id credit to the body of engineers who are gradually devouring the carboniferous subsoil of the United Kingdom； as much at Cardiff and Newcastle； as in the southern counties of Scotland。 However； it was more particularly in the depths of the mysterious mines of Aberfoyle； which border on the Alloa mines and occupy part of the county of Stirling； that the name of Starr had acquired the greatest renown。 There； the greater part of his existence had been passed。 Besides this； James Starr belonged to the Scottish Antiquarian Society； of which he had been made president。 He was also included amongst the most active members of the Royal Institution； and the Edinburgh Review frequently published clever articles signed by him。 He was in fact one of those practical men to whom is due the prosperity of England。 He held a high rank in the old capital of Scotland； which not only from a physical but also from a moral point of view； well deserves the name of the Northern Athens。
We know that the English have given to their vast extent of coal…mines a very significant name。 They very justly call them the 〃Black Indies；〃 and these Indies have contributed perhaps even more than the Eastern Indies to swell the surprising wealth of the United Kingdom。
At this period； the limit of time assigned by professional men for the exhaustion of coal…mines was far distant and there was no dread of scarcity。 There were still extensive mines to be worked in the two Americas。 The manu…fact