On the question being put thereon, THE SAME PASSED IN THE NEGATIVE.
A great number of the Coal-owners, instead of pursuing the idea which had at first been suggested, of a general contribution on the vend, immediately commenced a subscription of individual proprietors of coal-mines; a measure which, it was thought, would express more distinctly and unequivocally the opinion of the trade as to the merit of the invention. The plan is developed in the following letter.
TO THE REVEREND DR. GRAY.
Wall's-End Colliery, October 27, 1816.
SIR,
It is the anxious wish of almost every individual in the trade to compliment Sir Humphry Davy, in that way which may be most grateful to his feelings.
It has been suggested that the object will be best attained by substituting an individual (colliery) subscription, instead of the proposed contribution on the vend; and it will at the same time show more distinctly the real opinion of the trade as to the merit of the invention.
This idea was not suggested till yesterday afternoon, and of course there has been but little time to communicate it to the several Coal-owners; but all who have heard of the plan approve of it.
To facilitate the business, the committee have formed the annexed scale of contribution.[45]