306 Royal Geological Society of Cor?iwalL 



ture made in upwards of ten mines, and exhibited the results in 

 tables. From these Mr. Fox drew the conclusion, that the tem- 

 perature of the earth in Cornwall, progressively increases as we 

 descend, nearly in the ratio of one degree of Fahrenheit for everv 

 sixty or seventy feet. Mr. Fox has an idea that the ascent of va- 

 pour through the lodes, and its condensation in the mine, may be 

 an important a^ent in the production of heat in these recesses. 

 A very singular fact was detailed in this paper. An accident 

 having happened to a steam-engine in the United Mines mine, 

 the water increased in the bottom of the mine, at the depth of 

 200 fathoms, so as to fill the two lowest galleries, and continued 

 two days. Immediately after this water had been pumped out, 

 and before the men returned to work, the temperature of these 

 galleries was 874 and 88 degrees, and this rather diminished 

 than increased for some days after the miners returned to their 

 labour there. Will this fact afford any additional clue to the ex- 

 planation of the temperature of mines ? 



8. Two papers by Mr. John Hawkins were then read, which, 

 like all the communications of that gentleman, were marked by 

 acute and judicious observation. One was On the Alternation of 

 Primitive Strata in Cornwall ; the other. On the Intersection of 

 Lodes, and the inferences to be deduced therefrom. Both these 

 are unsusceptible of a!)ridgement. 



4. Two papers were read by Mr. Joseph Carne, one On some 

 singular Lead Veins lately discovered in Cornwall ; the other. On 

 Cornish Petroleum. The former paper referred principally to the 

 very productive mine of Sir Christopher Hawkins in the parish of 

 Newlyn, which is said to yield more than 1000/. monthly in sil- 

 ver alone. Naphtha or maltha has never been found in Corn- 

 wall. Petroleum has been found in the copper mine of Wheal 

 Unity, at a considerable depth, contained in small cavities in 

 quartz. 



Short notices were also read by Mr. Carne, On the mode of 

 blasting rocks, and on the account of tin and copper produced 

 in Great Britain and Ireland during last year. 



5. A paper by Mr. Boase, Treasurer of the Society, On the 

 Cultivation of Geological Science in Cornwall, was in the usual 

 clear, eloquent, and forcible manner of that gentleman. After 

 pointing out the difficulties thrown in the way of the cultivation 

 of geology in the commencement of the study, and explaining 

 away all the objections that have been made to its cultivation by 

 well-designing btit ignorant persons, the autlior proceeded to de- 

 tail the vast importance of the science gencraliv, and especially to 

 Cornwall, which, while it can derive more benefit from the study 

 than any other country, offers greater facilities to the student than 

 8Vy other t.pot of equal extent on the surface of the globe. The 



writer 



