306 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1747, 



Within the pot is a brown water, thick as puddle, continually forced up with a 

 violent motion, beyond that of boiling water, and a rumbling hollow noise, rising 

 and falling by fits 5 or 6 inches ; but there was no appearance of any vapour 

 rising; which perhaps might have been visible, had not the sun shone so bright. 



On putting down a candle at the end of a stick, at about a quarter of a yard 

 distance, it took fire, darting and flashing in a violent manner, for about half a 

 yard high, much in the manner of spirits in a lamp, but with a gi-eater agitation. 

 The man said, that a tea-kettle had been made to boil in g minutes time, and 

 that he had left it burning 48 hours together, without any sensible diminution. 



It was extinguished by putting a wet mop on it, which nmst be kept there a 

 small time; otherwise it would not go out. On the removal of the mop, there 

 succeeded a sulphureous smoke, lasting about a minute ; and yet the water was 

 very cold to the touch. 



The well lies about 30 yards from the Severn ; which, in that place, and for 

 some miles above and below, runs in a vale full 100 yards perpendicular below the 

 level of the country on either side, which inclines down to the country at an 

 angle of 20 or 30 degrees from the horizon; but somewhat more or less in differ- 

 ent places, according as the place is more or less rocky. 



The country consists of rock, stone, earth, and clay, unequally mixed; and as 

 the river, which is very rapid, washes away the soft and loose parts, the next 

 3uccessively slip into the channel ; so as, by degrees, and in time, to affect the 

 whole slope of the land : and as the inferior strata yield coal and iron-ore, their 

 fermentation may produce this vapour, and force it to ascend with violence 

 through the chinks of the earth, and give the water the great motion it has. 

 This might be obstructed in one place by the forementioned subsiding of the 

 sloping bank, and might afterwards find a vent in another; in like manner as it 

 happened at Scarborough Spa, a few years since. 



On the Effect of Electricity on Vegetables. By Mr. John Browning, of Bristol. 



N" 482, p. 373. 



Having an operator at Bristol, with a good electrifying machine, Mr. B. was 

 desirous to electrise a tree, and therefore sent him the following for that purpose, 

 viz. laurustinus, leucoium majus flore pleno ferrugineo, and stoechas citrina 

 cretica. These were not chosen with any design ; but only convenient, being the 

 least plants he had. 



He promised himself the pleasure of seeing their leaves erected when electrised, 

 but was disappointed ; neither did the leaves flag on their being touched. How- 

 ever, he was agreeably recompensed, by a stream of fine purple blue coloured 

 light, much resembling an amethyst, that issued from the extremity of each leaf 

 upwards, of an inch in length, when the finger, or any other non-electric, ap • 



