62 Notes on a Subterraneous. Excursion 
A FEW NOTES ON A SUBTERRANEOUS EXCURSION INTO A LEAD 
AND SILVER MINE, IN THE PARISH OF ALSTON, JN THE COUNTY 
OF CUMBERLAND. 
On the 19th of February 1618, a party of gentlemen made an 
excursion in the mine of Hudgilburn, to view a cavern in the 
limestone rock there, discovered but a short time previous to 
that date. 
At about 4 ». M. being dressed in the working habiliments of 
the miners, and seated in ore waggons, two in each, vis a vis, we 
were hurled along into the interior region of the mountain of 
Middle Fell. 
We entered the cavern—a light was sent forward, which show- 
ed the direction to be in a straight line for a great distance. The 
light appeared dim, and like a star peeping through a dingy 
cloud. The width varies from about three to six feet, as I 
thought, but we did not then measure either the width or the 
height. The roof has along its centre an indentation the whole 
length, and its chasm appeared somewhat wider at the top than 
it is at the bottom; which, with the groove or rent in the mid- 
dle of the roof, impressed a conception on the mind, of the sides 
having been thrown to recline backwards by some convulsion of 
nature. The groove is shallow, and appears like a wound healed 
up, leaving the sear as a mark of the injury formerly received. 
Advancing about half way, we came to a thin rock which di- 
vided our passage into two. We pursued the right hand pas- 
sage, now become so narrow, that a bulky man could scarcely 
brush through, but widened a little further on. As we passed 
along, several openings and small recesses on our right and left 
were seen, but not of a sort to excite much interest, until we 
reached the far end of this passage, where there is an open space 
equal to a room of ordinary size, with a beautiful cabin on one 
side, nearly square, lined with smooth jet black walls, richly 
spangled with stalactites, that sparkled equal to brilliants of the 
first water. The solemn grandeur of this place inclined the 
whole to pause, and contemplate the sublimity of the novel scene 
around us. We rested on the floor of solid limestone, and gazed 
on this charm of nature with awe and wonder. When I beheld 
a scene so superior to what can be produced by all the arts of 
man on earth, I could not conceal my regret that such treasares 
should be made so difficult of access, that they should be where— 
«© At each step 
« Solemn and slow the shadows darker fall, 
** And all is awful, listning gloom around,” 
The substance of so jet a black with which this charming lit- 
. . . . , . . ” o zi 
tle cabin is lined, is called by miners * black jack.” It contains 
a por- 
a 
