ftake not; about a mile from the Town, in that Road which leads 
t0 The^pfopk of AisTown did confidently affirm, that the Wa- 
ter of this Spring did burn like Oyle; into which Error they buf- 
fered themlelves to fall for want of a due examination of the 
Eor when we came to the laid Spring(bemg five or fix in com- 
pany toeether)and applyed a lighted Candle to the furface of the 
Wawr ; S 'tis true, there was fuddenly a large flame produced, 
Whfh burnt vigoJouflya at the fight of which they all began to 
laugh at me for denying, what they had pofit.veiy afferted : But 
I |ho did not think my felf confuted by a laughter grounded 
ooon inadvertency .-began to examine what I faw * and obferving, 
that this Spring had its eruption at the foot of a Tree growtng on 
the top of a neighbouring Bank, the Water ofwhich Spring fi d 
a Ditch that was there, and covered the burning place lately men- 
tion’d s I then applyed the lighted Candle to divers parts of the 
Water contained in the faid Ditch, and found as I expe&ed, that 
upon the touch of the Candle and the Water, the Flame was ex- 
Again, having taken up a dilhfull of Water at the flaming place 
and held’ the lighted Candle to it, it went out. Yet I obferved 
that the Water at the burning place did boyle, and heave like 
Water in a Pot upon the Fire, though my hand put into it percei- 
ved it not fo much as warm. . ^ . r 
Ihis boyiing I conceived to proceed from the Eruption ot 
fome bituminous dr fulphureous Fumes «> considering, this place 
was not above 30 or 40 yards diftant from .the mouth of a Coal- 
pit there. A.nd indeed IVigan : Afhton 9 aud the whole Country , for 
many miles comjVafs, is -underlaid with Goal. Then applying my 
hand to the furface of the Burning place of the Water, I found a 
ftrono- breath 3 as it were a Wind, to bear againfl my hand. 
Then I caufed a Dam to be made, and thereby hindering the 
recourfe of frefh water to the Burning place ■ I caufed that, which 
was already there, to be drained away ; and then applying the 
Burning Candle to the furface of the dry Earth at the fame point, 
where die Water burned before $ the Fumes took fire, and burn'd 
very bright and vigorous. The Cone of the Flame afeended a 
foot and a half from the Superficies of the Earth, The Bafis of it 
B b b % was. 
V. 
