3^0 AlisceUaneous InielUgence. 



rarely crystallized, and, in appearance, very different from 

 any that has hitherto occurred. 



As the choak-damp is not common in Derbyshire, I was 

 equally astonished and alarmed at being informed, that 

 a young man, in going down a well, not four yards 

 deep, nor narrow at the top, to see if any water was in 

 it, had scarcely descended below the surface, before he fell 

 from the ladder. A more elderly person immediately went 

 down to give assistance, and shared the same fate. This un- 

 happy accident happened in September, at Matlock Bank, in 

 the shale or schistus stratum. 



In the first limestone, a new substance has latterly been dis- 

 covered, that has much the appearance of hyalite, it occurred 

 in an opening in the magnesian limestone; and, latterly, some 

 varieties of crystallized calamine new in Derbyshire, have been 

 discovered near Matlock. The mine which produced the carbo- 

 muriate of lead so much desired, is not again likely to be 

 worked. In making the road to Derby, a quantity of calc 

 tufFa was cut through which, from its situation, must have 

 been deposited by the springs above, as it is situated fifty 

 feet above the level of the river, a great deal of this tufFa has 

 been taken away to make grottoes, for which it was admirably 

 adapted. 



The mine at Castleton, which produces the beautiful fluor 

 appears nearly exhausted, as, by going deeper, it becomes so 

 inferior as not to be worth working. 



Some very large vases and pedestals have lately been made of 

 the black marble at Ashford, belonging to the Duke of Devon- 

 shire, which are placed in the grand room at Chatsworth, and 



have a fine effect. » , ht 



I am, 8(c., J. Mawes. 



2. BoracicAcid. — M. Lucas, in a letter to M. Ars'go, describes 

 the occurrence of boracic acid in the crater of Vulcano. 

 It is found on t"he surface, at the parts most heated, 

 and where vapours are continually rising. Jt occurs in a 

 very white light state, though sometimes soiled, and some- 

 times mixed with sulphur. The crusts are generally about 



