[8/4] 
A Letter from Mr* J : Beaumont o/Stony-Eaftofi in 
^ommtiitt^mt to oneojtheS* of the R. S. con- 
cerning a New way ^/ Cleaving Rockj. 
A worthy Gentleman, who for many year? has. been 
a Confiderable adventurer in the Lead Mines oa 
Mendip hills^, being in London a while fiace, was pleal'd 
to acquaint me that the Miners there, within thefe 
twelve months, had gotten a new way of Cleavmg Rocks 
with Gunpowder, whereupon I defif d he would pleafe 
to favour me with a Prefent of the Inftruments us' d in it, 
which I conceiv'd would not be unacceptable in the Re- 
pofitory at Grefliam Colledge, where lihave now caus d 
tlicm to be deliuered. 
The firftlnftrument, which by the miners is call'd the 
Borier defcribd Fig, 7 is made of Iron, and is 2 foot 2 In- 
ches in length, it is an Inch fquare at the fteeled end from 
^to b\ and fomewhat lelTe in the other part:the afe of this 
Inftrument is to make a hole in the Rock deep enough to 
receive the Powdenthe fecond Inftrument, call'd the Gun 
reprefented Fig. 8. is 6. Inches in length, diameter, 
and has a holedrilfd through it to receive the priming 
Powder. The firft Inftrument is managed thus, oae 
man holds it on theRockand turns it round, while ano- 
ther beats it down with a hammer of five or fix pounds 
weight ; when the hole is made fomewhat deeper then 
the length of the Gun, they dry it with a rag, and put in- 
to it about 2 or 5 Ounces of Powder, over which they put 
a thin paper, and on it place th^Gun, which they bind 
firmly into the hole, by driving in againft the flat fide of 
the upper part of it, the third Inftrument, which is a lit- 
tle Iron wedge 4 inches in length, by the Miners call'd a 
^^uinnet defcribd Fig> 9. when this is done, they pafs down 
a wire through the hole drill'd in the Gw, and pierce the 
Paper 
