178 DESCRIPTION or a GROTTO. 
he faid, hung the bell: This is a piece of ftone iffuing out 
of the roof, which when ftruck founds like a bell. 
“« Some of the ftalactites are of a colour like fugar-candy, 
and others refemble loaf-fugar ; but it is a pity that their 
beauty is now almoft deftroyed by the country people. 
The water, as it falls, rans down the declivity ; and it is 
both wholefome and pleafant to drink, when it has dif- 
charged its petrifying matter. It is remarkable that we 
found feveral holes at the bottom of the cave, going down 
perpendicularly, perhaps into the aby{fs, which renders it 
dangerous to be without a light. At the end of the cave, 
there is a pretty run, which takes its courfe through part 
of it, and then lofes itfelf among the rocks: Here is alfo 
its exit, by an aperture which is very narrow. Through 
this the vapours continually pafs outwards, with a ftrong 
current of air; and, at night, thefe vapours afcending re- 
femble a great furnace. Part of thefe vapours and fogs 
appear, on afcending, to be condenfed at the head of this 
great alembic, and the more volatile parts to be carried 
off, through the aperture communicating with the exterior 
air before mentioned, by the force of the air in its paflage. 
«« | beg pardon for having troubled you with fuch a long 
detail. It appears ftrange to me that none of our philo- 
fophers have hitherto publifhed a true account of this re- 
markable grotto.” 
N° XVI. 
An Account of fome Experiments on Magnetifm, in a Letter 
to JouN Pace, E/guire, at Wilhamsburg. 
DEAR SIR, 
Read Feb. GREEABLE to the promife in my laft, I 
me fhall now communicate to you fome conjec- 
tures and experiments on magnetifm, which may perhaps 
either 
