i76 Notices 6 f Bo oJcs i fJutt 



" As this is a question of much importance, it is necessary to examine 

 the opinions of Mr. Jones regarding it; we cannot attach much weight 

 to an assertion contained in one of his earlier reports, viz. thar he did 

 not think it necessary to prosecute his enquiries beyond the point at 

 which the Daniuda becomes unnavigable, knowing that the whole 

 country from Jenfil, to within five miles of Serampore Affords coal. In 

 proof of which he gave the following section as the result of repeated 

 borings, but does not mention any one of the particular localities in 

 which they were conducted. Common clay six feet, — loose sand one 

 foot, — slate seven feet with four inch layers of sandstone twelve inches 

 apart, containing impressions of plants,— coal and slate nine feet,— 

 black slate two feet,— bad coal not cut three feet, r= 23 feet. 



" Still less can we coincide with the soundness of his reason for 

 supposing the great line of navigation to be intersected by coal beds 

 somi?where about the situation of Cutwa, where he consequently 

 thought coal might be found merely because he supposed that direc- 

 tion to be indicated as the course of the strata in the mines of Rany- 

 gunge. The importance of the subject, however, and the extent of 

 Mr. Jones's local knowledge, would justify a few borings being resorted 

 to, at certain points between Hoogley and Rajmal. 



" It is to be regretted that the official authorities in Burdwan, and 

 Mr. Jones's successors in the management of the mines in particular, 

 should have profited so little as the^ appear to have done by his exam- 

 ple, and that even occasional notices of the progress of the works he 

 established, should since his time have been discontinued. The depth 

 of the shafts, the direction of the galleries, and the nature of the beds 

 through which they are excavated,would be information of the highest 

 interest, and well calculated to bring into notice whoever might fur- 

 nish such details. The practical reports of miners have at all times 

 been received as the most valuable contributions to science, and are 

 justly looked upon as the most estimable records of a class of facts 

 which are second to none in importance, 



*' The iace of the country composing the Burdwan coal districts is 

 described by Mr. Jones as undulating, presenting a difference of level 

 between the heights and valleys of about sixty feet. The surface is 

 composed of a yellow clay supporting a good soil, both slightly calcare- 

 ous. The clay rests on a grey sandstone that effervesces in acids, 

 and which is seven feet in thickness ; in many places where its surface ; 

 is exposed a slight efliorescence of soda is found on it. 



" Beneath this rock an inferior quality of coal accompanied wit 

 shale, containing the impressions of plants occurs bending over the low 



