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be near 80 Fathom in Depth to the bed Seam of Coals, 
which is three Yards thick ; the Work was carried 
on Day and Night very fuccefsfully, through feveral 
Beds of hard Stone, Coal, and other Minerals, 'till 
the Pit was funk down 41 Fathom from the Surface, 
where they came to a Bed of Black Stone, about lTx 
Inches think, very fullof Joints, or open Cliffs, which 
divided the Stones into Pieces of about fix Inches 
Square, the Sides whereof were all fpangled with 
Sulphur, and in Colour like Gold. Underthis Black- 
Stone lies a Bed of Coal two Foot thick 1 When 
the Workmen firft prick’d the Black-Stone Bed, which 
was on the rife Side of the Pit, it afforded very little 
Water, contrary to what was expe&ed ; but indead 
thereof a vaft Quantity of damp corrupted Air, which 
bubbled through a Quantity of Water, then fpread 
over that part of the Pit, and made a great hiding 
Noife 5- at which the Workmen being fomewhat fur- 
pri 7 ,’d, held a Candle towards it, and it immediately 
took Fire upon the Surface of the Water, and burn’d 
very fiercely ; the Flame being about half a Yard in 
Diameter, and near two Yards high, which frightned 
the Workmen fo that they took the Rope, and went 
up the Pit, having firft extinguifhed the Flame, by 
beating it out with their Hats ; the Steward of the 
Works being made acquainted with it, went down the 
Pit with one of the Men, and holding a Candle to the 
fame Place, it immediately took Fire again,, as be- 
fore, and burnt about the fame Bignefs the 
Flame being blue at the Bottom, and more white to- 
wards the Top. They fuffer’d it to burn near half 
an Hour, and no Water being drawn in that time, it 
rofe and cover’d the Bottom of the Pit near a Yarddeep, 
