Geological Notice wpon the Forest of Dean, by H. D. Hosxoxp, 
M.H., F.G.S., etc., Director General of the National Depart- 
ment of Mines and Geology, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. 
The Forest of Dean Mineral Basin has a favored position, 
and is situated in one of the most pleasant, interesting, 
romantic, and healthy districts of Gloucestershire, its surround- 
ing scenery being varied and highly picturesque, and perhaps 
unequalled in any other mining part of the kingdom. It is, in 
fact, a place of great name, as well as fame, and history tells 
how, long centuries ago, its surface and mineral privileges were 
contended for and enjoyed by some of the great favorites during 
various reigns, and that its natural resources added, in a con- 
siderable degree, to national strength and security; indeed, so 
famous had the history of the Forest become in Europe, that 
blinded bigotry and jealousy were aroused to such an extent 
as to finally induce an attempted ignoble war, resulting in the 
defeat and destruction of the grand Armada, and humiliation 
and dishonour of the Court of Spain. 
Here in a primitive forest, in obscure dells and mountain 
retreats, roamed in wild liberty and security—from an unknown 
date and during an unascertained period—the ancient British 
rulers, fathers of the Silures, and here also reigned the Romans 
and successive conquerors of the British Islands. But, no 
longer is the rush of armies, the wild battle cry, and the 
clashing of arms heard: no longer does the invincible Cesar 
direct and encourage his valiant cohorts, or do Saxon or 
Norman warriors, Kings and Forester Fee—with his Knights 
3 _ in Green—range through tangled dell, sounding the horn and 
bending the bow in the wild excitement of the chase. All these 
grand old customs and charms of bye-gone ages have introduced 
a more peaceful era, leaving us to profit by the records of the 
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