Fan. 27, 1870] 
other nebulous and clustering forms which are not minia- 
tures of our galaxy ?” 
It will be seen that, while Sir John Herschel is quite 
ready (should the evidence require it) to adopt altogether 
new views about the nebulz, he is zo¢ ready to forego 
the grandeur of those noble views of the universe which 
he and his father have established, thereby earning the 
well-deserved gratitude of every lover of astronomy. 
And then with regard to the actmal form of our galaxy 
or Milky Way, the figure introduced shows that its apparent 
one as projected on the heavens may really be due to an 
arrangement differing both from the cloven disc or flattened 
ring, a point to which I shall return in a subsequent 
article. 
RICHARD A. PROCTOR 
THE CROSSNESS WELL-BORING 
peuts boring, which was commenced by the Metro- 
politan Board of Works for the purpose of supplying 
the engines and dwelling-houses at Crossness with pure 
water, has, as may be seen from the accompanying dia- 
gram, reached a depth of 961 feet without piercing the 
Lower Greensand, where it was expected a good supply 
would be found. 
Made ground. 
Peat and Silty Clay. 
‘|__ JGrey Subangular Flint Gravel, with Iron 
2 \ Pyrites and Blue Clay. 
j 
§ ; 2--~ Sand with Flints and Shells. 
cag: 
! “3 - Fine Light Woolwich Sand, 
he ae 
Vt 
De: 
\ 
| Wa . JChalk, with layers of Flint 8 ft. apart, and 
a NP {from 7 to g inches thick. 
Seay 
3 + 
ae 
1 “5 
; ° *» Chalk Marl, with few Flints. 
' N 
to 
1 + 
1 i 
ot 
ho 
ve 
! ! 
an! 
a) 
ye --= Gault Clay. 
Ha 
i od 
tee 
if 1 
1 1 
ast 
Hh 
oon 
Bey, 
Section of Crossness Well-boring, 
In consequence of the great difficulties attending the 
extraction of broken rods, &c., from the boring at that 
great depth, together with the uncertainty of the Lower 
Greensand being present, the boring has been discon- 
tinued. This is much to be regretted, as, if persevered 
with for a further depth of 40 or 50 feet, it would un- 
doubtedly pass through the gault, which seldom exceeds 
200 feet in thickness, 147 feet of which are now entered, 
and would thus add to the knowledge we at present 
possess of the substratum of London. 
The chalk and gault clay at their outcrop to the north 
NATURE 
See) 
and south of London are underlaid by the Lower Green- 
sand, which is from 150 to 4oo feet thick; this, if con- 
tinuous, as are the chalk and gault, would give a water- 
bearing strata of great capacity. 
But it has been proved that its continuity is broken ; 
as at Harwich, where after boring 1,000 feet through chalk, 
some carboniferous slates were found, and at Kentish 
Town, where beneath chalk and gault were found red sand- 
stone and clay, though whether they belong to the Old or 
New Red Sandstone group, could not be ascertained. Mr. 
W. Whitaker very reasonably supposes that there is an 
underground ridge of older rocks crossing the London 
basin, which was an island when the Greensand was 
deposited, as the accompanying sketch shows, thus 
accounting for its absence in the places above men- 
tioned, 
a : 
z ba a 
< : a BE < 
a) bk re) 24 
Za Pe at! 
Zz ud : z wu 
og wet x 9 co ray z 
uw oO 2 Qa 5 rr) me 
© og =< = =< s 
oO % = Ss Pe ira 
x 
fo ° = a me 
ec ou 1 i oz 
z 1 ] c 
wu &S - ot Gg 
= So ~ 50 
Co a Co) 
= > " 
Va 
a Gf. 7 é1oen oeKs—\ NN 
ag Ys ~~ = 
~ 
Section across London Basin, showing Probable Position of Ridge of 
Rocks. 
If the Crossness boring were continued, and the 
Greensand were not found, the direction in which this 
ridge runs would be ascertained, and thus would be 
prevented much fruitless outlay to those contemplating 
well-boring; in addition to which, some important 
facts connected with the London water supply would be 
made known; further, it might decide the question 
as to the existence of the coal measures beneath London, 
at a practicable depth, which, it will be admitted, is 
a question of universal interest. Under these circum- 
stances, surely Government aid ought to be invoked, as 
the Board of Works are unwilling to proceed with the 
boring on their own responsibility. 
UTILISATION OF SEWAGE 
HE British Association Committee on the Treatment 
and Utilisation of Sewage has requested us to state 
that a number of towns and private individuals have 
already sent in or promised subscriptions for defraying 
the expenses of the contemplated investigation referred to 
in the circular published in NATURE of the 2nd of 
December, and that a Special Meeting of the Committee 
will be held on the 15th of February next to decide what 
further steps are to be taken in furtherance of the object 
in view. 
The Committee therefore requests that town and 
district authorities who have not yet replied to the cir- 
cular will at their earliest convenience communicate with 
the Committee, and state what sum will be subscribed ; 
or, if it be decided not to subscribe, what is the reason 
for declining. 
Should the total amount subscribed be insufficient for 
adequately continuing the inquiry, it is the intention of 
the Committee to return the subscriptions received. 
The following Towns and Districts have subscribed, or 
signified their disposition to do so:—Stoke-upon-Trent, 
Exeter, Plymouth, Devonport, Paisley, Coventry, Oxford, 
Maidstone, Torquay, Wakefield, Dewsbury, Hereford, 
West Hartlepool, Kendal, Weymouth, Enfield, Penzance, 
Balsall Heath, Bromley, Bridport, Malvern, Abingdon, 
Atherton, Toxteth Park, and Walton-on-the- Hill. 
