I34 OF ORES AND COALS. 



the ncareft- way over the Tweed, in fuch hafte, fays Whitlock, that 

 they had almoft left their plunder "behind them, had they not 

 preferred it to life (n). 



Coals of curiofity for their hardnefs, colour, and figure, ob- 

 ferved in our mines, are as follow. 



1. A hard, glofTy coal, in large mattes, preferable to all 

 others for flrength and duration. It is ufually called Splint by 

 the miners. From the mine, called The Delight, at Long Benton. 

 There is fome of this coal in the mine at Wylam, belonging to 

 "John Blacket, Efq; 



2. Coal with a thick enamel of filvery marcafite. From the 

 mines at Plejfey, belonging to Matthew Ridley, Efq; 



3. Coal glowing with all the colours of the rainbow in the 

 moft beautiful enamel, much exceeding thofe obferved in lead- 

 ore, and more permanent, if preferved with the fame care, 

 under a cover, dry, and from duft. From Chirton-m'me, and 

 from one at Inghoiv, near Stamfordham. That from Inghoiv has 

 the fined tincts, mod fplendid and rich, as if raifed in parts, 

 and in a kind of relief. Some of it has a high natural polifh, 

 like a mirror. Some of the common coal in this mine is a 

 glofly black, of a fine politure, and breaks into rhomboid and 

 parallellapid figures. 



4. The Ampelites, or canal-coal, very fine. From the mines at 

 Long Benton, and Walker, but in no great quantities. That from 

 Walker very much refembles the inflammable fofli-1, gagates, or 

 jet. Snuff-boxes, and other toys, are frequently made of this 

 kind by ingenious artifts. 



(n) Idem, p. 331. 



