1822-1824.] 
DUDLEY CAVERNS. 
distances massive pillars of limestone, to support the 
over-lying hill ; this row of columns gave to the long 
cavern an artistic effect, and the moving human stream, 
alternately hidden by the pillars and re-appearing in 
the free spaces, presented a singular appearance. Very 
peculiar, also, was the noise produced by the footsteps and 
the simultaneous talking of some thousands of people, 
and also the oars of many boats, through the re-echoing 
arches of the caverns ; indeed so loud was the humming 
and buzzing that we could scarcely hear ourselves 
speak. 
“ When we had nearly reached the farther end of the 
cavern, the flotilla of boats was ordered to stop and the 
foot-passengers stood still. Then Murchison, who had 
made these regions an especial subject of his researches, 
ascended to a high point, and announced to the assembled 
crowd that he would give them a short description of the 
geological condition of the surrounding hill. ‘ Silence, 
silence ! 5 sounded from a thousand throats along the cave, 
and in a few moments the buzzing noise had ceased, 
and in its place reigned the most complete silence. 
Murchison’s voice had formerly been accustomed to com¬ 
mand a regiment, and had lost nothing of its penetrating 
power, which under the prevailing circumstances stood 
him and his listeners in good stead. In a clear and 
concise speech the distinguished Scottish geologist sought 
to make us contemplate the conditions of the surrounding 
mountain mass, and to give an idea of the peculiarity of 
the formation of coal in general. 
“ It needed a voice of thunder in order to be understood 
by all present in that gigantic subterranean dome. But 
that the thirst for knowledge of everyone might be satisfied, 
Buckland went to the gallery, placed himself on a mighty 
block of stone, and lectured for more than an hour, he 
and his numerous audience being veiled in the wreathing 
sulphur smoke, upon the subject already handled by 
Murchison, but in so original and humorous a manner 
that he held the attention of his listeners in a way seldom 
witnessed. Next he sketched an extremely suggestive 
6 
