296 On Artesian mils, ^-c. 



be poured down from above, and its great coldness is at once 

 accounted for. But it reaches an inconsiderable distance only 

 seaward ; — where does it go to ? It must ascend, and having 

 traced it through three-fourths of its entire route, the remaining, 

 •which we cannot reach to observe, it may safely be inferred ; 

 when the sea breezes prevail the motion is reversed, and pro- 

 bably also extends through a greater space. An ellipsis, whose 

 longer diameter is parallel to the horizon, or some other figure 

 of the kind, may be described. 



C To be coticluded in next Number.) 



On Artesian Wells, and the employment of the Warm Water 

 hroughtfrom a depth Jbr economical purposes. 



^n^ HENCE do artesian wells derive their water, and how do 

 they acquire their power of ascension; which sometimes occa- 

 sions in the middle of plains, at a distance from hills and moun- 

 tains; the surprising phenomenon of spouting springs ? are ques- 

 tions which have been often proposed, and very variously an- 

 swered. The most natural explanation is undoubtedly that 

 which supposes the water of these wells, like that of natural 

 wells, to be derived from the atmosphere, and their power of 

 ascension the hydrostatic pressure of a more elevated reservoir, 

 with which the perforated canal or bore stands in connection. 

 Sometimes, however, the local relations are such that it is difficult 

 to refer the water to such a source, and then it is that the framers 

 of wild hypotheses stand forth with their absurdities. A late 

 observation, which affords a striking proof of the accuracy of 

 the above explanation, is therefore the more worthy of being 

 noticed. 



At Tours, on the Loire, an artesian well, with a bore of 3^ 

 inches, which brought the water from a depth of 335 feet to the 

 surface, was damaged, and they were obliged (on the 30th of 

 January of this present year) to remove the tube till within 12 

 feet of the surface. The water suddenly rushed out, increased 

 fully to a third more than its former quantity, and continued to 

 flow for several hours. It was now no longer clear as before ; 

 on the contrary, it brought along with it a great quantity of 

 fine sand, and, surprising enough, also numerous remains of 



