Earth that there \s Mercury at the bottom 5 but towards 
the farther end^ where the intervals of the wires are lefs^ 'tis 
found in very great proportion. The Earth laid afide is 
poueded^ and the fame operation repeated. The fine imali 
Earthy that remains after this 5 and out of which they can 
wafli no more Mercury ^ is put into Iron retorts and ftopt 5 be^ 
caufeit Ihouldnot fall into the Receivers 5 to which they are- 
luted. The fire forces the Mercury into the Receivers : The 
OfEcer unluted feveral of them to fliewus^ I obferved in all 
" of them^ that he firft poured out perfeft Mercury ^ and after 
that came ablackduftj which being wetted wath water dip 
covered it felf to be Mercury 5 as the other was. They take 
the Ca^utmortuum andrpoundit, and renew the operation as 
long as they can get any Mercury out of it. 
This is tlie way of producing the Mercury 5 they call Ordi- 
nary^ which exceeds that^ which is got by wafliing ^ in a very 
great proportion 3 as you will perceive by the account an- 
next. All the Mercury got without the ufe of Fire 5 whether 
by wafhing ^ or found in the Mines ( for in the diggings fome 
little particles get together ^ fo that in fome places you might 
take up two or three fpoonfuls of pure Mercury) iscalFd by 
them Vir gin- Mercury , and eftccnf d above the reft. I in- 
quir'd of the OfScer what vertue that had more . then the 
other 5 he told me that making an Amalgama of Gold and 
Virgin-Mercury 5 and putting it to the fire 5 that Mercury 
would carry away all the Gold with itj which common i^/e/r^^- 
ry w^ould not do. 
The EnginSj employed in thefe Mines 3 are admirable ^ the 
Wheels, the greateft that ever I faw in my life 5 one would 
think as great as the matter would bear : all moved by the 
dead force of the water ^ brought thither in no chargeable 
Aqueduft from a Mountain ^ 3 Miles diftant ; the water 
pumpt from the bottom of the Mine by 52 pumps, 26 on a 
fide 5 is contrived to move other wheels 5 for feveral other 
purpofes. 
The Labourers work for a Julio didzy^ which is not above 
6 or 7 pence 3 and indure not long 5 for, although none ftay 
under 
