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t)f vegetable matters, of which it is so evidently composed. The 

 distinctness of vegetable form and structure, which is thus displayed, 

 and which incontestably proves their previous existence in this mass, 

 serves also to refute the opinion, promulgated by Pliny, and adopted 

 by Schoockius and others, of this substance being entirely of mineral 

 origin ; and of its being originally formed in its present situations. 

 r < Those who have endeavoured to account for the formation of 

 peat, by the sinking of large floating islands, which have afterwards 

 become covered by the accumulation of strata of other earth, ap- 

 pear, certainly, to have mistaken the cause for the effect. This will 

 I think appear sufficiently plain by examining the following very 

 curious account of the appearance of these islands, as well as of 

 the phenomena which precede and accompany their formation, as 

 given by a gentleman who appears to have almost witnessed the 

 separation of these floating islands iti the lake of Derwentwater. 



The lake of Derwentwater is celebrated for the astonishing phe- 

 nomena its waters exhibit. At uncertain times the waters of this 

 lake experience very considerable agitations, the waves running to 

 a great height, and forming large white breakers, on which the 

 boats are tossed as though in a severe storm ; whilst none of the 

 usual causes of such commotions of water are discoverable. The 

 waves differ from those produced by ordinary causes ; not rolling 

 along from one end of the lake to the other; but rising, in moun- 

 tainous heaps, from ten inches to two feet in height ; as though 

 raised by some powerful elevating force, applied underneath : and, 

 in agreement with the idea thus suggested, the people of the neigh- 

 bourhood term this phenomenon a bottom wind. Sometimes the 

 whole surface of the lake is thus agitated, at other times it is only 

 partially affected ; and frequently it will strike a boat with so much 

 force, that it will appear as though it had struck against a rock : a 

 very considerable roaring noise often accompanying these surprising 

 appearances. 



