large, when we come to consider in what places and at what depths the coal measures may exist, where they are not visible at the surface of the ground? To determine this question it is necessary particularly to examine the boundary faults of the present coal fields and to understand their nature, and also to have accurate ideas not only of the general relations of the coal measures and new red sandstones, but also of the particular relative positions they may occupy in particular localities. It is desirable to ascertain all the possibilities of the case: what may be the possible thickness which the new red sandstone may ever attain, and what may be the possible or probable rocks on which it may rest. To acquire this knowledge we must speculate, we must reason, we must theorize, as it is called. We must rise from the mere observation of the rocks themselves to an inquiry into the causes that produced them, before we can ever hope to make mining operations more than a mere mole-like groping in the dark, and give it the characters of scientific certainty and assurance. The two most important practical questions on which geological science must shortly be brought to bear in the central districts of England are, the nature of the boundary faults of our present coal fields and the possible thickness of the new red sandstone. As we are not, however, now writing a mineral report, we will enter no farther on the subject, but hope that what has been said may be of use to the student, or of interest to the general observer, in their excursions about the wild hills and interesting neighbourhood of Charnwood Forest.

* It has been reported that, at the experiment at New-found Pool, near Leicester, they pierced to a depth of 1000 feet in the new red sandstone without passing through it.

LAND-SLIP ON CHARNWOOD FOREST.

The following singular piece of solemn nonsense, though written with all the gravity of sober truth, is taken from the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum. Nichols terms it an "obscene pamphlet," and only barely mentions it. Its absurdity is its chief recommendation to these pages, in which it would certainly have found no place had it deserved the epithet Mr. Nichols applied to it. Perhaps a better specimen of the state of geological science in the seventeenth century could not be adduced. I have in vain tried to discover who the "Two Lovers of Art" were-a literary friend thinks "J. W." might be Bishop Wilkins, author of a "Voyage to the Moon!!" :

:

A BRIEF RELATION of a WONDERFUL ACCIDENT, a DISSOLUTION OF THE EARTH, in the FOREST of CHARNWOOD, about two miles from Loughborough, in Leicestershire; lately done, and discovered, and resorted to, by many People, both old and young.

Published by two Lovers of Art, J. C. and J. W., MDCLXXIX.

(QUARTO; CONTAINING SIX PAges.)

TO THE READER.

To your ingenuous acceptation, we communicate these our observations; not for filthy lucre's sake,' but for public satisfaction, and truth's sake; being provoked thereto by some persons of quality. Considering the evil custom of erroneous reports, and the fearful rumours of ignorant people.

Read, and judge charitably, without critical and incredulous censure: here is no wandering prolixity, nor superfluous embellishment of eloquence, but a scrutiny into the proper antithesis, apparelled with necessary language. Be candid, not cunning.-Vale.

The figure is almost circular, posited in a declining position to the horizon; it being the end or fragment of a hilly body, and contains about two acres of ground.

In its upper division, or primary breach, the lower or fallen part of it, lies a yard (in some places) beneath the unmoved body. About three parts of this circular wonder shows symptoms of the efficient cause; and the rest shows little, or no defect.

About three paces from the upper breach, or prime division, is a second trench all down one curve of the circle, aforesaid, and some second fractures be on the other side these; over the prime trench, or breach, lieth a narrow pathway; the fallen part, whose hypotenusal should fall upon the true angular point (if it had a perpendicular fall) is subverted, and turned aside one foot or

more.

Between the prime breach and second curvery fracture, the earth shows a perpendicular descent or down-right falling, because it doth thrust itself within its former bounds; on the other side of the curve, which is higher ground, the parts of the earth fallen, and unfallen, show the distance of a foot; which, if it should be raised to a parallel, with its former bounds, would differ half a yard. The sine for these curves is the radius or total sine.

The lower part of the periphery (or arch opposite to the primary breach) is rolled in, with an overshooting of its bounds; as if it were driven, being light in substance, and stones (in some places thereof) thrust forth themselves. This lower curve contains about half the radius for its versed sine.

The unbreached part of the periphery lies on the lower side of the hill, in respect to the hill's ridge.

Some persons judge water to be the cause of the breach; others say wind.

The latter we account proper, and consider both, in method and manner following.

1. Water doth naturally run in a channel hasting forward, yea, and that when the ground is level; but, where the ground descendeth, through which it is to pass, there it forceth with a more direct course, and speedy stream; not dilating itself, but rather drawing its body into more narrow bounds.

2. If water had been the cause, then it should not have run in a round figure, where the hill is so much descending; unless some artificial pipes had been laid, which by the attractive power of the air should draw the water up again; which if fancy, or any person's supposition, should incline to, yet nevertheless it would have more powerful force in its descent, than ascent.

3. Had water (by its violent billows) caused this accident, it would either have done it by an eruption outwards, or a dissolution of the earth within; whereby the upper superficies should have fallen in, or sunk within its counterminal sides. Indeed, some part of the ground we allow to be depressed, but another part is not, but rather heightened, by rolling up; and, how any thing should produce contrary effects to its nature is marvellous!

4. Had water been the cause, by demolishing the entrails of the earth then (running in a channel), the breach should be opposite to its current; and should, from hence, the current of water be guessed to fall where the ground is fallen in, all down one curve of the circle, then should not another breach considerable appear from its production, and the earth would have been overshot or carried that way as the current of water past;* but the earth is carried that way where no such falling-in appears.

That it was wind.

1. Because it is so improbable to be water; we judge wind might be the cause, forasmuch it is its property to produce such effects.

as

2. For wind being gathered, and straitened within the bowels of the earth, in order to an earthquake, doth at last (by a volatile motion) break or burst forth in some place or other, with great violence; rending, twisting in, and burying the earth within its own bowels; and in its motion, arching, flying, and searching about, might (very naturally) cause this breach.

3. Because the lower part of the periphery, which is overshot, lies rolled in, huft, or blown, darting from its swollen (or enlarged) pores, stones of a considerable weight; as also the root of a tree, which is turned up in the primary breach.

I may just mention here that I copy the orthography, whether correct or not.-A.

4. This being the front of a hilly range, the earthquake might come running along, and there disburden itself; and that moreover, as it is free from rocks, the ground solvible, and consequently the pores more easily extended.

Arguments corresponding with the former reasons.

1. If water had been the cause; then from a slant descent or ascent, the breach would have shown itself in a right-lined, or serpentine figure, and more especially in a right-lined figure, its surface having declination.

But this breach is circular, and declining, contrary to a right-lined, or cucular figure.

Therefore the cause could not be water.

2. Water was not the cause, but rather wind; for wind is volatile, light, and forcible, and known to be of circular motion: where it is straitened, and wants liberty to disburden, or disperse itself into its own element, it searches a passage; and, by operation is (by philosophers) accounted the cause of earthquakes; it vents, and turns up the earth in its delivery thence.

But, in this breach, the figure is circular, diversely fractured, blown of huft up, and writhed, which are the symptoms of an earthquake.

Ergo, wind was the proper and true cause.

Now it remains, that we answer three objections, and conclude.

1. Some may say, had there been an earthquake, why was it not discerned, felt, or discovered, by one or other?

2. Though towns be not very nigh, yet there be some inhabitants on the Forest nigh resident; and would not they have been sensible of some motion or noise which accompany earthquakes ?

3. There be many trees, not far off; would not some of them have received prejudice by overturning, or rocks, where you suppose the windy commotion ran along?

Answer to the Objections.

1. Had there been any inhabitants dwelling on the said hill they might then have felt it. 2. As for them that dwell nigh, they might very well be insensible of noise, or motion, which might happen in the night; and because earthquakes (more general ones) have been experienced to operate in one part of the town, and not in another part of the same; or in a various manner, in a little distance; no wonder then if such inhabitants perceive it not.

3. As for the trees, how should they be prejudiced where the earthquake came not? But, had trees stood where the breach was made, they would probably have been overthrown, as the root of a tree aforesaid; and, as for the rocks not being removed over the windy passage, they might be spared for the same reason that the ground in those places was; and both spared, because the disturbance hastens along to the front, as a stone to its centre.

SINGULAR APPEARANCE IN THE LAKE AT GARENDON.

The following account of a singular appearance in the Lake near Garendon Abbey, is a proper pendant to the foregoing account of the "Dissolution of the Earth." There are, besides, some statements in it which render it historically interesting, as showing the prevailing superstitions of the times:

The most strange and wonderful APPARITION OF BLOOD IN A POOL AT GARRATON, in Leicestershire, which continued for the space of four days; the redness of the colour for the space of those four days every day increasing higher and higher, to the infinite amazement of many hundreds of beholders of all degrees and conditions, who have dipped their handkerchiefs in this bloody pool; the scarlet complexion of the linen will be a testimonial of this wonderful truth to many succeeding generations.

Printed at London, by J. H., 1645.

Whoever shall consider these sad times, wherein not only the son riseth against the father, the brother against the brother, and the spirit of dissention and war is spread over the whole face of the earth, but such prodigious and wonderful things have appeared as no age before have ever seen or heard of; he must confess that he liveth now in the evening of time, and in the last age of the world, wherein all things do begin to suffer a change. I will not trouble you with any thing which in this nature hath heretofore been delivered to you. The sword at Plaisto flourishing without hands, and the great stone clambering up the stairs, and whatsoever there is strange or wonderful, are but sluggish miacions compared to this, which doth the rather prefer itself to your observation; because in the business of Plaisto there were to be seen for the most part but some knavish lights, and as it were the hocus pocus of a spirit: but in this which shall now be represented unto you, the immediate anger of God, in great characters of blood, is most apparently to be read. At Garraton, a town in Leicestershire, not far from Loughborough, is a great pond of water, which for many generations hath been known to be there time out of mind: it is above an acre in the length, and about an acre in the breadth. It was made at first to satisfy the thirst of the cattle, which from the commons and pastures thereabout, did daily resort unto it; and sometimes it allayed the drought of the poor and thirsty traveller; but now (as if it were another element) it altered both its nature and complexion, for the beasts did refuse to drink thereof; and some few days afterwards being passed, they would not come near the water; which the countrymen and inhabitants who were owners of the cattle thereabouts perceiving, they repaired to the pond to see what the reason of this strange thing should be. Amazed at the novelty of this sight, they departed from the place. They make a relation of it to their friends; and one neighbour brings in another to behold this wonderful chance. The noise is spread over all the country; and

in thronging numbers they make haste to see it. The water, which at first began to look but reddish, doth now look higher and higher; and as the people came in it did increase in colour. This continued for the space of four days, the country, far and near, who had notice of it, coming in to be spectators of it. It waxed more red the second day than it seemed at the first; and far more red the third day than it did on the second; and on the fourth day it grew a perfect sanguine.