1809, ] 
time, about a century ago, there were 
generally twelve or fourteen collieries, 
each of which yielded from two to five 
thousand tens of coal annually; which, 
at an average, is about 45,500 tons an- 
nually, not equal to the present produce 
of three weeks. 
Of the Lime-stone. 
The range of lime-stone hills extends 
from Dudley, iv the direction pearly of 
north-north-west; it consists of oblong 
hills; of which the west sides are, like 
those of most mountains, the steepest. 
The most conspicuous are, Dudley- 
castle-hill, Wren’s Nest-hiil, and Sedve- 
ley-hill ; the construction of the two for- 
mer is, that of two large beds of lime- 
stone, standing on the west and east 
sides of the hills, at a very steep incli- 
nation, corresponding with the external 
surface, on opposite directions, till they 
meet and rest against each other, along 
(the summit or ridge of the hills. But 
the last-mentioned hill, which terminates 
the range, at the northern extremity, 
shews these beds of lime. stone inclined, 
at the eastern side only, as I have al- 
ready mentioned ; though it is probable, 
they may exist also on the other side, 
but not sufficiently elevated to be seen 
externally, 
The lime-stone bed, consists of thin 
layers, of the thickness of three to eight 
inches. In the centre of the hills, there 
are large indefinite masses, calied crag, 
of good lime-stone; the beds are sepa- 
rated from each other, by substances, 
called batch, or bavin, which seem to be 
, 4 mixture of caleareous aud argillaceous 
earths. Immediately under the surface 
of the ground, detached masses of good 
lime-stone are found, enveloped in loose 
earth; which masses are called, turf- 
stone. 
Some of these beds, like other lime- 
stones,. contain ahundance of petrified 
“shells, of which some account is given 
--by M. Dacosta, in the Phil. Trans, 
vol. xlviii. Among these shells, there is 
nothing singular, but one very rare fossil 
‘Tepresentation of an animal, called by 
‘the workmen, a locust; by others, the 
Dudley fossil; and by those naturalists 
who designate by peculiar names those 
petrified — shells, although the same 
Species are not known to exist now, at 
Jeast in our climate, pediculus marinus 
trilobos, and anthropomorphites, The 
Same fossil is said to be found in Caer- 
Pathenshire, and in the bishoprig of 
1 A z 
Plan for an Improved Piano Forte. 
387 
Paderborn, in Germany.—See Liluyd’s 
Letter to Rivinus, and Bruckmann’s 
Lpistola Itineraria. 
The lime-quarries in-these hills, yield 
to their noble proprietor a large reve-~ 
nue. | 
(To be continued.) - 
eo 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
PLAN for (2 IMPROVED PLANO-FORTE. 
B HAVE heard, that an organ has been 
constructed, where no ternperament 
is required, the semitones being modified 
to their true difference of sharp and flat, 
by means of pedals. I think the same 
effect may, be produced on the organ,. 
harpsichord, or piano-furte, without pes 
dals, and in a less expensive and more. 
convenient way, by a different arrange 
ment of the keys on the claver or key~ 
board; so that A sharp, and B flat, 
should have a different key each, and 
yet the extreme key be no farther from 
the finger, than at present, I have men- 
tioned my idea, and the method of ef- 
fecting it, to some musical friends, who 
approve it. Part of the plan is, that the 
semitones should be one half .of them 
about £ inch shorter than at- present ; 
and the other haif about 4 inch Jouger, 
and the longer not quite so high as the 
other, above the level of the natural. 
But the principal difference would be in 
the arrangement,’ | 
Your's, &c. | 
ee eee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
; AVING, some years since, pro- 
jected a new edition of “ Tusser’s 
Five Hundred Points of good Husbandry,” 
with Notes, and being now engaged in 
preparing it for the press, I am induced, 
through the medium of your exteusively= 
circulated Magazine, respectfully-to so- 
licit the assistance of gentlemen, who 
are favorers and admirers of old English 
literature, by the loan of copies of the 
editions of 1573, 1580, 1585, and 1586, 
which L have hitherto been unable to 
procure; tagether with any anecdotes 
respecting the author, or observations on 
his work, not commonly known, or easily 
accessible, 
~ Information connected with the subject 
of this undertaking, addressed to me at 
Woodstock, will be very thankfully re= 
céived, and gratefully acknowledged, by 
.'..W. Mavor,: LL: 
Woodstock, Aug. 12, 1809. | or 
et i Ma MEMOIRS 
~ Capet Lover, 
- 
J 
