34 KEPORT — 1867. 



other portions of the skeleton ; and, as if to emphasize the fact, whilst these 

 remains were being found, a fragment of a human upper jaw containing four 

 teeth was, as previously mentioned, detected deep in the next older formation 

 — the Stalagmitic Floor. 



Lastly, during the past two years, the blocks of stalagmite previously men- 

 tioned have been found in every branch of the Cavern, and in all parts of the 

 deposits. Their structure indicated that they were portions of an old floor, 

 which, in some way not easy of explanation, had been broken up, and the 

 fragments incorporated in the detrital accumulations subsequently lodged in 

 the Cavern, and on which was formed that Stalagmitic Floor which the Com- 

 mittee found intact, and are breaking iip every day. This view of the origin 

 of the blocks was confirmed by the fact that a considerable remnant of an 

 old floor still remains in situ in one branch of the Cavern, and which, under 

 the name of " The Ceiling," was minutely described in the Report sent in 

 last year. Nevertheless, as the existing floor very often graduates down- 

 wards into a breccia, and frequently contains bones, stones, and other 

 extraneous bodies, it was reasonable to expect that some objects of the kind 

 would be found attached to, or incorporated in the blocks if they were really 

 fragments of an old floor which formerly spread over the Cavern. Accord- 

 ingly, as the blocks presented themselves, all their surfaces were carefully 

 examined, but no such trace or indication of their having once covered a 

 detrital mass was to be seen on any of them. The more thoroughly to sift 

 this question, hundreds of them have been broken by the workmen into small 

 pieces, with the same invariable results — a structure indicative of stalagmitic 

 origin, but without the disclosure of either bone or stone. At length, how- 

 ever, this large accumulation of negations was utterly set aside. On the 

 6th of last month (August 1867), one of these blocks, in the second foot- 

 level of Cave-earth, and in the Lectm-e Hall, was found, on being fractured, 

 to contain a bone ; and thus any lingering doubt respecting its claims to 

 represent an old perished Floor disappeared at once and for ever. Rince that 

 time ossiferous blocks have been fo\uid in the same Hall, at least two or 

 three times a week. 



The foregoing facts are calculated to stimulate to continued researches, 

 and to encourage the hope that whilst a spadeful of deposit remains dis- 

 lodged, a discovery may remain to be made. 



The present state of the Manufacture of Iron in Great Britain, and 

 its position as compared with that of some other countries. By 

 I. LowTHiAN Bell. 



[A communication ordered to be printed among the Reports.] 

 The object of such exhibitions as that which now occupies so large a share 

 of public attention at Paris being to compare the results of human industry, 

 it is not surprising that we have been favoured with many expressions of 

 opinion on the relative merits of manufacturing science, as manifested in 

 individuals as well as in nations. 



These opinions are necessarily founded upon the information conveyed by 

 the specimens of workmanship exposed for inspection ; and therein, it is to 

 be feared, is involved more or less of a serious fallacy. No one of any 

 practical experience has diflliculty in, or attributes the slightest skill to a 

 manufacturing chemist for, exhibiting any of his usual products in a state of 



