178 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



Feet. In. 

 No. Brought forward, 356 1 



60. White iron-stone measure, in nodules, part good, 3 6 



6 1 . Bottom coal, moderately good, 1 6 



62. Parting batt, or fire clay, 4 



63. Lower coal, tolerably good, 5 3 



Total Depth, ...... 366 8 



Thus to this depth have been found below the main coal nine 

 different strata of useful coal, being in thickness put together 

 28 feet 1 inch, and seven strata of iron-stone, generally of good 

 quality ; three other strata of iron-stone h'ave also been explored 

 beneath the above, of very good quality, viz. the ball-stone, the 

 black-stone, and the blue flats, all very good iron-stones : there 

 are, no doubt, other mines below, from the promising appearance of 

 the intermediate strata. 



The mines of Bilston and its neighbourhood contain, in the old 

 mines and the new, an abundant supply of iron-stone and coal, 

 not to be exhausted in any reasonable given time, and new sources of 

 supply have been ascertained, that will last beyond calculation : the 

 long upper level of the Birmingham Canal passes through them in 

 a zig-zag lengthened course, with collateral branches, and other 

 canals in all directions, so as to accommodate every part at a small 

 distance. The working of these mines has been carried of late years 

 to a great extent ; not only the coal-trade, but the number of 

 iron furnaces has been increased, and the business done at each of 

 them much extended. 



Towards the latter end of the year 1815, and the beginning of 

 1816, considerable derangement and stagnation took place in some 

 of these iron-works and mines, occasioned by a combination of un- 

 fortunate causes and circumstances. The orders for iron by govern- 

 ment were slackened, or suspended, in consequence of the general 

 peace ; the war price of provisions had been high, and the miners* 

 and colliers' wages raised in consequence to five shillings per day, 

 and the iron sold too low to indemnify the masters' expences \ large 

 issues of copper and silver tokens and paper-money were made to 

 pay workmen's wages ; the tokens and paper-money fell into disre- 

 pute, and some bankruptcies ensued, and others were distressed for 

 means to go on, till many workmen were thrown out of employment, 

 and were obliged to beg their bread. Some riots ensued, which were 

 obliged to be quelled by the military. 



Owing to the continued depression of the coal and iron-trades, and 



