386 Miscellanies. 



plumbago, and of small metallic scales of a steel gray color. The so- 

 lution in muriatic acid being boiled with nitric acid in order to bring 

 the iron into the state of peroxide, was decomposed by carbonate of 

 potassa, and the precipitate digested with caustic ammonia. The blue 

 ammoniacal solution left gave a residue of 5.11 per cent, of oxide of 

 nickel, by evaporation and sudden ignition. 



The result of the analysis of the Bohumilitz meteoric mass is 

 therefore: 

 Iron, -.-......- 94.06 



Nickel, 4.01 



Plumbago, with another metallic substance not sufficiently 



ascertained, - - - - - - - 1.13 



Sulphur, - 0.81 



100.00 

 Dr. Brewster''s Journal, July, 1830. 



2. Burning Coal Mine at New Sauchie. — It is now more than two 

 years since the snow lying on a field on the farm of Shaw Park, belong- 

 ing to the Earl of Mansiield, was observed to melt almost as soon as it 

 fell, and then rise in a state of vapor. The phenomenon attracted the 

 attention of the managers of the Avon and Devon Collieries, and was 

 found to be the effect of the heat produced by a stratum of coal in a state 

 of ignition, technically known by the name of the nine feet seam, from 

 which the Devon iron works are supplied with a large proportion of 

 their fuel. Various plans were at the same time suggested to extin- 

 guish the flames, and after several failures, it was determined to cut a 

 mine round the seam, to prevent their extension. Workmen Avere 

 set to excavate this mine, Avhich Avas ojiened at both sides of the 

 seam, to build a wall as they proceeded, on the sides of the two tun- 

 nels next the fire. In this way it was intended to proceed, till the 

 tunnels penetrated beyond the fire, when they were to be joined in 

 the form of a horse shoe, and thus cut off, by means of a strong wall, 

 all connection between the ignited part of the seam and the remainder 

 of it. This plan has been persevered in for a year and a half, but has 

 never been completed. The workmen have often brought the two 

 walls within a few fathoms of meeting, but owing to the fire bursting in 

 upon them, they have been hitherto obliged to fall back again and take 

 a wider circle. Six or seven shafts have been sunk to ventilate the tun- 

 nels, in which the heat is frequently so great as to raise the thermome- 

 ter from 212° to 230° of Farenheit ; — it sometimes rises still higher. 

 The lamps of the miners Avhich are hung upon the Avails, have more 

 than once fallen to pieces from extreme heat. — lde7n. 



