VOL. XXXV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 225 



different places; sometimes forming large spaces, called holes. They are filled 

 with substances, which, whether metallic, or of any other nature, are termed 

 the loads. When the substances forming these loads are reducible to metal, 

 the loads are by the miners said to be alive; otherwise they are termed dead 

 loads. 



In Cornwall and Devon the loads always hold their course from eastward to 

 westward; though in other parts of England they frequently run from north to 

 south. The miners report, that the sides of the load never bear in a perpen- 

 dicular, but constantly underlay either to the north or south. 



The mines seem to be, or to have been, the channels through which the 

 waters pass within the earth; and, like rivers, have their small branches open- 

 ing into them in all directions; which are by the miners termed the feeders of 

 the load. Most mines have streams of water running through them, and when 

 they are found dry, it seems to be owing to the waters having changed their 

 course. 



The load is frequently intercepted by the crossing of a vein of earth, or 

 stone, or some different metallic substance. In which case it generally happens, 

 that one part of the load is moved a considerable distance to one side. This 

 transient load is by the miners termed aflooking; and the part of the load 

 which is moved is, in their terms, said to be heaved. This heaving the load 

 would be an inexpressible loss to the miner, did not experience teach him, that, 

 as the loads always run on the sides of the hills, so the part heaved is always 

 moved towards the descent of the hill. So that the miner working towards the 

 ascent of the hill, and meeting a flooking, considers himself as working in the 

 part heaved ; therefore, cutting through the flooking, he works upon its back 

 towards the ascent of the hill, till he recovers the load, and vice versa. 



Sometimes, though not constantly, the mine is lined with an intermediate 

 substance between the load and itself. This is the wall of the load: though in 

 the common acceptation of that term, it signifies either such intermediate sub- 

 stance, or the side of the mine, where the load immediately unites itself to it. 

 The springs in these parts are always hard, as abounding very much, either in 

 stony or sulphureo-saline particles. From this water, thus saturated with stony 

 particles, we frequently find the passages of the water under ground, either 

 partly or totally stopped up, the stony matter gradually concreting round the 

 sides of the mine, and forming a confused load of spar-stone. At other times 

 this stony matter concretes more distinctly; in which case the stony matter 

 seems to be governed in its concretion by a plastic power. 



There are many phaenomena observable in the crystals, which are at present 



VOL. VII. G G 



