112 On Artesian or Overjlowing Wells. 



of these endeavours, several treatises and publications have of 

 late drawn our attention to this interesting and important cir- 

 cumstance. It will not, therefore, be misplaced, to give a short 

 exposition of the scientific information which we may derive 

 from artesian wells ; at the same time, it will perhaps be in our 

 power to correct some of the erroneous notions upon the mode 

 of origin of subterranean waters, and upon the possibility of dis- 

 covering them. 



We owe the most complete and authentic information on 

 Artesian wells to M. F. Gamier, His work, De CArt du Fon- 

 tainier sondeur et des Puits Artesiens, which was crowned, in 

 the year 1821, with the prize of 3000 francs, by the Societe 

 d^ Encouragement, and has been printed at the expense of the 

 French Government, and of which a second edition has since 

 appeared in 1826*, contains not only clear directions for boring 

 these wells, with plans of the requisite instruments, but also 

 such sound views regarding the origin of subterranean aqueous 

 reservoirs, and so well founded on facts, that we cannot be far 

 wrong in supposing everywhere the same, or similar relations, 

 wherever we have hitherto succeeded in conducting to the sur- 

 face these collections of water. We therefore think that the 

 subject cannot be better introduced to the attention of those 

 who are yet quite unacquainted with it, than by shortly com- 

 municating the substance of the above-mentioned essay, apart 

 from all technicalities. 



The observations of M. Gamier were especially directed to 

 the department of the Pas-de-Calais. The constitution of this 

 district, with the exception of some primitive ridges in the vici- 

 nity of Boulogne, consists essentially of two portions, of a lime- 

 stone plateau, called the High Land, intersected by many small 

 valleys, — and of alluvial deposites, which extend in an immense 

 plain as far as Holland and the north of Germany. The hme- 

 stone, only very thinlv covered with soil, is stratified, full of fis- 

 sures, and the same with that which forms the basis of Picardy, 

 Normandy, and Champaigne. The line of junction of the lime- 

 stone and alluvial deposites is principally directed from SE. to 



" A German translation of the first edition, bj' WaldaufV. Waldenstein, 

 appeared at Vienna in 1824 



