L 54 ] 
dcularly claim the Attention of the Ladies: Many 
of them are very icarce and valuable, others re¬ 
markably beautiful. 
To proceed with fome Degree of Regularity, i 
fhall tirft take Notice of the Contents of the Repo- 
fitories or Cabinets round the Room, beginning 
with hat on which is inferibed 
Stalactites. Thefe are a Kind of Stones formed 
by Droppings of Water, which being impregnated 
with certain ftony Particles, by Degrees petrifies, 
and grows to the Hardnefs ot a Spar, and confifts 
of fcveral Coats. Under this Head are compre¬ 
hended all the various Kinds of Incruftatipns, petri¬ 
fied Ificles, Peas-ftones, and other Kinds ot Spars, 
that do not fh >ot trom the Subftance of the Rock, 
bur infenfibly encreale in Bulk, preferving always 
a fmooth and curious Surface. They are tor tfie 
mo ft part found in iubrerranean Caverns, in Grpt- 
tos on the Appenine and Pyrenean Mountains, in 
. t)erby(l:ire , and many other fuch like Places; fome 
of them referable Sugar Plumbs, and are called 
Confetti di Tivoli. Thefe are of the Kind of Spars 
called Stalagmodiaugia. 
We muft here add the Ludus Helmontii , or Wax¬ 
en Veins, as they are often called. This Stone 
confifts of feveral Pebbles bedded in a Mafsof pure 
Earth which is grown to the Hardnefs of a Stone. 
It is to be obferved, that the Matter which forms 
the Bed, and by which the Pebbles are fo ftrongly 
joined and cemented together, is of a purer Nature 
than the Pebbles themfelves are. This is not un- 
frequently found in many Parts of England , and is 
of confiderable Value. 
Under this Title are depofited a human Skull 
and a Sword, botn of which are compleatly covered 
over and mcrufted with the fame ftony Subftance to 
a con- 
d -■ 
