SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
289 
MINING. 
There is considerable interest in examining the traces which are left 
to us of mining as practised by our predecessors in ancient times. It 
has often been found that the materials thrown aside as useless by miners 
and smelters in former times turn out on examination to be exceedingly 
rich in metal. Professor Ansted reports the discovery in the Mendip 
Hills, about three miles from Wells, Somersetshire, of a deposit of lead, 
producing debris of old mines and lead washings of ancient miners, filling- 
up the bed of a stream that flowed in former ages. This metallic slime of 
exceeding richness amounts, he says, to 600,000 tons, extends over 25 
acres to the depth of 30 feet, and is computed to be worth half a million 
sterling. 
Early British Tin- Works. — Mr. Hunt remarks that there is little doubt 
that tin was procured from the rocks, and collected by washing from the 
streams of Cornwall and Devonshire, long before the invasion of Britain by 
the Romans. He thinks it probable that the bronzes which decorated the 
palaces of the kings of Babylon and Nineveh were manufactured of 
British tin. 
In a paper on the Remains of Early British Tin-Works, read at a 
meeting of the Cambrian Archseological Association in the beginning of 
September last, Dr. Barham states, that the evidences of very ancient tin- 
workings are still to be found in many parts of Cornwall and Devonshire. 
In St. Just, near Cape Cornwall, there are rude workings which are pro- 
bably early British. In other places there are excavations showing- that 
remarkable want of engineering knowledge which distinguishes all early 
workings. Many of the old workings belong without doubt to the Roman 
period, and there is evidence that the educated skill of the Romans was 
brought to bear upon their Cornish tin mines. They even executed a large 
arched stone level , very different from any other of the “ old men’s work- 
ings.” The description agrees with that of Roman works in Spain. 
Lead . — In the International Exhibition was a pig of lead of the Roman 
period, as well as two photographs of an ancient mine in the Shelve district, 
Shropshire. 
Iron . — During the summer of the last and present years, explorations 
have been made in the Cheviot district, resulting in the discovery of a 
walled town, several fortlets, scattered hut circles, and tumuli of the Celtic 
period. The discovery of pieces of iron slag gives a new view of Celtic 
life, as a general impression prevailed among antiquarians, that the ancient 
Britons were not acquainted with the art of smelting. 
Electric Lamp . — Few improvements have been made in the safety-lamp 
since the time of Davy and Stephenson. Its safety lies rather in the 
warning it gives of the presence of gas, than in allowing the miner to work 
in a dangerous atmosphere. No miner should remain in a place which his 
lamp shows him to contain an explosive mixture of gases. MM. Dumas and 
Benoit have invented an apparatus for lighting miners, the source of illu- 
mination being induced electricity. Their apparatus consists of three parts 
— (1) an element of a pile; (2) a Ruhmkorff’s coil; and (3) one of 
