CoLENSO. — Memorabilia, Ancient and Modern. 309 



more of natural and reasonable supposition in it than any 

 other (as far as I know) yet brought forward. And, further, 

 the peculiar and true form of the so-called cross, or sign, 

 as clearly given by Eusebius, both in words and in a figure, 

 seems not unlike in outline that of a disarranged and muti- 

 lated bundle of fasces as borne by the Eoman lictors, with 

 the small axe jutting out from the top instead of the middle 

 of the broken bundle. Now, supposing the particular date of 

 the sign being seen as given by Lactantius to be correct, 

 would such a figure as a spoiled and broken bundle of fasces 

 be considered as an ill-omen against Maxentius and the 

 Eoman army ? 



In fine, I may add that I have very often since seen the 

 same reflected figures vrhen travelling over the same ground 

 in the express train on sunshiny days, though never so beauti- 

 fully and vividly shown as on that day of dense white fog. I 

 dare say that many other passengers may also have noticed 

 it, though to see it at all one must keep close to the glass win- 

 dov7 and look up above the altitude of the carriage, and there, 

 with attention and a fixed gaze, watch for its appearance. 



Abt. XXXVII. — Memorabilia, Ancient and Modern; being 

 Remarks and Information respecting some of the Tin- 

 mines in Cornivall, England. 



A Fragment left by the late W. Colenso, F.E.S., F.L.S. 



[Bead before the Haivke's Bay Philosophical Institute.^ 



The minerals of the kingdom, of lead, iron, copper, and tin, are of great 

 value. 



Bacon. 



valiant as a lion, 



And bountiful as mines of India. 



Shakksp., King Henry IF., part i., act iii., sc. 1. 



For some time past 1 have been desirous of bringing before 

 you a few statements and remarks on the tin-mines of Corn- 

 wall. Several circumstances combined have induced me to 

 attempt to do so : (1.) My being a Cornishman by descent 

 and birth, and having still a clear remembrance and recollec- 

 tion of what I had there seen in connection with the mines 

 in my youthful days (seventy years ago!), some being peculiar 

 and but little known here at this end of the globe, and some 

 of them very likely have become inefficient and obsolete 

 through the continued and rapid advances of science during a 

 long lapse of seventy years. (2.) Certain public occurrences 



