NOTES AND QUEKIES. 



233 



coal," and about four feet thick. The markets for this coal are London and 

 most of the counties south of Derbyshire. It is free burning, leaving a 

 small quantity of brown ashes. The " bottom hard coal " is about 20 yards 

 below the deep soft coal, and is 3 feet 6 inches thick. It is used exten- 

 sively for locomotive purposes by the London and North- Western, Mid- 

 land, Great .Northern, and other railways in England. It is also used for 

 general steam purposes. In the midland counties it is extensively used for 

 iron-making. Like the top hard coal, it burns without clinker, and will 

 bear exposure to any atmosphere for years without deterioration. It is 

 procured in large blocks. The evaporative power inordinary working of a 

 locomotive is nearly 71b. of water for lib. of coal consumed. High Park, 

 Beggarlee, Underwood, Watnall, and Old Brinsley Collieries. — The " top 

 hard coal," one of the highest workable seams in Derbyshire and Notting- 

 hamshire, is 5 feet thick, and is used extensively for locomotive purposes 

 by the London and North-Western, Midland, and other railways in Eng- 

 land. It is also used for steam navigation, and is one of the purest and 

 best iron-making coals. It burns without clinker, and bears exposure to 

 any atmosphere for years without deterioration. It is procured in large 

 blocks without small, and is generally preferred for household purposes in 

 the counties of Lincoln, Eutland, and Leicester. The evaporative power 

 in ordinary working of a locomotive is 71b. of water for lib. of coal con- 

 sumed. 



An Earthquake in Sussex. — Shortly before midnight on the 30th of 

 April last, a curious phenomenon was experienced at Maresfield, Sheffield 

 Park, Fletching, Chailey, and the neighbourhood, and which has been at- 

 tributed to the shock of an earthquake. As may very naturally be sup- 

 posed, the occurrence created some degree of alarm at the time, and has 

 since formed the subject of general conversation in the part of the county 

 where it was experienced. The shock seems to have been confined to a 

 somewhat limited area, and is fortunately unaccompanied by any serious 

 results. It was, no doubt, generally felt about the same moment, and al- 

 though the difference of a few minutes has been stated at various places, 

 this circumstance is probably owing more to the variation of the time as 

 recorded by the owners' timepieces than to any actual difference. At 

 Maresfield, the phenomenon was experienced at nine minutes past eleven, 

 and is described in a letter from Captain Noble as an extraordinary vibra- 

 tion lasting fifteen seconds, and shaking the doors, windows, and beds at 

 Maresfield Lodge with some violence. The oscillation and vibration were 

 likewise generally felt throughout the parish. At Sheffield Park, the seat 

 of the Earl of Sheffield, the earthquake was felt by the members of the 

 noble earl's family and household. The time recorded here is six minutes 

 past eleven. Among other indications the butler heard the mortar fall be- 

 hind the wainscot, and a loose bar attached to a window-shutter oscillated 

 and struck the shutter. Lord Pevensey and Mr. Douglas Holroyd, w r ho 

 were at Sheffield Park, distinctly felt the shock. At Scaymes Hill, it is 

 stated that the bells at the public-house distinctly vibrated ; while at 

 Eletching, the family of Mr. Jones were disturbed by a rumbling noise. 

 Similar sensations were experienced at Buckham Hill and at Chailey — 

 more especially at two cottages at the latter place, where the shock seems 

 to have been more severely felt. Writing from Maresfield to the ' West 

 Sussex Gazette,' Captain Noble says : — " It may be worth while to record 

 a curious phenomenon observed at Maresfield last night (April 30th), inas- 

 much as, after our experience of the 6th October ult., it may very probably 

 be referable to an earthquake. About 11 h. 9 m. G.M.T., an extraordinary 



VOL. VII. 2 H 



