Guinea a Month.
Which it is hoped, confidering the very great charge of the Apparatus for Experiments, and the Labour of compiling and digefling the Courfe, connot but be thought highly reafonahle, being but half the loweft Rate of Private Teaching Mathematicks in London, tho' without any Experiments.
Gentlemen already Qualify'd with Geomety and Algebra, may Subfcribe onely to the Mechanical and Experimental part of the Courfe on the fame Terms. The Hydroftatical and Pneumatical Experiments alone, may be feen for Two Guineas.
Any other Gentleman, not engaging in the Courfe, that out of a publick Spirit, fhall be pleafed to Contribute any thing to the Charge of fo ufeful in Undertaking, fhall have his Benefaction thankfully acknowledged, and fhall at any time be welcome, to fee what Particular Experiments he pleafets.
Subfcriptions will be received by the Undertaker, James Jurin, Mafter of the free Grammar School in Newcaftle, or by Mr. Jafpar Harrifon, at his Coffee-Houfe on the Sand-Hill.