had found the little implements and tools belonging to this dimi-1
nutive race o f fubterraneous fpirits *.
T h e beds o f coal are nine or ten feet f h i c k : and dip to the I
weft one yard in e igh t. In various parts are great bars o f ftone, I
which c u t o f f the co a l: i f they bend one way, they influence I
the coal to rife above one’s head ; i f another, to fink beneath the I
feet. Operations o f nature paft my ik ill to unfold.
Reach a place where there is a very deep de fcen t; the colliers I
call this Hardknot, from the mountain o f that n am e ; and another!
Wrynafe. A t about eighty fathoms depth began to fee the work-1
ings o f the rods o f the fire-engine, and the prefent operations -of I
the colliers, who wo rk now in iecurity, for the fire-damps, for-l
merly io dangerous, are almoft overcome; at prefent they are pre-1
vented by boarded partitions, placed a fo o t diftant from the fides,|
Which caufes a free circulation o f air th ro u gh ou t: bu t as ftillj
there are fome places not capable o ffu c h conveniencies, the colliers,!
who dare not venture with a candle in fpots where fire-damps are!
fuppofed to lu rk , have invented a curious machine to ferve the!
purpofe o f lights : it is what they call a fteel-mill, confifting of s|
fmall wheel and a handle; this they turn with vaft rapidity againftl
a flint, a n d the great quantity o f fparks emitted, not only ferves
» The Germans believed in two fpecies; one fierce and malevolent, the other«
gentle race, appearing like little old men, drelTed like the miners, and not much
above two feet high: thefe wander about the drifts and chambers of the world,!
feenrperpetually employed, yet do nothing; fome feem to cot the ore, or flingwhat
is cut into veffels, or turn the windlafs; but never do any harm to the miners, except
provoked-: as the fenfible Agricola, in this point credulous, relates in his book,
At Jmmantibus/ultcrraneii•
Tor a candle, but has been found of fuch a nature as not to fet
jfire to the horrid vapour.
v fo rm e r ly the damp or fie ry v a p o u r was con v e y ed thro* p ip es
to the open air, and formed a te r r ib le illum in ation d u r in g n igh t,
like the eruptions o f a vulcano; and b y its heat w ate r c o u ld be
b o ile d : the m en .w h o w o r k e d in it inhaled in flam m ab le a ir , and,
j f they breathed a g a in fi a can d le , p u ffed o u t a fie ry ftream ; fo
th a t I m ak e no d o u b t , was th e e xp e r im en t mad e , th e fame
phcenomenon w o u ld appear as John Grub * a ttr ib u ted to m y i l lu s trious
countryman P e n d r a g o n , c h ie f o f Britons.
» Reached the extremity o f this black journey to. a place near two
miles from the entrance, beneath the fea, where probably fhips
were then failing over us. Returned up the laborious afcent, and
was happy once more to emerge into day-light.
T The property of thefe works, as well as the whole town, is in
Sir James Lowther, who draws from'them and his rents o f the
buildings fixteen thoufand pounds a year; whereas his grandfather
only made fifteen hundred. The prefent Baronet has inftituted
here a charity of the moft beautiful nature, ufeful, humane and
unoftentatious. He always keeps filled a great granary o f oats,
which he buys from all parts; but never difpofes of, while the
markets are low ; but the moment they rife above five fhillings the
Cumberland bufhel, or three IVinchcJier meafures, he inftantly opens
his ftores to the poor colliers and artificers, and fells it to them at
five fhillings, notwithftanding it might have coft him. feven : thus
happily difappointing the rapacity of thtvulturine monopolizer.
* Dr. Ptrcj/’ s Antient Songs, zd cd. IQ. 313.
I Leave