FOOTNOTES:
[a] Altho’ Minerals, Metals and Stones lie in Beds, and have done so ever since Noah’s Flood, if not from the Creation; yet it is greatly probable that they have Power of growing in their respective Beds: That as the Beds are robbed and emptied by Miners, so after a while they recruit again. Thus Vitriol, Mr. Boyl thinks, will grow by the Help of the Air. So Alum doth the same. We are assured (he saith) by the experienced Agricola, That the Earth or Ore of Alum, being robbed of its Salt, will in tract of Time recover it, by being exposed to the Air. Boyl’s Suspic. about some Hid. Qual. in the Air, p. 18.
[] As to the Growth of Metals, there is great Reason to suspect that also, from what Mr. Boyl hath alledged in his Observations about the Growth of Metals: And in his Scept. Chym. Part 6. pag. 362. Compare also Hakewil’s Apol. pag. 164.
And particularly as to the Growth of Iron, to the Instances he gives from Pliny, Fallopius, Cæsalpinus, and others; we may add, what is well known in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire: That the best Iron, and most in Quantity, that is found there, is in the old Cinders, which they melt over again. This is the Author of the Additions to Gloucestershire in Cambd. Brit. of the last Edition, p. 245. attributes to the Remissness of the former Melters, in not exhausting the Ore: But in all Probability it is rather to be attributed to the new Impregnations of the old Ore, or Cinders, from the Air, or from some seminal Principle, or plastick Quality in the Ore it self.
[c] As for the Growth of Stone, Mr. Boyl gives two Instances. One is that famous Place in France, called Les Caves Goutieres: Where the Water falling from the upper Parts of the Cave to the Ground, doth presently there condense into little Stones, of such Figures as the Drops, falling either severally, or upon one another, and coagulating presently into Stones, chance to exhibit. Vid. Scept. Chym. pag. 360.
Such like Caves as these I have my self met with in England; particularly on the very Top of Bredon-Hill in Worcestershire, near the Precipice, facing Pershore, in or near the old Fortress, called Bembsbury-Camp; I saw some Years ago such a Cave, which (if I mis-remember not) was lined with those Stalactical Stones on the Top and Sides. On the Top they hung like Icicles great and small, and many lay on the Ground. They seemed manifestly to be made by an Exsudation, or Exstillation of some petrifying Juices out of the rocky Earth there. On the Spot, I thought it might be from the Rains soaking through, and carrying with it Impregnations from the Stone, the Hill being there all rocky. Hard by the Cave is one or more vast Stones, which (if I mistake not) are incrustated with this Sparry, Stalactical Substance, if not wholly made of it. But it is so many Years ago since I was at the Place, and not being able to find my Notes about it, I cannot say whether the whole Stone is (in all Probability) Spar, (as I think it is,) or whether I found it only cased over with it, notwithstanding I was very nice in examining it then, and have now some of the Fragments by me, consisting, among other shining Parts, of some transparent angular ones.
The other Instance of Mr. Boyl, is from Linschoten, who saith, that in the East-Indies, when they have cleared the Diamond Mines of all the Diamonds, In a few Years Time they find in the same Place new Diamonds produced. Boyl. Ibid.
[d] It is not only agreeable to Reason, but I am told by Persons conversant in digging of Wells throughout this County of Essex, where I live, that the surest Beds in which they find Water, are Gravel, and a coarse, dark coloured Sand; which Beds seldom fail to yield Plenty of sweet Water: But for Clay, they never find Water therein, if it be a strong, stiff Clay; but if it be lax and sandy, sometimes Springs are found in it; yet so weak, that they will scarcely serve the Uses of the smallest Family. And sometimes they meet with those Beds lying next, under a loose, black Mould, (which, by their Description, I judged to be a sort of oazy, or to have the Resemblance of an ancient, rushy Ground,) and in that Case the Water is always naught, and stinks. And lastly, Another sort of Bed they find in Essex, in the clayie-Lands, particularly that part called the Rodings, which yields Plenty of sweet Water, and that is a Bed of white Earth, as though made of Chalk and white Sand. This they find, after they have dug through forty, or more Feet of Clay; and it is so tender and moist, that it will not lie upon the Spade, but they are forced to throw it into their Bucket with their Hands, or with Bowls; but when it comes up into the Air, it soon becomes an hard white Stone.
Thus much for the Variety of Beds wherein the Waters are found. That it is in these Beds only or chiefly the Springs run, is farther manifest from the forcible Eruption of the Waters sometimes out of those watery Beds. Of which see [Chap. 4. Note (k).] This Eruption shews, that the Waters come from some Eminence or other, lying at a Distance, and being closely pent up within the watery Stratum, by the clayie Strata, the Waters with force mount up, when the Strata above are opened.
[e] V. Dr. Woodward’s Essay, Part 2. Steno’s Prodr. &c.
[f] Id. ib. pag. 28. and 74. But Dr. Leigh in his Nat. History of Lancashire, speaking of the Coal-pits, denies the Strata to lie according to the Laws of Gravitation, saying the Strata are a Bed of Marle, afterwards Free-Stone, next Iron-Stone, then Coal, or Kennel-Mine, then some other Strata, and again Coal, &c.
But upon a stricter Enquiry into the Matter, finding I had reason to suspect that few, if any, actually had tried the Experiment, I was minded to bring the Thing to the Test of Experiment my self; and having an Opportunity, on April 11. 1712. I caused divers Places to be bored, laying the several Strata by themselves; which afterwards I weighed with all Strictness, first in Air, then in Water, taking Care that no Air-bubbles, &c. might obstruct the Accuracy of the Experiment. The Result was, that in my Yard, the Strata were gradually specifically heavier and heavier, the lower and lower they went; and the upper which was Clay, was considerably specifically lighter than the lower Stratum; which was first a loose Sand, then a Gravel. In which Stratum principally the Springs run that supply my Well.
But in my Fields, where three Places were bored (to no great Depth) I found below the upper (superficial Stratum) a deep Bed of Sand only, which was of different Colours and Consistence, which I weighed as before, together with the Virgin-Mould; but they were all of the same, or nearly the same specifick Gravity, both out of the same Hole, and out of different Holes, although the Sand was at last so gravelly, that it hinder’d our boring any deeper.
Upon this, fearing lest some Error might be in the former Experiments, I try’d them over again; and that with the same Success.
After this, I made some Experiments in some deep Chalk-Pits, with the Flints, Chalk, &c. above and below; but the Success was not so uniform as before.
Acquainting our justly renowned R. S. with these Experiments, they ordered their Operator to experiment the Strata of a Coal-Pit; the Success whereof may be seen in Philos. Trans. Nr. 336.
CHAP. III.
Of the Subterraneous Caverns, and the Vulcano’s.
I shall take notice of the subterraneous Caverns, Grotto’s and Vulcano’s, because they are made an Objection[a] against the present Contrivance and Structure of the Globe. But, if well considered, they will be found to be wise Contrivances of the Creator, serving to great Uses of the Globe, and Ends of God’s Government. Besides many secret, grand Functions and Operations of Nature in the Bowels of the Earth, that in all Probability these Things may minister unto, they are of great Use to the Countries where they are[]. To instance in the very worst of the Things named, viz. the Vulcano’s and ignivomous Mountains; although they are some of the most terrible Shocks of the Globe, and dreadful Scourges of the sinful Inhabitants thereof, and may serve them as Emblems, and Presages of Hell it self; yet even these have their great Uses too, being as Spiracles or Tunnels[c] to the Countries where they are, to vent the Fire and Vapours that would make dismal Havock, and oftentimes actually do so, by dreadful Succussions and Convulsions of the Earth. Nay, if the Hypothesis of a central Fire and Waters be true, these Outlets seem to be of greatest Use to the Peace and Quiet of the terraqueous Globe, in venting the subterraneous Heat and Vapours; which, if pent up, would make dreadful and dangerous Commotions of the Earth and Waters.
It may be then accounted as a special Favour of the divine Providence, as is observed by the Author before praised[d], “That there are scarcely any Countries, that are much annoyed with Earthquakes, that have not one of these fiery Vents. And these, (saith he) are constantly all in Flames whenever any Earthquake happens, they disgorging that Fire, which whilst underneath, was the Cause of the Disaster. Indeed, (saith he,) were it not for these Diverticula, whereby it thus gaineth an Exit, ’twould rage in the Bowels of the Earth much more furiously, and make greater Havock than now it doth. So, that though those Countries, where there are such Vulcano’s, are usually more or less troubled with Earthquakes; yet, were these Vulcano’s wanting, they would be much more annoyed with them than now they are; yea, in all Probability to that Degree, as to render the Earth, for a vast Space around them, perfectly uninhabitable. In one word, (saith he) so beneficial are these to the Territories where they are, that there do not want Instances of some which have been rescued, and wholly delivered from Earthquakes by the breaking forth of a new Vulcano there; this continually discharging that Matter, which being till then barricaded up, and imprisoned in the Bowels of the Earth, was the occasion of very great and frequent Calamities”. Thus far that ingenious Author.