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fign,haply thefe things might have been more acceptable to you, 
and to thofe other worthy Perfons, who make it a part of their 
delight to behold thefe curious fports of Nature, asrhey^rc 
reprefented by a skilful hand, when they cannot fee them iff 
themfeives ; but I know your Candour will excufe what could 
not be procured by him, that is very much, Sir, 
Stony 'Eafiorj^ Apr, 7. Totir humble Servant ^ 
1676. J.Beaumont J»;^. 
S r R, the Second Letter of ]me 17.1676, 
Slncemy laft having ufedfome diligence in fearching Mines, 
it has been my chance to make good the fufpicion of Mr. 
. Lider, to wit, that the TwW^^i are parts of Rock plants ; for, 
viewing the Earths and Stones caft up out of feveral Mines where 
thofe ftones were, I came at length to a Mine, where well near 
all the Entrochi (fo called hitherto) or bodies of thefe plants 
grew tapering and ramous, fome of them having branches iffu- 
\ ing from them near two inches in length, and other fmall bran- 
ches iflTuingfroiD thofe ; and upon a nearer fearch I difcover'd 
an Entire p]anr,though fmall, growing up after the fide of a 
Stone ; I found alfo, that all the clifts in fome Mines are made 
^ up of thefe Stone-plants whereof fome, as appears, were con- 
verted into the nature of thofe Lime- ftone- rocks , whilft they 
were in their firft tender growth ; others being become Sfitr 
compofe rocks of that fubftance» 
Confidering that all theClifcs for a very large circumference 
in fome places are made up of thefe Plants, we may triply fay, 
that there have been,and are,whole fields or forrefts of thefe in 
the Earth, as there are of CoxzVm ihtRecL-Sea, In the Courfes, 
for Loads, as fome call them) betwixt the clifts I find of thefe 
plants growing up in thegrifty clay, mentioned in my laft, be- 
ing rooted on the rake-mold ftones 5 many of them being above 
a foot in height,and about the bignefs of the ftemof a Tobacco- 
pipe : AllI have yet feen of this length,are either raw clay,or 
of the confiftency of a Lime-ftone, and fome of them have out- 
wardly evident beginnings of circles and futures.The fmall Plant 
which is entire , and the branched bodies of many others have 
attain*d their full term of growth , being become perfeft Spar : 
If thefe had ever a height anfwerable to their bignefs , (fome of 
them being near three inches about, they muft have been much 
higher than thofe before-mention'd: The branches are all joynt- 
