CHAP. VII. 

 OF ORES AND COALS, 



AMONG the various productions of this county, themoft 

 lucrative, and with the greateft avidity enquired after, are 

 our Lead and Coals, though the road to them be unpleafant and 

 troublefome, dark and intricate, expenfive and hazardous : 



Trifles fine SOLE Domus.- VIRG. 



The hopes of treafure have incited many to travel it ; fome 

 have perifhed in the enterprize; and others have had a golden 

 journey ; bur thefe have generally been genius's in the favour 

 of fortune, every way -qualified for under ground adventures, 

 by an intimate acquaintance with mineralogy, founded on expe- 

 rience and obfervation, and Supported by patience and perfeve- 

 rance. To enumerate alt my countrymen thus happily fuccefs- 

 ful by thofe laudable talents and endowments', would take up- 

 many pages ; fuffice it to fay, that fome of them have been 

 founders of families^ of a confpicuous and exalted rank. 



The antiquity of working" them may be carried higher than; 

 the Romans. They were. the objects of Bntijh commerce before- 

 their arrival. Cxfar has recorded, that there were metals in the 

 maritime parts of the ifland, but he adds, not, plentifully. He 

 was too great a ftranger to it to be acquainted with all its produc- 

 tions j. 



