VOL. II.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. J (Jq 



some of which were so bestowed as to slide upon others, and had thereby 

 worn their flats to a wonderful sleekness. He assured me also, that in the same 

 place, another when dead had a stone taken from him, almost as large as a 

 new-born child's head, and much of that shape. 



A Well and Earth in Lancashire tahng Fire at a Candle. By Tno. 

 Shirley, Esq. N''26, p. 482. 



About a mile from Wigan in Lancashire is a spring, the water of which is 

 supposed to burn like oil. It is true that when we came to the spring, and 

 applied a lighted candle to the surface of the water, there was suddenly a large 

 flame produced, which burned vigorously. Having taken up a dishful of water 

 at the flaming place, and held the lighted candle to it, the flame went out. 

 Yet I observed that the water at the burning place boiled and rose up like 

 water in a pot upon the fire, though my hand put into it felt no warmth. 



This boiling I conceived to proceed from the eruption of some bituminous or 

 sulphurous fumes ; considering this place was not above 30 or 40 yards distant 

 from the mouth of a coal pit there. And indeed Wigan, Ashton, and the whole 

 country for many miles compass, is underlaid with coal. Then applying my 

 hand to the surface of the burning place of the water, I found a strong breath 

 like a wind bear against my hand. Upon making a dam, and hindering the 

 recourse of fresh water to the burning place, I caused that which was already 

 there to be drained away, and then applying the burning candle to the surface 

 of the dry earth at the same point, where the water before burned ; the fumes 

 took fire and burned very bright and vigorous. The cone of the flame ascend- 

 ed a foot and a half from the surface of the earth. The basis of it was of the 

 compass of a man's hat about the brim. I then caused a bucket full of water 

 to be poured on the fire, by which it was presently quenched. I did not per- 

 ceive the flame to be discoloured like that of sulphurous bodies, nor to have 

 any manifest smell with it. The fumes when they broke out of the earth and 

 pressed against my hand, were not to my best remembrance at all hot.* 



Account of Athanasii Kircheri China Illustrata. N" 26, p. 484. 



This book is esteemed one of the most curious of the many productions of 

 the industrious, but credulous Kircher. It contains a vast mass of extraor- 

 dinary particulars relating to the population, revenue, mountains, isles, lakes, 



* The fumes here mentioned were inflammable air or hydrogen gas, of which the rapid ascent 

 through the water gave it the appearance of boiling. 

 VOL. I. Y 



