Russian Voyage of Discoveiy. — JFiie in a Coal-pit. 4-69 



it was found to contain an entire alligator recently swallowed 

 (decomposition ha\ing scarcely commenced), and measuring 

 six feet long by 28 inches circumference. From the appearance 

 of the neck of the alligator, it is evident that the snake destroyed 

 him by entwining round that part ; and so severe seemed to be 

 the constriction, that the eyes of the alligator were actually 

 started from their sockets." 



RUSSIAN VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. 



The ships Golownin and Baranow, sent in 1821 by the Rus- 

 sian American Company to make discoveries on the north-west 

 coast of America, have returned safe. Besides making a more 

 accurate survey of the north-west coast, they have discovered 

 a pretty large island, called Numirak, situated, according to 

 their account, in 59° 5i' 57" north latitude, and 193° 17' 12" 

 east longitude. 



FIRE IN A COAL-PIT. DIRECTION OF CURRENTS. 



Ayr, Nov. 21. — On the night of Saturday last, a large fire, 

 termed by the colliers a lamp, was lighted in the Sutfield 

 Coal-pit, for the purpose of carrying off the air in a certain 

 direction. In the course of the night, and after the workmen 

 had left the pit, the current of air changed its course ; in con- 

 sequence of which the flames of the lamp conmiimicated with 

 a quantity of timbers, which was discovered upon Sunday 

 morning to be on fire, and burning with great violence. The 

 fire-engines from the town were conveyed to the spot, the pipes 

 of which were introduced into the pit; and although the sup- 

 ply of water was plentiful, yet their united streams had no ef- 

 fect in quenching the flames. It was next deemed advisable 

 to exclude the air, by covering up the mouth of the pit ; and 

 in this state it remained until yesterday, when the smoke hav- 

 ing apparently subsided, the covering was removed, and se- 

 veral men went down, who re})ort little damage to be done be- 

 i^eath, with the exception of llie loss often ponies which were 

 suffocated by the smoke. The fire was found to be nearly 

 exhausted, and it is expected that the pit will be in working 

 order in a few days. 



Note. In niines whitli liavc ;i minibcr ofpits, frequent eliances in the 

 direction of the currents of air may be <)l)serve(l, such changes lieing gene- 

 rally [)r()<hice(l by alterations in the weather. 



Dr. Forbes in liiw paper on the 'reni|)eratiu-e of Mines in the Transactions 

 of the Royal fieological Society of Cornwall, vol. ii. |). KiH, says, "The 

 cooling effect of high winds is very perceptible even at the bottom of shal- 

 low mines, and it appears that the cm-rents of air in the very deei)cst mines 

 arc considerably influenced by their force and direction. 'J"he following 

 observations on this suljjcct made in Dolcuuth Mine were connniuiicaled to 



Dr. 



