72 Pseudo-volcano in Staffordshire. 
bility of the great end to which we anxiously look being’attained, 
it is but right to say, that I have witnessed the state of the coun 
try for more than sixteen years, and, comparing the present with 
some of the former, appearances are far less promising than I 
have before seen. Inthe year 1816 I reached the latitude of 
$2 deg. 15 min. N. and could see no obstacles but what might 
easily have been surmounted, had it been my wish to proceed 
further. This arises, as I eee before observed, from the ice not 
separating, as in the season I have named, in its descent down 
to the south, but continuing close and unaltered.” —(Hull Pa- 
fers.) 
PSEUDO-VOLCANO IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 
Some ‘interesting facts relative to what is called the Pseudo-. 
_voleano, near the Bradley iron-works in Staffordshire, have been 
published. The tract of ground is situated by the road side from 
Birmingham to Wolverhampton, about half way between Wed- 
nesbury and Bilstou. It is mentioned by Plot, in his Natural 
History of Staffordshire, as being on fire in 1686, when he 
wrote: and he says it was not then known how long it had been’ 
on fire. It then occupied a space of eleven acres ; but its ra- 
vages have since extended about one mile and a half in extreme 
length, and one mile in breadth. Whether the fire originated in 
accident, or from the sulphur contained in the coal and pyrites, 
is not kusives 3 but it probably arose from the latter cause ; as, at 
other pits, the small coal has taken fire on being exposed: to the 
air. As the combustible matter is exhausted, the hand of culti- 
vation resumes its labour; and even in parts where the fire still 
exists, by carefully stopping the fissures, and preventing the ac- 
cess of air, different crops can be raised. A neglect of these pre- 
cautions sometimes destroys half the produce, whilst the re- 
mainder continues flourishing. About two years ago it began to’ 
penetrate through the flocrs of some houses; it produced great 
alarm by appearing in the night; and four of the houses were 
taken dowa. It exhibits a red heat in this-situation, and the 
smoke has foreed its way through a bed of cinders forty feet in 
height. On the south i it is arrested by beds of sand, which cover’ 
the coal formation in that part ; and on the north-east it is im=' 
peded by cultivation. At first view a stranger might suppose 
himself in a voleanic region. The exterior view of the strata 
exposed by the falling in 1 of the ground, presents a surface black- 
ened by the action of fire, and presenting most of the porphy- 
ritic and trap colours in high perfection. The cinder dust on 
which vou tread, the sulphureous vapours and smoke which arise 
from the various parts of the surface, and the feeling of insecu- 
rity which attends most of your footsteps, all combine to give a 
high 
