Geology and Mineralogy: 71 



the plantation was made. Neither, again, will it be thought probable that the 

 seeds had been wafted to the spot by the wind, when it is stated that I never 

 met with a single wild specimen of the ^pipactis in any other situation in 

 this neighbourhood, the nearest place where I have observed it to occur in 

 a wild state, being not less than eight or ten miles distant. As jBpipactis 

 latifolia, though by no means a very rare plant, is yet entitled to rank inter 

 rarioresj I confess I have felt some pleasure in its having taken up its con- 

 stant and voluntary abode on my premises ; and should you think this ac- 

 count of the circumstance likely also to aiFord any interest to your readers, 

 you will perhaps find a corner for it in your Magazine. — W. T, Bree. Al- 

 Lesley Rectory, Nov, 3. 1828. 



Art. III. Geology and Mineralogy. 



Volcanic District between the Rhine and Moselle. — Few districts in 

 Europe are more interesting to the geologist than that lying to the north of 

 the Moselle, and the west of the Rhine, and occupying the greater portion 

 of the angle formed by the confluence of these two rivers. This tract, which 

 has an average breadth of thirty to forty miles, bears indubitable traces of 

 having in remote ages been the scene of volcanic eruptions throughout a 

 great part of its extent, and the most determined Neptunist, whatever he 

 may contend as to the subsequent agency of water, must admit that here, 

 once at least, fire has been in general and extensive agency. In some quar- 

 ters are seen isolated conical hills, which bear every appearance of being of 

 volcanic origin ; in others are deep circular lakes, of no great extent, which 

 have been plausibly supposed to occupy extinct craters ; and in various 

 directions where the ground has been opened, lava, pumice stone, and other 

 volcanic products are found in profusion. One of these is the well known 

 cement, improperly called Dutch Tarras, from the circumstance of its being 

 brought from Andernach, and other towns on the Rhine, to Holland, whence 

 before the invention of Roman cement, it was shipped to England, and still 

 is to various parts of Europe. As little of this interesting district is seen by 

 those who pass from Brussels into Germany or Switzerland, by the ordinary 

 route on the left bank of the Rhine, I would advise geologists travelling in 

 this direction, to make the same deviation from the direct road that I did 

 last summer, going from Spa across the country to Bertrich-Bad, a romantic 

 watering-place, excellently situated for making excursions in different direc- 

 tions, and where we staid ten days, and thence to Coblentz, and there re- 

 sume the main road. The distance is not greater than the direct route by 

 Aix-la-Chapelle and Cologne, the scenery often highly picturesque, and the 

 road very tolerable. In one part, in crossing a heath, it was necessary to 

 have a fifth horse, in addition to the four which our well-filled berline re- 

 quired ; but in general the roads were equal to the cross roads in England, 

 and much of the way very superior. The whole distance from Spa to Ber- 

 trich-Bad is about seventy miles, of which we made an easy three days' journey, 

 sleeping the first night at the village of Schoenburg, and the second atGe- 

 rolstein. At this last, and indeed at almost every neighbouring village is a 

 mineral spring, containing oxide of iron, held in solution by an excess of 

 carbonic acid gas, exactly resembling the Spa water. If one of these nume- 

 rous springs, of which the water, sparkling like champagne, and hardly less 

 agreeable to the taste is constantly drank by the villagers as their ordinary 

 beverage, and has, besides medicinal virtues far more potent than those of 

 Tunbridge, could be transported to England, it would be cheap at the price 

 of many thousand pounds. Fastidious travellers would not relish the hum* 

 fole fare of these village inns, but our party look on this excursion as one of 



' F 4; 



