NOTES ASD QUERIES. 
233 
coal," and about four feet thick. Tlie markets for tliis coal are London and 
most of the counties south of Derbyshire. It is free burninoj, 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, ]\Iid- 
land, Great Northern, and other railways in England. It is also used for 
general steam purposes. In tlie 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 in ordinary working of a 
locomotive is nearly 71b. of water for lib. of coal consumed. High Park, 
Beggarlee, Undencood, WatnaU, and Old Bnnsley Collieries. — The "top 
Lard coal," one of the highest workable seams in ^Derbyshire and JN'ottiug- 
hamshire, is 5 feet thick, and is used extensively for locomotive purposes 
by the London and ]S^orth-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 witliout 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 
eince 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 difierence of a few minutes has been stated at various places, 
tiiis 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, indo\A s, 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, who 
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 
Fletching, the family of Mr. Jones were disturbed by a rumbling noise. 
Similar sensations were experienced at Buckhara 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 u 
