Norfollt ; the EftSis of Its Water, iffc. 79 



of copper, the fame evening they were taken out of the water, I obferved a number of 

 Cnall cryftals formed upon feme of them, in the form of pyramids joined at their bafes ; 

 thefe cryftals loft their fhining appearance, by the evaporation of the water of cryftallization, 

 in the warmth of the fucceeding day. Whether they will be preferved in a journey of 

 nearly 100 miles, is perhaps doubtful. No. 3. contains two pieces of copper, on which 

 the cryftals were moft abundant. No. 4. contains a fmall quantity of the fubftance formed 

 upon the copper, that came off in waftiing and in weighing it. 



The town of Difs is principally fituated on the NNE. and E. fides of this piece of water. 

 The land runs pretty fteep on the W. and N. of it, to the height of 40 to 50 feet: 

 on the SE. the ground comes within a few feet of the level of it. The foil of the upper 

 part of the town is a ftiff blue clay ; that of the lower part, to the SE. 2 black fand, beneath 

 which it is a moor. The water in the higher parts of the town is good j in the lower 

 parts, it is a chalybeate, of which a fpecimen is fent (No. 5.) 



No. 6. contains a quantity of flint ftones, taken from the SE. fide of the Mere, where 

 the water is fliallow ; many of which are ftrongly marked with the metallic ftain, which 

 they acquire by lying in this water a few years. 



The Mere contains about eight acres, and is of various depths, to twenty-four feet : from 

 its fituation with refpcft to the town, it may naturally be fuppofed to contain a vafl: 

 quantity of mud, as it has received the filt of the ftreets for ages. In fummer the water 

 turns green ; and the vegetable matter that fwins on its furface, when expofed to the rays 

 of the fun, aftords vaft quantities of oxygen gas. T cannot help confidering this procefs 

 as having a confiderable agency in the corrofion, and in the formation of the metallic cruft: 

 upon the copper depofited in this water. Some of this vegetable matter will be found in the 

 water fent to the Society. 



1 intend to make fome further experiments with different metallic fubftances, at different 

 parts, and at various depths ; but, as the procefs is flow, if in the mean time you. Sir, or 

 any of the members of the Society, will have the goodnefs to point out any experiment you o? 

 they may wifh to have made, I fhall be very glad to contribute all in my power towards 

 the illuftration of the fubjeft. 



I have the honour to be, &c. 



BENJ. WISEMAN. 

 The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks» Bart. 



K.B. P.R.S. 



(The 



