on the Probability of finding Coal near Leicester. 349 



la-Zouch and Cole Orton : from some unknown cause, how- 

 ever, probably from the intervention of a fault or dyke run- 

 nino- from Swannington towards Ibstock, and throwing the 

 strata down to the eastward, the coal-measures are again thrown 

 in, and are found extending under the new red sandstone at a 

 pit marked A, near Whitwick, as well as at a pit marked B, 

 near Ibstock : at both of these places, borings have been al- 

 ready made to the coal ; and from the similarity of the strata 

 bored through, there is every reason to suppose that the same 

 measures extend from Whitwick to Ibstock, under the new 

 red sandstone, with which the surface is covered to the depth 

 of at least twenty fathoms : the first workable seam of coal 

 bored to at these two places is four feet six inches in thickness ; 

 at Ibstock itiis about thirty-four, and at Whitwick about fifty 

 fathoms beneath the surface. 



Having ascertained the important fact, that the coal-mea- 

 sures, and probably the same coal-measures, extend under the 

 sandstone from Whitwick to Ibstock, a distance of about three 

 miles, and having satisfied myself by observations on the run 

 of these coal strata in general, and of the strata near Whit- 

 wick, in particular, that they dip towards the transition strata 

 until they come nearly in contact with them, — I was induced 

 to consider it extremely probable that the coal-measures might 

 still continue to follow the transition rocks, and to form a sort 

 of belt or zone around them, traversing the country in the 

 direction of Bagworth*, Desford, Kirby-Muxloe, and Glen- 

 field, and crossing the Ashby road at the distance of about 

 two miles from Leicester. I was led, therefore, to conclude 

 that a trial for coal might be made with the greatest probabi- 

 lity of success in any part of the dotted line C,D, in the grounds 

 adjoining Sharman's Lodge. I had arrived at this conclu- 

 sion, when met at Leicester by the person on whose account 

 the survey was made, with whom it seemed to be a deside- 

 ratum that a trial for coal should be made near Birstall (See 

 the sketch). I preferred the other situation however, as being- 

 more eligible lor such trial ; because, owing to the distance of 

 Birstall from the transition rocks, there appeared that every rea- 

 son to suppose that the coal-measures would crop-out at or near 

 that place; and consecjuentlyany trial for coal tliere, might pro- 

 bably be made beyond, or at all events too near their basset or 

 outbreak, to allbrd any beneficial results. On being infornied, 

 however, tliat in cutting a road through a hill near Birstall, a 

 thin bed of coal had been intersected, I immediately proceeded 

 to examine the situation ; in doing which, there was found, cer- 



* It is near this villngc tliat coal lias since been discovered. 



tain I V 



