10 Mineral Surveys of the British Counties. 
apt to overflow, or otherwise? what lakes, and their ex- 
tent? Y we 
3dly. What, or do any, mineral springs occur, in any of 
what parishes, and what is their nature, if known? by whom 
examined, and when? 
4thly.. What sort of stone commonly occurs in different 
parishes, in the plains, in sand-pits, making of roads, for 
buildings, mill-stones, &c., and what quarries ? 
5thiy. What are the different soils that occur it different 
parishes, as clays, miarles, sands, Joams? are these last 
clayey, or sandy, or chalky? what mosses? do they yield 
peat? have brick-clay; fire-clay, potters-clay, terras, ful- 
ler’s-earths, tripoli, &c. been found? 
6thly. What mines are found in the country? whether 
metallic, or saline, or coaly? whether in veins, beds or 
bellies? their inclination and direction, dr bearing? how is 
the ore raised ? where are the ores worked, and the general 
mode of smelting them? were any, and what improvements 
lately made in the manner of draining them, freeing them 
from water, working or smelting them? are there any still 
required ? have all the hills and mountains been yet exd- 
mined, with regard to their mineral. contents ? 
7thly. Have any collections or cabinets of the fossils of 
each county ‘as yet been formed? let samples of each, 
docketed, with the name of the place in which it was 
found, be sent: 
Much information, relative to these inquiries, mity be 
found in the Philosophical Transactions, histories of parti- 
cular shires and counties; as Cornwall, Derbyshire, &c. 3. 
tours through England, Wales, and Scotland; the works of 
Woodward. 
A committee may perhaps be named, to examine these 
and arrange the particulars found in each shire, which might 
perhaps help the persois, to whom quéries are to be ad- 
dressed, to recollect and find them. 
These ave the particulars which at present occur to me : they 
may be digested, enlarged, and perhaps better methodized, 
In acommittee. When answers are had, which at furthest 
raay be in a year or two, a mineralogical map of the king- 
doin may be formed, serving as a fund of information, and 
a ground of future improvements in agriculture, commerce, 
and al! the arts. I have the honour to be 
Your very obedient and humbieé servant. 
Dublin, Nov. 17, 1795, R. Kirwan.’ 
To Sir John Sinclair, Bart. ec. &e. 
IV. Memoir 
