56 Dr. Berger on the hie of Man. 



coals In the Isle of Man, that the present topic is Introduced here, 

 than to prove their real existence. To preclude however, farther 

 investigations and observations on the score that coals cannot pos- 

 sibly be discovered, would be presumptuous and imprudent, but 

 nobody has yet, that I am aware of, substantiated their existence. 

 The only serious attempt I believe to find coals in the isle, was 

 made at Derby-haven, many years ago by a speculator from Cum- 

 berland.* After having gone to a certain depth, not finding traces 

 of them, he gave up the search as fruitless. 



While I was in the isle (June 1811), two or three spots in the 

 north-western part, were particularly pointed out to me as places 

 where coals did wr/w^//^' appear, or were cropping' out. But when 

 the matter was strictly enquired, the reports turned out unfounded. f 

 While on the subject of coals, I shall beg leave to present here an 

 account of the coals imported into the Isle of Man from Whitehaven 

 In the county of Cumberland, arranged under the form of two 

 series; the one comprehending ten years from 1781 to 1790, the 

 other including twelve years from 1798 down to 1809. Both 

 statements may be relied on, the first was inserted in a scarce book,| 

 the second in a late and though local, most respectable publication 

 often already referred to.§ 



The increased consumption of coals in the Isle of Man will not 



* Mr. Curwcn's Agr. Report, p. 112. 



+ During the whole of my excursion through the isle of Man, I had the pleasure of 

 being accompanied by Mr. Thomas Scott, brother to the much celebrated Scotch Poet of 

 that name. Mr. Wm. Gcneste, a well informed gentleman, and a native of the isle, 

 joined our party while we were examining the southern part of the isle. From the t\T» 

 above mentioned gentlemen, and generally from all those to whom I was introduced in 

 that island, I received the most ready and kind attentions as well as much information. 



I The Report of the Commissioners of Inquiry for the Isle of Man, 1792. 



^ Mr. Curweu's Report of the Agricultural Society. 



