78 Dr Paterson on the Temperature of 



The success which followed the above-mentioned experi- 

 ment, induced the proprietors of a distillery which then existed 

 at Kennetpans to sink one or two wider bores, with the view 

 of affording an abundant and constant supply of fresh water, 

 for the purposes of the distillery. One was consequently sunk 

 at about the distance of half a mile from Kennetpans, and to 

 the depth of 270 feet, before a sufficient supply of water could 

 be procured. I was kindly informed by Mr Bernard of Ken- 

 netpans, who superintended the boring operations, that, after 

 having passed through a compact thick stratum of white sand- 

 stone, and a stratum of shale of one or two feet in thickness, 

 the lower part of tliis shale was reported to be spongy, and 

 that the water then increased rapidly upon them. This arte- 

 sian well still affords a large quantity of water, and is easily 

 to be found by tracing up the water-course from the old seat 

 of the distillery for about half a mile. The temperature of 

 this water, as ascertained several times throughout the course 

 of the last three years, has always been 51i°, which gives an 

 increase over the mean of the district of 6|°. 



In following up the same water-course, another, and, as I 

 am informed, much deeper bore is to be found : it is imme- 

 diately under Mr Bruce of Kennet's House. The particulars 

 concerning this bore I have not been able to procure. It was 

 made, however, it appears, much about the same time as the 

 immediately preceding one, and to the depth of about 380 

 feet. It at present yields water of a temperature of 53°, which 

 is 7° above the mean of the district. 



Several other springs are also to be found, of various 

 depths, along the same water-course, and in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Kennetpans. They have been sunk by 

 proprietors to ascertain the presence of coal strata. One of 

 them, supposed to be about 210 feet deep, yields water at 

 57°, others from 160 to 200 feet, 49° and 50f °, and another, 

 of which the depth is imkno'wn, 51°. 



I am indebted to my friend Mr Kincaid for much interest- 

 ing information regarding the temperature of several other 

 artesian wells, which occur a few miles north-west of Lau- 

 rieston. They also take their origin from perforations made 

 to ascertain the presence of coal ; but as some little accident 



