©ftbe Tree^^hath contraded a petrified Cruft, about the thicfe- 
nefs of a J^nlHng^ all over the woody pare. within the Bark; the 
marks of the Axe alfo remaining very confpicuous, with this 
petnfiedGruft upon ir. By what means it mould thus happen 
caanoc well be conceiveda in regard there is no water ncer ic i 
die parcabov-e the grouad^aud out of the weather; the Tree 
yet growing: unlefs being cue at fome feafon^when the fap was 
flowing, the owfing of the fap might become petrified by the 
Air, and. the Tree grow rotten and hollow inward fince that 
time ; which how long fince is not known. 
A piece of that part cut,, was prefented^ together witK this 
Ac^oun t^ tathe faid Society for their Repofitory^^ 
Ankles of li^ulrks toiiching Mines.. 
What the Honourable K(?^^jr^ 5ay/^ gavetheReader cauCeto 
hope ior^in Numbh i. when he was plealed to impart thofe Ce* 
nemlHc^ds for a Natural Hiftory of aCountrey^f/'^pr^ pubhlh'd| 
He is not unmindful to perform^by enlarging them as occafion 
ferv^SjWirh particular and /tt^or^?>/^i^^ Inquiries* Here he gra- 
tifies the Gurious with'a confiderable Setof Inquiries about 
Mims : which though unfinifltdj yet thfe P'ubltfiery was inftant 
to obtain their prefent publication^to the end,that he might the 
jBore GOidveniently.recommend them to feveral forreigners of 
his Acquaintance^now ready to return to their feveral Coun- 
triesjwhich he underft^nds to abound in Mines ; and from the 
Curious Inhabitantj wher^ofjhe expefts to receive a good ac^ 
compt upon fome at leaft of thefe Inquiries 5 which alfo by fe- 
veral of them have been earneftl^ defired,as Inftrudipns to di- 
leit them, what Particulars to inquire after upon this Subje^fc 
^ Theft §iU(2ries are reduced by the Author to fix Heads : 
Thc firft^ The Neighbouring Country about the Mines* . 
The /ecvwi, The Soyb wheire the Mines areo 
The ^fa>ii, The SigHS^^,f MineSi- 
The fourth, The Stru(3:ur<? and other particulars belonging 
10 the Mrnesi themfelves.- - 
The ^//"vThei Nature and Circumftances of the Ore, 
T^^ fiubiTh^, ?edu^ion of the Qrje into Metal 
^u^rm* 
