I can readily understand the former, for it seems inherent in man, that the more he gets elevated tbe more prone is, he to facetiou ness, Of course different people are affected in different way?. Mark Twain for instance declared that beyond a certain altitude, "it wa< a moral impossibility for any sane man to speak the truth." Now I, on the other hand confess rather to being scientifically than otherwise in fluenced and bethc light me that an air tight receptable filled with hydrogen gar, and carried knapsack fashion, with an adjustable power of resistance commen surate say. to one's specific gravity. In the matter of >caling such heights as these, the idea might be worth experimenting upon if not patenting. (N. 8., on arriving at the top of a hill an interval of five minutes might be necessary to take in fcallast.) After a prolonged rest we proceeded to descend by the east side of tbe range or tunnel line, preferring this route to that of Prices's track, owing to its being less protracted though more" steep and ragged. Jumping into a truck we were driven up to the face (about 12 chains), The driving of this section has been mainly through a tight conglomerate with occasional bands of hard rock, neces sitating much blasting, a process that entails considerable loss of time. I refer more particularly to the delay occasioned in clearing the mine of the noxious fumes, resulting Irom combustion. While on the subject, it might not be out of place to offer a suggestion which if succesfui may assist in a measure, to remedy ihe evil, and that i?, by the simple introduction i f steam into a mine, subsequent to blasting operations. A very primitive affair in the form of a tin dish (the wider and shallower the better), into which pour boiling water. A few pieces of lighted candle might be placed underneath to keep up steam. Tbe result (if my theory be correct) will be obvious, for the carbon particles becoming overcharged with moisture— (by reason of tbe mines condensing influences) will suddenly become vaporised and fall to the ground. Of course, where engines are used, a jet of steam can be readily intro duced through tbe medium of an ordinary pipe. 