594 Scientific Intelligence.* [May, 



The LoE Pool, which is only separated from the sea by an em- 

 bankment of small pebbles, commonly called shingles, rises and 

 falls according to the heavy rains, &c. During this last winter, it 

 rose to so great a height, as to require the embankment to be 

 broke, because it impeded the passage of travellers, &c. ; but 

 while at its height, I witnessed a large spring, which rose like a 

 fountain, in the centre of a dwelling-house on the side of a hill, 

 situated 150 feet above the surface of the water in the river, and 

 from which there is a gradual descent to the water's edge. When 

 the water again subsided every place was perfectly dry, and a well 

 which is near the spot contained no water, which was a few hours 

 before overflowing. 



I here conceive that the outlets were just sufficient to carry off 

 the qiiaiitity of water which accumulated ; and when the water in 

 the river rose so as to cover these outlets, it made such a resistance, 

 in proportion to the height to which it rose, that the accumulating 

 water or springs could not overcome, consequently it rose to the 

 next outlet, while the original ones still carried otF a great quan- 

 tity. 



If this idea is correct, it will equally apply to the case at the 

 mine, but on which, many (to whom I have communicated my 

 thoughts) do not feel perfectly satisfied ; and it is for their satis- 

 faction, as well as my own, that I request an answer to explain the 

 cause on proper hydrostatic principles. 



I am. Sir, 



Your most obedient, 

 Helsion, March 7, 1S14. M. P. MoYLE. 



III. On the Ventilation of Mines.* 



24(h March, 1SI4. 



* " The perusal of Mr. John Taylor's valuable paper on the venti- 

 lation of coal mines, in your Number for the present month, has 

 brouglit to my recollection a contrivance which resembles his appa- 

 ratus in acting as an exhauster of foul air, and which, though of 

 much inferior power, may perliaps be sometimes useful where there 

 is a command of water. This apparatus had been employed at the 

 LeudhiUs in Scotland, and was first mentioned to me by my friend 

 Dr. Stokes of Trinity CoUege, Dublin, whose description 1 after- 

 wards found, on visiting the mines at that place, to be perfectly cor- 

 rect. It was denominated, from its peculiar mode of action, the 

 tvatn--mcktng-llast, and was said to have been an imitation of a 

 similar engine employed in Galloway; and though not actually in 

 use when I was at Leadhills in ISoi), the works at that time being 



.otherwise sufficiently supplied with air, its construction was remem- 

 bered very accurately by some of the mine-agents with whom \ 

 conversed. 



* For (his valuable notice the Editor is indebted to Dr. Fitton of Northampton. 



