544 
LEAD. 
the mines of Brittany, and the other third from 
those in the Vosges, the Cevennes, and the Pyrenees. 
At Pompean, near Rennes, the ore lies in a bed 
of blueish clay twelve fathoms thick, which extends 
to a length unknown ; successive veins of mineral 
are to be found in it, the most of which are directed 
from north to south. This mine has been worked 
to the depth of four hundred feet, and to the ex- 
tent of about six hundred fathoms. In the veins 
of mineral, which are described as being nearly in 
a vertical situation, are found marine shells, peb- 
bles, and pieces of fossil wood, which is said to be a 
species of chestnut. This singular appearance oc- 
curs at the depth of two hundred and forty feet be- 
low the surface of the earth. 
At Poullaouen, in the department of Finisterre, 
there is a vein of this mineral, discovered in the 
year 1/41, and from thence called the New mine, 
which at first promised to be exceedingly rich : 
nevertheless, the vein, from being five or six feet 
thick, divided as it descended below the ground, and 
was lost; but the workmen persevered, and followed 
it five hundred feet beneath the surface, where they 
met with it again nearly in its primitive state, and 
full four feet in thickness. 
But the mine of Huelgoat is the most important 
in Brittany. It is situated on the side of a slaty 
mountain, and has been worked for the three last 
centuries. The lead ore has been traced to the 
depth of six hundred feet, and runs north and south, 
