Understand the description, Ye moré ‘than 200 
the surface of the earth, is covered with 
ing in depth from 6 to 50 feet, but clear, 
subterraneous communication M ncalye a the external 
mouths is extremely narrow, and was first explored by 
Mr White, a Se eniveyce. who, with rch hazard 
and crm forced his way through, by crawling on 
i . , But even now, should a stone be he an 
in the undertaking, the adventurer would inevitably be 
buried alive. Penpark Hole was visited in 1669 by 
Captain Sturmey, and in 1682 by Captain Collins. The 
former was accompanied by a miner, who, penetrating 
one of the galleries to a considerable distance, exclaim- 
ed that he had found a rich mine ; but his joy was sud- 
’ denly converted to astonishment, for he returned af- 
frighted by the sight, as he said, of an evil spirit. No 
inducement could prevail on him to revisit the place, 
and Captain Sturmey himself sickened four days af- 
ter and died. In consequence of the accident above 
related, it was more particularly examined by several 
individuals ; but more minutely by Mr Catcott and 
Mr White, the latter of whom has drawn a section of it. 
ire Great Britain abounds with caverns, and especially 
the county of Derby. Here there are no less than 28 
of some celebrity, and some of lesser note. Several 
have already been alluded to in our notice of that coun- 
ty, as that stupendous recess now converted from a 
rude and coarse appellation, to the Devil’s Cave, or 
Peak Cavern, Elden Hole, and Poole’s Hole, whence we 
__ ,shall restrict our observations to an abstract of Sir 
Mile Richard Sullivan’s adventure in the Three Mile Cavern. 
or This is an immense vacuity that has partly been effect- 
ed by art, and which receives its name from its sup- 
extent. The descent is accomplished with much 
ifficulty for 420 feet, and introduces the spectator to 
two or three lofty caverns, beautifully enamelled with 
. © Penetrating still farther,” Sir Richard says, 
« we forced our way with infinite struggles, through a 
narrow between two rocks, and thence getting on 
our hands and knees, were, for the full distance of a 
mile, obliged to crawl without ever daring to lift up 
our heads, the e being both low and craggy ; and 
as it was likewise filled with mud, dirt, and a multitude 
of bits of rock, our progress was painful indeed ; we 
still, however, h for something better. On we 
eecordingly proceeded, till a dreadful noise rumbling 
along the horrible crevices of the cave, gave us to un- 
derstand we were near ariver. To this then we hur- 
ried ; but description is madequate to any thing like a 
representation of the scene; a vast ocean seemed roar- 
ing in upon us; in some places bursting with incon- 
—— 
pre neers Gene = 
vent.”?. It appears that this subterraneous stream is 
, and has a long course ; but whether it is absorbed 
e earth, or finds a passage to the surface, is not 
lained. After having eva many dangers 
and difficulties, not unattended with personal injury, 
the author concludes his narrative in these words: 
« Altogether the depth we had descended was ,about 
140 fathoms, or 980 feet, and the length about three 
miles, according, to the miners calculation, Neither at 
this distance were we at the end; a passage still con- 
tinued ; but so filled with water, and so full of peril, 
VOL, X, PART IT, 
. 
in 
GROTTO. 
ceivable impetuosity ; and at others falling through” 
dreadful chasms, burst into shaggy forms to give it’ 
529 
that the miners thems¢lves were averse to further trial.” — Grotts. 
Possibly the number and size of British grottos and cas =~” 
verns, exceed those within the same bounds of any 
other country with which we are acquainted ; nor are 
we aware that any spacious recess, (with the excep- 
tion of the cave in Kentucky,) opening directly from 
the earth, has been penetrated 2250 teet, as the De- 
vil’s Cave of Derbyshire. 
In the limestone country of Virginia in North Ame- M*tison’s 
ri¢a, are several caverns of some extent, among which “Y~ 
the most celebrated is Madison's cave on the north side 
of the Blue Ridge. Its entrance is about two-thirds 
high in a moderately elevated hill, into which it ex- 
tends about 300 feet, branching out into subordinate ca- 
verns, sometimes ascending a Tittle, but more generally 
descending, and at length terminates at different places 
in two basons of water of unknown dimensions, that 
are never turbid. The vault of this cave is of solid 
limestone, from 20 to 40 or 50 feet high, through which 
water ee. percolates ; and trickling down its 
sides, has. incrusted them with elegant drapery, or 
he ge from the top, generates conical stalactites, 
both above and below. } 
Anbther cave, about 8 or 9 miles long, and with many ached 
branches, has lately been discovered in Kentucky. It catedy, 
is covered with stalactites; and a very remarkable 
mummy was found within it at a considerable distance 
from its mouth. See Kentucky, where we propose to 
give a full account of this interesting cavern. 
Besides those curious excavations on the western Grottos in 
coast.of the Indian peninsula, some interesting caverns ™4i® 
occur in that se range of mountains, which, traver- 
sing Cochin China, penetrates the neighbouring coun- 
tries. The inhabitants retreat thither, or conceal their 
effects in them during the time of war, and they are 
also kept concealed to avoid the expensive visits of the 
great men of the country. A naturalist, the late his- 
torian of these regions affirms, would here find ample 
scope for observation ; the caverns are full of ifac« 
tions and crystallizations of various colours: immense 
halls are formed, wherein may be seen the resemblance 
of altars or thrones; and quantities of fruits ap 
ready to drop from their trees. One most remarkable 
grotto traverses a mountain throughout: its entrance 
and its exit being terminated by two fertile plains. 
The bottom is covered with water, which may be navi- 
gated by vessels ; and the roof, which is very pe in 
some places, decreases elsewhere to 8 or 10 feet. There 
is another in the same chain of mountains of vast ex 
tent, but abounding in deleterious exhalations ; and the 
water of a canal covering its ‘bottom, is dangerous to 
be drank. No one has hitherto ventured to explore 
its most distant extremities. ' 
In various parts of Italy, we find several famous Grottos in 
grottes, though less celebrated for their extent than !#y- 
rom some other peculiarities; and although known by 
the name of grottos, no crystallizations are seen in some 
of them. In Naples there is a spacious cavity, called 
Grotto dei Funaioli, or the Rope Makers Grotto, because 
its entrance has long been devoted to this useful pur- 
e. The roof exhibits a rent, said to be the effects of 
ightning, and in other respects presents a menacing 
but imposing aspect, though the inhabitants carry on ° 
their operations in the most perfect confidence. 
The grotto of Pausilippo near Naples, is a great ex- 
cavation, partly artificial, penetrating the mountain of 
that name 2316 feet. It is 89 feet high in the most 
lofty part, 24 where lowest, and about 22 in breadth, 
traversing volcanic tufa. The date of its formation is 
3x 
/ 
