34* -^ general View of the 



Department of hot and Garonne. 



No cpal mines are worked in this department. Thofe ex- 

 tra&ed from the mines of Carmeaux, in the department of 

 Tarn, are brought to it on the Garonne; and it receives by 

 the Lot thofe of the department of that name, which would 

 be fupphed much cheaper if the Lot were rendered navigable 

 towards Figeac and the department of Aveyron. 



Department of La Lozere. 



The difcovery of fome ftrata of coal in this country would 

 be of great utility. Wood daily becomes fcarcer; and the 

 communication with the coal countries in the neighbouring 

 departments is difficult and expenfive. 



Several indications of coal have been announced ; parti- 

 cularly towards Canourgue, towards Mende, and in the 

 neighbourhood of Meyrmey. Some fpecimens fent to the 

 Council of Mines announce only foffil wood. 



Department of Lys. 



This department has no coal mines worked. It receives 

 thofe of the departments of the North and of Jemappes. 



Department of La Manche. 



There are feveral indications of coal in this department; 

 and particularlv in the Forcft of Briquebec, near Valonges ; 

 in the commune of Pleflis, near Fretot ; in that of Moon, and 

 that of Semilly, in the di(tri6l of Saint-L6. 



Strata of coal have been found in the commune of Pleffi ; 

 but hitherto they arc fo intermixed with ftrala of fchift, that 

 if worked they would not pay the expenfes. 



Department of La Hslarne. 



This department, as far as is yet known, has no coal 

 mines. Colleftions of fodil wood, and of peat exceedingly 

 pvritous, are frequently found under (Irata of marly earth. 

 Thefe fubftances have often been announced as coal, but 

 they do not polttfs the qualities of thai fuel. They kindle 

 flowly, and become totally incandefcent; but they give very 

 little flame, and foi the mod part none at all. This fub- 

 ftance is called by the inhabitants earth coal. 



The Valley of La Vefle furniflies abundance of peat of an 

 excellent quality. This river, which takes its fource on the 

 eaft of Chalons, paflTts Rheims and Braine, and difcharges it- 

 itfelf into the Aifne above Soiflbns, traverfing an extent of 

 eighteen leagues. It every where runs over a bed of peat, 



and 



I 



