>Sorry, but in point of fact your actual membership criteria is regarded as >private - per your definition anyway - since without joining you can't >participate on the list - if that's not private......... You invite by >accepting in on request. Bernard, I'm afraid this is the final words on the subject. The mining-history list is NOT private. You have to join to take part as it is an e-mail discussion list - not a chat line - and jiscmail need to know you address in order to respond. Applications to join are not vetted - it is open to all, provided they use it for the purpose it was intended. Go to http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk for more information on list rules. Peter ______________________________________________ Peter Claughton, Blaenpant Morfil, Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE. Tel. 01437 532578; Fax. 01437 532921; Mobile 07831 427599 University of Exeter - School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies (Centre for South Western Historical Studies) E-mail: [log in to unmask] Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list. See http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/mining-history/ for details. Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/ _____________________________________________