The O^atural Hijlory 
gives fo great a fteam as this, can lie very deep, or be very poor t 
Yet I ftiall not prcfume to advife its ovener^ the eminent Virtuofo 
Sir ThomoiPennyfion^ any further to dig in queft of it, than ac- 
cording as he lliall want Stone upon other occafions, to fink his 
Pit for the future, jf>er/e;2^:/ic^^/^r to the Horizon^ whereas now he 
takes it as it rifes in piano : So that in time, when he is gotten 
through the Rock, a more certain judgment may be paft on what 
lies under, with little charge or damage to him : Where if in 
timehe finde a Treafure, I am fure the Difcoverer will not want 
his reward, from fo Ingenious, and every way fo accompliHi'd 
z Ferjonj at leaf!: in fuch proportion as has alwaies been allowed 
by the Societies of the Mines Royals and Mineral Batte'ry-rvorkS' 
z6. Befide the notice it gives of Mines^ and ufe it has in cover- 
ing the blemidies of the Face^ like the Earth Quei of China^ men- 
lion dhy^ Kircher its Medicinal are very great. For by 
Georgim Agricola^ and Fernante Imperato-^ the former whereof 
calls it Stenomarga^^ and the latter Agaricm Mineralis^ : it is 
thought to have the virtues of the Samian Earth, and to be very 
beneficial in ftopping of blood, and womens difeafes. Boetim^ 
holds it to be a good narcotick.-y and that it fafely may be given to 
procure flecp. And G^y?;er " aflBrms it to be commonly fold by 
the Apothecaries of Lucern^ and ufed by Cbirurgians to dry gleet- 
ing fores ; and that given to Nurfes, it increafcs their milk, and 
quickly makes their Brefts apparently fwell. And upon this ac- 
count it ferves me as a feafonable tranfition to pafs next to the 
Earths of Medicinal ufe. 
27. Of which the moft likely I have met with yet, is dug a- 
mongft the clay they ufe for bricks, in the PariHi of Nettlehed, 
not far from the Wind-mill, of as red a colour as Bolu^ Armenu^^ 
but not like that difcolouring the hands ; ftrongly adhering^ if 
put to the tongue, but whethtx provocative of fweat or no, I have 
not hitherto been able to perfwade a tryal. However, let it 
prove never fo good. Pie not promife the owner any great profit, 
becaufe of the humor we have of defpifmg our own, and only 
admiring and efteeming thofe things that are far fetched and 
dearly bought. 
28. But quite of another mind was that famous Phyfitian, 
i china il/ujQrata. k De N.itur. Foffif. 1 DeW Hift. Natural- Lii. cap- 4- De L^pid. Gm- 
?ms. cap. 229. n De Fi^uris LapiduT?!;, cap. 2. 
Mr. Henry 
