4t)6 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1740. 



at first was Jv and jij, now almost 4^ oz. This man lived about 7 years after, 

 in a good state of health, and lived to the age of 6o or upwards. He said the 

 stone had been growing there for near 30 years ; but he never apprehended it 

 to be a stone, though he used to complain of a weight, as if it were half a 

 pound, carried between his legs. 



Account of the Petrifactions near Matlock Baths in Derbyshire; with Conjectures 

 concerning Petrifaction in General. By Mr. Moreton Gilhs, F. R. S. 

 N° 456, p. 352. 



In the mountainous part of Derbyshire, about Cromford, is a valley of at 

 least a mile and half long, walled on each side with high craggy rocks ; the east 

 side cliffy, the west more reclining, but extremely rough and difficult of ascent ; 

 being composed of large loose pieces of the lime-stone rock, of 5, 10, or 20 

 ton weight ; that seem some time to have broken off from the top of the cliffs, 

 and fallen down into the valleys. At the bottom of the valley, which seems to 

 be a great gaping fissure of the rock, runs the river Derwent harshly along its 

 rocky bottom. About the middle of the valley, at near 50 feet perpendicular 

 height from the river, issue forth several rivulets of a lukewarm water, falling 

 into the Derwent below. Some of this water, being collected in a reservoir, on 

 account of its agreeable warmth, has of late years been much used for bathing, 

 and is called Matlock Bath. Now for about the compass of 50O or 600 yards, 

 near where this water gushes out, the stone appears of a very different texture 

 and complexion ; and proves, on examination, to be a perfect incrustation, 

 formed on the original rock ; composing a fictitious stone of earth, vegetables, 

 &c. of various kinds, such as usually grow in rocky places, as polypody, trico- 

 manes, and other species of the capillary tribe, mosses, brambles, ivy, hazle, 

 &c. There are several large grottos, at about 15 feet above the level of the 

 river, lined most curiously with the stalactitae, lapides stillatitii, &c. Some of 

 them nearly resemble large bunches of grapes, and other clusters of fruit, and 

 very beautiful. The farther you penetrate into this mountain, the closer and 

 more compact the stone appears ; the interstices in the petrified matter being at 

 the depth of 15 or l6 feet, almost filled up, and nearly as solid as the lime- 

 stone, of which the original rock is composed ; and even within 4 or 5 feet of 

 the surface, though very open and porous ; yet is it so hard, as to be used in 

 the building about the bath. 



The mountain in several places jets out almost over the brink of the river ; 

 under these protuberances are the grottos, very dangerous and difficult to get 

 at ; but it is impossible to give an idea of the natural beauty of the place. The 



