Madam Katharine Preston Daughter and Heiress of Thomas Preston of Holker Esq Tho' this Digression be foreign to a Natural History yet I hope the Reader will pardon it since I could not well pass by so considerable a Building Some Waters we have which cast up Marine Shells as Latham Spaw did formerly but that being troublesome to the Drinkers has been prèvented by laying Mill-stones upon the Spring so that the Sand and Shells cannot boyl up so high as formerly This is one of the best sorts of Vitriolic Chalybeates and is remote from the Sea or any Salt Rivers whence therefore these Shells come may be worth our enquiry and a clear decision of that may farther illustrate those other Marine Shells found in Marle as the Echini Cochleae Torculars Whilks and Periwinkles of which I have great Numbers by me and took them my self out of firm Marle at three Fathom deep some being entire others broken but all soft and friable yet grew hard as Coral being expos'd to the Air. The Decision of this Phaenomenon in a great measure depending upon the Origin of Fountains I think it a pardonable digression if I a little expatiate on that subject before we descend to the particular Case Springs by the French Virtuosi are suppos'd to flow from the Dews Rains and Mists imbibed in the Earth and afterwards form'd into various Currents which are those we commonly call Springs Now this being a Notion inconsistent with Reason I cannot adhere to it for were this Hypothesis true it would hence follow in the various Seasons of the Year as Summer and Winter they would vary very much in their Currents as to quantity which in several Springs is not discernible Secondly Several Springs are found in Mines in the Bowels of the Earth deeper than the Dews and Rains are suppos'd to descend Thirdly Some Countries abound with Springs where Dews and Rains are never known to fall from all these it is evident continual Springs can never be imagin'd to be caused by Rains and Dews it remains therefore that they either proceed from the Ocean or a subterraneous Abyss The latter of these the Learned Dr. Woodward adheres to and could such a thing be made out his Hypothesis would be undeniable but such a thing as an Abyss being no where to be discover'd in Nature and that what Notions we have of it are only from Moses that divine Philosopher In what sence the inspired Legislator might take the Abyss we pretend not to determine whether the Ocean in general or a subterraneous collection of Waters equal to it and keeping a Communication with it as Dr. Woodward supposes Wherefore we rather assert what the great Aristotle supposes concerning Springs that they have their Rise from the Sea of this Caesar had a clear Demonstration when he Invaded this Island and Encamp'd upon the Sea Coasts where by digging in the Sands he was instantly supply'd with a sufficient quantity of fresh Water which by filtring through the Sand became sweet the saline Particles sticking in the Sand. A Phaenomenon like to this was observ'd when that great General Duke Schomberg Encamp'd upon a Plain call'd the Mels near Hile-Lake This granted then that Springs have their Rise from the Ocean it is easy to imagin how they may bring up Marine Shells and unless this be allow'd I think the Phaenomenon cannot otherwise be fairly illustrated but how this becomes a Mineral Water is from the Mineral Bass from which it springs Against this Hypothesis there remains yet one material Objection viz. If Fountains have their Rise from the Sea how comes it to pass that there are Springs upon the Tops of Mountains which are higher than the Sea since it is evident from Hydrostatick Experiments Water will not naturally rise above its level To this I answer in the first place it is no wise demonstrable that there is any Mountain higher than the highest part of the Ocean since it is suppos'd to be a Globe of equal Magnitude with the Earth Secondly Granting it were so yet it is probable those Mountains lying in the middle Region a sufficient quantity of aqueous Particles might be imbibed by the Earth to produce Springs there and yet this particular Instance does no ways invalidate the general Hypothesis in which is meant the generality of Springs and not each particular Fountain It is true subterraneous Eruptions of Waters especially after Earthquakes as at Port-Royal in Iamaica and at Kirby in Furness in Lancashire have happen'd which have drove down Houses and Rocks of that magnitude that many Teams of Oxen could not move by which it may be concluded there is a subterraneous Abyss of Waters To this I say it is not certain whether these come from the Ocean or from an Abyss and shall not therefore pretend to determine it but shall proceed to what I next propos'd and that is to treat of Mineral Waters In doing of which I begin with those impregnated with Vitriol The Vitriol Spring in the Kennel-Pits at Haigh when I first try'd it yielded an Ounce of Vitriol from a Quart of Water nay it was so highly impleted with Vitriol that any common Alkaly wou'd raise a Fermentation with it and cause a Precipitation The Vitriol it yields is White for the greatest part tho' there is some Green mix'd with it it is not now of that strength several fresh Springs having broken in which yet might easily be diverted of this the Rev d Dr. Wroe our Warden has been frequently an Eye-witness Notwithstanding this Dr. Lister with unequal'd Assurance tells the World Vitriol is not to be found in any Waters in England but that all Waters of a Vitriolic Taste are only impregnated with a Pyrites which we vulgarly call Fire-Stone Germinating in the Waters and this must be impos'd upon the World as implicitly as if it was an Article of Faith in Philosophy For any Man to oppose him he brands him strait with the Character of Mean and Impudent and such like opprobrious Epithets a Language if I mistake not unaccountable for one of his Gown and Dignity For my part what I relate is matter of Fact and the Dr. may be fully convinc'd if he pleases if not it is no fault of mine and since I cannot as firmly believe the Germination of the Pyrites in our Chalybeat Waters as they are commonly called to be like that of Mint in Bottles of Water I hope the Dr. will pardon my Infidelity till he give me better grounds for it at which he has not yet offer'd any farther than a capricious ipse dixit Adjacent to a Place call'd Humblesco-Green in a small Farm in Maudsley is a Spring impregnated with Sulphur and a Marine Salt the Water is extremely foetid tinges Silver a Copper colour by its Sulphur in Distillation a Quart of Water yields half an Ounce of sulphur Salt This Spring no question would answer all the Intentions of the sulphur Water near Knaseborough in Yorkshire either as
Philosophy the Second chiefly Physick and the Third the British Phoenician Armenian Greek and Roman Antiquities of these Counties As for the First There is an Account given therein of the various Temperatures of the Air in those Parts with the different Effects it has upon Humane Constitutions and other Animals The Pressure of the Air is likewise fully examin'd and it 's made highly probable from various Experiments that the Ascent of the Mercury in Glass-Tubes is not made by an External Pressure upon the Surface of the Quicksilver contained in the Cup but by the various Elasticities of the Air in the Top of the Tube The Rise of Rivers Meeres Lakes Ponds and Springs with the Origin of them is here accounted for the Principles of Mineral Waters from divers Experiments demonstrated a full Account of Hot and Cold Baths and in those Waters the different Causes of Heat and Cold assign'd with their various Effects upon Humane Bodies Likewise there is an Enquiry made into the different sorts of Earth and Coals here met with with the Methods of Improving them and the several Manufactures that are or may be made from them the Mosses or Morasses in respect to their Nature and Vegetation from the Plants that grow upon them are examined with the different Trees found in them and divers other Phaenomena ' s An Universal Deluge is fully demonstrated from several Topicks but that there was a total Dissolution of the whole Strata of the Earth at that time is proved impossible both from Scripture and Observations in Nature Whence 't is evident Dr. Woodward ' s Hypothesis is Erroneous as is likewise that of the Theorist I have farther considered the different Minerals and Mettals made various Experiments upon them and have not past over the Methods of discovering an Essaying them the Mineral Damps are also examined with a full Account of their Causes and Effects so are the Diamonds cast up by the Moles and the Vegetation of Sea-Plants briefly but fully illustrated There is a concise Account given of the Physical-Plants with a Rationale of their Effects and Tastes and the Poisonous Plants ranged in their different Classes with an Account of their Causes The Generation of Fishes with the different Kinds of them the Formation of Shells and the Vegetation of Pearls are enquired into and solved besides which you have a Description given of Mineral plants Shells Fish Bones Teeth and Formed-stones with the Causes of them to which is added an Account of Animal-Shells and Subterraneous Skeletons Foreign to this Island as the Stag of Canada the Elk Hippopotamus or Sea-Horse together with some American Canoes found upon the Draining of Martin Meer in Lancashire Neither have I overlook'd the Reptils Infects and Birds of these Parts particularly the Barnacle And for the Quadrupeds they are likewise described and divers Experiments and Observations made upon them The Second Book treats chiefly of Distempers both Chronick and Acute besides which it contains an Account of Persons that have been Eminent for Arms Arts Professions Sciences and Trades for Erecting Hospitals Colleges and other noted Acts of Charity The Third and Last Book relates to Antiquity wherein you will find divers Heathen Altars Sacrificing-Vessels Coins Fibulae Lamps Urns Tyles Fortifications Signets Pagods c. found in these Counties described and explain'd Likewise it's next to a Demonstration from the Armenian British and Phoenician Languages compared together and examined their Deities the Asiatick Manner of Fighting the Eastern aud British Way of computing Time the Reverse of a Coin and divers other Things that not only shew these Counties but the whole Island was chiefly and primarily inhabited by Colonies from Asia long before either the Greeks or Romans came hither As for the Cutts of the Coins and other Curiosities contained herein which will be found to be numerous I have not declined the Charge of having them drawn and engraven by the best Artists I could meet with and I do not doubt but it will appear to be so to the Iudicious Eye I hope I shall not be reputed guilty of Tautology and Impertinence because I have recapitulated some Things now and then for the further Illustration of other Matters And for the Language I have only this to say that I have endeavour d to adapt my Expression to the Nature of my Subject and that in writing of Philosophy Physick and Antiquity the Embelishments of Classick Eloquence is not much to be expected since those must be exprest in Terms peculiar to themselves and to do otherwise were to grasp at a Cloud instead of Juno and instead of reciting the Fact only express the Shadow But after all that has or could be said I know there are some Men of that assuming Temper that there is nothing grateful to them which is not their own but how unjustly they usurp that Authority I leave to their own Consideration and shall only desire the Impartial and Unbiassed to satisfie themselves with the Truth of any Observation recited in this Book and I shall not then despair of their favourable Opinion of me There is one Thing more that I cannot but take Notice of and that is the Unfairness of some Modern Authors in laying down Theorems upon Experiments which were not their own and not acknowledging from whom they had them And this may be observed in the Natural History of Staffordshire and a late Latin Piece concerning Digestion as will appear by Two Letters inserted in this Book I might enumerate more Failings incident to the Humours of the Age but I shall endeavour to evade the Calumny of erecting a Porch larger than the Building and shall therefore proceed to the First Chapter To his Ever-honour'd Friend Dr. CHARLES LEIGH upon his Natural History of LANCASHIRE c. WHen by the pow'rful Sanction of a God From shapeless Nothing and a dark Abode This new-born World and early Nature rise Those shining Lamps and you expanded Skies Then Man was dropt on this capacious Ball Large in it self a Point unto the All His wise Creator never did design His Life a lazy Round and him supine Large Scenes he drew as Subjects for his Pen Worthy th' Almighty Author and of Man The whole Creation in a Choire does move From Plants below to spacious Orbs above Those twinkling Lights we ken in yonder space For ought we know are Globes of Earth and Seas But above all Man is alone supreme Vast in himself he forms a finish'd Theme Thro' all his Structure shines a Pow'r Divine He speaks a God in ev'ry Stroke and Line To him subservient the Creation bows And all its Blessings for his Health bestows Of old what Aegypt and Arabia taught And what learn'd Greece to more Perfection brought What high Improvements After-Ages gain'd And what Industrious Moderns have attain'd In you compriz'd we all their Knowledge trace And new Additions do your Volume grace From Paean's Shrine fresh Laurels are design'd To pay you Homage and your Temples
and so destroy that Acidity of the Blood that may occasion the Distemper The next thing to be consider'd are the Allum and Vitriol-Ores and of these there are various sorts Vitriol is a Salt so denominated from its being like Glass pellucid and of this there are three sorts White Red and Green The Red is found in the Mines in Hungary and the White and Green in Lancashire and Derbyshire The Green is either Natural or Artificial Natural such as is that in the Kennel-Pits at Haigh in Lancashire and in some Lead-Mines near Castleton in Derbyshire Artificial such as is prepar'd from the Pyrites by Calcination and Fermentation Of the Green there are two sorts the one spongy and the other solid but with Galls all yield the same Phaenomena Of the White likewise are two sorts the solid and the Trichites the solid is found sometimes in Laminae betwixt those of the mineral Bass or Shiver as the Miners term it the Trichites is an Efflorescence from the Ores in the form of Hairs and for that reason so stiled from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies an Hair the Ores of these are commonly Bass and as I suppose have their Pores so configurated as not to admit of other Salts and with these Salts we do imagin they may be impregnated from the Bowels of the Earth by the ascending Effluvia or by those Particles which fall from the Atmosphere as is evident from those Stones near Hess-Cassel in Germany which by exposing them to the Air afford at several times a greater quantity of Vitriol than the whole substance of the Stone amounts to The white Vitriol is frequently found mixed with Allum which I suppose might give occasion to some to make no difference betwixt those Salts but they may easily be distinguish'd for the vitriolic Particles will spend themselves in Efflorescences in the Air but the alluminous remain fix'd and then it is and not till then that the Allum ought to be prepar'd Roch-Allum we have at Brindle and Houghton in Lancashire where great quantities might be made those Parts being most modious of any in the Kingdom for this Business since they may be so easily supply'd with that Sea-plant which the Arabians call'd Kali and we in our Idiome Kolp Allum as well as Vitriol is most commonly found in Bass and as we suppose may challenge the like production they differ likewise in their Figure in Chrystallization yet neither of them do at all times shoot into one and the same Figure Here one Question of moment offers it self to our Enquiry viz Whether or no green and white Vitriol be specifically different or only differ in Colour as they are differently saturated with some Ore or Mineral It is certain I have in the same mineral Water observ'd both green and white Vitriol and likewise out of the same Ore both green and white Vitriol make their Efflorescences wherefore it seems probable to me that these two are not specifically different but that the one consists of a more compact and close Texture and the other of more loose Particles I am farther confirm'd in this Opinion because I find that they will both turn black with Galls and are both Emetic The Ores of Vitriol are either Marcasite or Bass the Methods of making Vitriol have been before recited both in the Philosophical Transactions and in a Piece of Mr. Ray's I shall not therefore transgress on the patience of my Reader As to marine Salts they either make their Efflorescences out of some kind of Limes or Bass as I have observ'd upon several Walls in Lancashire and upon the blew Bass in Cheshire sometimes upon old Walls may be observ'd Salt-petre and oftentimes an alcalious fix'd Salt which I take to be the Natron of the Ancients and which we likewise find in some Waters in Lancashire as in those near Townley and Burnley If the Use of this Salt was fully prosecuted it would doubtless be of great Benefit as far surpassing all our artificial Alcalies if we may judge of it either by the Phaenomena observable in it or from those Accounts which the Ancients give of it as Hippocrates and Dioscorides and Vauslebius a modern Author in his Account of the Plague at Grand Cairo assures us of the wonderful Efficacy of this Salt of which he himself was an Eye-witness for tho' Hundreds in a Week constantly expir'd of the Plague then raging yet so soon as the Nitre falls which they know by the Turgidness of the Nile and the fermenting and rising of the Nitre-Pits the Sickness immediately ceases Polyd. Virgil informs us that the first Invention of Glass was by an Accident which happen'd from this Salt viz. Some Merchants who had been at Nitria a place in Egypt where it is collected in greatest quantities taking several large pieces of Natron on board their Vessels and having a mind to go on Shore for their Diversion order'd some Piles of it to be rais'd on the Ground upon which they might fix their Kettles as on Furnaces to boil their Meat but when the Fire grew to an intense heat the Salt and Sand flux'd together and ran into a transparent Glass a Method not much unlike that which is practic'd from the Ashes of Kali how far therefore it might be useful upon this Account deserves our Consideration Rocks of Salt of a vast thickness are frequently found in Cheshire some of them twenty-five Yards or more thick but whence these came whether from the universal Catastrophe of the World at the Deluge or have been since form'd in the bowels of the Earth admits our next Enquiry It is observ'd that such a quantity of Water will only dissolve such a proportion of Salt nor will the Salt after dissolution precipitate if then we imagin these Rocks to proceed from the Deluge we must conclude that vast Globe of Water that drown'd the World to be more saturated with Salt than any of the Brine-springs in Cheshire and if so the Rocks of Salt had been universal over the World Wherefore to me the most rational Conjecture is That upon the Rupture of the Strata of the Earth Islands of those Salt-Rocks floated in the Flood and so for a considerable time might be tossed to and fro undissolv'd and in that general Confusion upon the subsiding of the Water might settle with the rest of the Mines and Minerals and so have continued in the Posture we find them ever since I have before demonstrated that the Brine-springs do not proceed from the Rocks of Salt that are already discover'd but from the Rocks that lie deeper in the Bowels of the Earth or it may be from none at all because the Figures of the Salt are different I shall not therefore insist further upon that Point but pass on to what I next propos'd and that is to give an Account of Allum and its various Ores Allum may be divided into three Classes the Roch the Feather'd and the Trichites the which
Creatures but pretend that besides the Eight Persons included in the Ark Og the King of Basan was preserv'd But to these I reply that whoever considers those prodigious Mountains of marine Shells in Ireland Virginia the East and West-Indies cannot but conclude that they were deposited there by the Deluge and then considering the height of the Mountains and the vast remoteness of the Places one from another that the Deluge must be Universal also But this particular is fully discours'd of in a preceding Chapter The third Opinion relating to a Deluge is that of the Scholasticks who are of Opinion that Enoch who they say at that time liv'd in Paradise was not involv'd in the Deluge But since the holy Writ is silent in that matter and that neither the Aegyptian Chaldee Hebrew or Greek Versions of the Old Testament take any notice of that Opinion I cannot but conclude it erroneous and unwarrantable There was a fourth Opinion of the Jews who maintain that not only a few Persons but whole Nations never felt the Effects of this great Inundation but that the Jews only and other Inhabitants in Palestine perish'd in it but what has been said in answer to the preceding Opinion may serve for this There was a fifth Rank who affirm'd that there was a total Destruction of Mankind at the Deluge yet so as that the whole Terrestrial Globe was not overwhelm'd by the Waters which Opinion is founded on two other Hypotheses viz. That at the time of the Flood the Earth remain'd for the greatest part desolate and without Inhabitants and that all the Waters in the Universe were not sufficient to cause so general a Deluge Abraham Mylius pretends to demonstrate that if all the Waters of the Universe had been sent down upon the Earth they could not have cover'd the tops of the highest Mountains Isaac Vossius approves of both these Hypotheses but since from the vast Beds of marine Shells even upon the tops of the highest Mountains it is undeniably evident that the highest Mountains were cover'd it thence follows that the Deluge must be universal and that Mylius and Vossius are both mistaken The sixth and last are those that have chosen the truest Opinion and maintain that the Deluge was universal both in respect to the Terrestrial Globe and its Inhabitants because the Motive that induc'd God was universal God complains that the Imaginations of mens hearts were only evil continually his Threats likewise were universal I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth both man and beast and every creeping thing and the fowls of the air for it repenteth me that I have made them Hence therefore it is evident from the holy Scriptures and from the Phaenomena in Natural History that there was a Deluge and that this Deluge was universal too wherefore I cannot but admire that the great St. Austin should be so far mistaken as to affirm that there were not the least foot-steps of the Deluge either in the Greek or Latin Writers since the contrary is so clearly demonstrated by Hugo Grotius I shall now in the last place lay down some Hypotheses concerning the Qualities in Plants and so close this Chapter and by drawing a Parallel betwixt Chymical Preparations and the Qualities in Physical Herbs endeavour to give a Rationale of their Effects But this having in a great measure been attempted by Pechlinius Wedelius Sr. Iohn Floyer and others I shall but briefly treat upon that Head and that in the following Method First By giving an account of Emetics and the Rationale of their Qualities afterwards of Cathartic or Purgative Plants Antiscorbutics Balsamics Diuretics Antistrumatics Stomachics Cardiacs Anti-hydropics Anticterics Antepileptics Restringents Opiates Paragorics Alexipharmacs The Emetic Plants are only two Squills and Asarum and both are of a bitter and nauseous Tast first therefore we shall enquire into the Cause of the Bitterness in these and then how that becomes Emetical Bitterness consists in rigid pungent and inflexible Particles pointed upon terrene ones hence the Points by their continual Irritations contract the Fibres of the Stomach and still pressing it by their Inflexibility at length they throw it into Convulsions and so become Emetical or Vomiting Thus we see in a solution of Silver in Spirit of Nitre that the Points of the corroding Spirit being sheathed in the metallic Particles it not only becomes extremely bitter but likewise Emetical the like may be observ'd by pouring Spirit of Nitre upon the Lapis Calaminaris and doubtless thus it is that the Leaves of Asarum are so famous an Errhine and of so great use in inveterate Head-achs viz. Their acrid saline Particles continually pressing the Glands of the Nostrils force them to discharge that acrid Serum which occasions that Distemper The most noted Cathartics are Buckthorn Monks Rhubarb Elder Damask Roses Iris Soldanella Spurge Mezereon Buckthorn is extremely bitter and affords an Oyl and a pungent Spirit neither of which are bitter or in the least Purgative whence it seems evident to me that its bitterness and Purging quality consist in its saline Particles being strictly united with terrene ones and so by that means contracting the Fibres of the Bowels they become purgative Roses Iris and the rest are likewise bitter but they all differ in their Pungency Mezereon Spurge and Iris are both Emetic and Cathartic which sometimes not only cauterize the Coates of the Stomach but the Skin it self if externally apply'd No doubt but by due Corrections these might be made most noble Medicines and the likeliest Method to effect this as far as I can conjecture would be by obtunding their saline Particles by the Lapis Calaminaris or some such Alcaly or if their Vertues consist in an acrid Alcaly a proper Acid might be thought on and I think it would be highly worth our while to make strict Enquiries into these Matters that being the likeliest Method to bring us to a Certainty in the Practice of Physick Before I close this Head I shall only offer two Experiments and then proceed The first is concerning Aloes which by being infus'd in Spirit of Wine loses its Purgative quality but yet retains its Bitterness the second is concerning a solution of Aloes which being injected into the Veins of a Dog will inevitably purge him From which Observations naturally arises this Question Whether Cathartics effect their ends in the first passages or by working Elective in the Mass of Blood as the Physicians stile it I affirm the former and to the first Experiment make this reply The volatile acrid saline Particles in the Aloes being dissolv'd by the Spirit of Wine it must of necessity for the Reasons before alledg'd be depriv'd of its purgative quality yet so as still to retain its Bitterness because it is probable some saline Particles are so inveloped with the oily and terrene ones that a separation is not easily made perhaps not without Distillation or Calcination so that the Aloes in
his Hypothesis but since they amount to no more than a Conjecture and that those Phaenomena may be otherwise solved and indeed that there are so many convincing Reasons to the contrary I am forc'd to deviate from an Hypothesis which I could wish were true The divine Splendor of such an Undertaking as well as the irresistible Charms of his Stile almost commanding an assent to it 'T is true what Mr. Robinson has reply'd to the Dr. carries not the air of an Orator and Philosopher his Language for the most part being grating particularly those unaccountable Terms of the Miners themselves but since Truth walks naked and needs not the Embellishments of Eloquence to set her forth I must needs own that what he relates in his Observations of the lying of the Strata in several Mines is true and exact and tho' Dikes Riders and Leaders with several other Idioms may look rather like a piece of Magic than Philosophy yet surely the things signify'd by these are observable in all the Mines which I ever yet saw But amidst all the Disports of Nature there is none more remarkable occurs than that which I saw among the many and choice Curiosities of my Honoured Friend Mr. Henry Prescot of Chester Deputy-Register of the Ecclesiastical Court there The Figure is as follows There are six Calvae or Skulls contain'd in a Shell with the representation of Hats upon them included one within another with the Brims cock'd up on the back-side of the Head are four rhomboidal Figures an Ellipsis with an Ecliptic Line and the Parallels upon a Globe and branching from those the Vertebrae and Medulla Spinalis If therefore the Dr. will still pertinaciously affirm that those representations of Plants Bones and Shells in Rocks were the Exuviae of real ones deposited there by specific Gravity and embalmed ever since the universal Deluge he may with the same parity of Reason alledge these to have been the Heads of the Antediluvian Patriarchs From the Phaenomenon laid down we may now without great difficulty account for those representations of Shells Bones Fins of Fishes and Plants observable in Rocks and Quarreis and may easily be convinc'd that to solve these there is no necessity to suppose an universal dissolution of the Globe of the Earth at the Deluge but indeed are Arguments conclusive to the contrary wherefore to these I shall only add one general Remark and so close this Head Can it be imagin'd that in that general Destruction there should be such a Menstruum or universal Dissolvent in Nature that should convert all the Strata of the Earth Mines Minerals and Metals into a liquid Form and yet some few Shells Bones and Plants remain undissolved which are of a much softer Texture and as we find by repeated Experiments far more easy to be dissolved He I say that can averr this cannot fairly tax a Rosicrucian with Enthusiasm nor justly blame the Adeptist for his extravagant Notions relating to the Alchahest that Chymical universal Dissolvent which he himself does not believe yet would so far impose upon the World as to have others to do so but for this the Dr. has promis'd to account in his general History of the World Having now dispatch'd this Point I shall in the next place proceed to real Shells Skeletons and Fins of Fishes which are sometimes found under Ground and from those deduce some Corollaries The subterraneous Skeletons observable in these Parts are only two the one an human Body found in the Morasses of the Meales and the other a Skeleton of a Buck found erect in Ellel near Lancaster both which being mention'd in a preceding Chapter I shall not enlarge further upon them As to subterraneous Shells they are frequently found in Marle-Pits about four Yards deep in solid Marle and often in places remote from the Sea These marine Shells are of various sorts as Whilkes Periwincles Cockles Muscles Torculars and the Echini Marini and of these I have several Specimens in my Custody I consider next the formed Stones and those are the Bufonites the Belemnites and the Ophites or Cornu Ammonis so denominated from the figure of a Serpent or the Horn of a Ram. The Bufonites I have seen in Marle near Preston in Lancashire the Belemnites in a Free-stone Rock near Stockport in Cheshire in which Rock likewise are observable several small Pebbles that lie frequently in black Capsulae and as I have been inform'd by the Masons sometimes a living Toad has been found in Free-stone Rock in the like Cista or Cavity which doubtless must be lodg'd there in this following manner It is to be presum'd that the Ovum of some Toad was brought thither by a Spring or Vein leading to that Cavity for Springs are very often discern'd in Free-stone Rocks ouzing thorow their Pores now it cannot be imagin'd that it was lodg'd there ever since the Deluge which must necessarily follow unless we allow the recited Hypothesis Of the Lapis Serpentarius there are two sorts the one bears the Image of a Viper wreath'd up in spiral Lines and that I have seen in the Copper Slates in Furness in Lancashire the other the shape of a Serpent at length and this was found in a Free-stone Rock at Haigh in Lancashire and communicated to me by that learned Lady the Lady Guise As to the Shells remarkable in these Parts they are either the large Sea-Cockle in which I never yet saw Fish the Navel Shells the Turbo the Echinites the large Wilkes or Periwinckles these are cast upon the Sea-Coasts in great numbers there is likewise another Shell which resembles the Scabbard of a Sword and by the Sea-men commonly call'd the Sword-Fish the Echinites has several little Hairs that grow thro' small Orifices but I could never discover a Fish in any of these which that I should not has often caus'd my wonder I imagin therefore that they are brought from a great distance to the Shore by the violence of Storms and that the Fishes in those turbid Commotions quit their Shells Of the Pectinites there are various sorts and those variegated sometimes with red parallel Circles sometimes they are smooth sometimes they have little Protuberances upon their superficies as has likewise the large Sea-Cockle Let us now come to that grand Enquiry of the learned Steno viz. Whether or no Rocks were at first a Fluid and by subsidence of terrene gross Particles form'd into that substance The clearing of this point will depend upon the Phaenomena observable in them and those are chiefly Flints and a kind of Pebbles that will run into a Glass Now it is most evident that these are of a Nature very different from that of the Rock and have likewise never in any Age been observ'd to germinate we may hence reasonably allow that Rocks were first fluid and that different kinds of Fluids did then precipitate by specific Gravity that eternal standard communicated to them from the first formation of Bodies which doubtless did in
Eastern Countries To conclude from all the recited Phaenomena if we will but appeal to our Senses it is evident that Moses's Narrative of the Deluge is not only the most true but the most compleat I cannot therefore but admire at the Theorist and Mr. Whiston who affirm that before the Deluge there were no Mountains In the first place the Arguments they offer are no way conclusive but barely Hypothetical a meer begging of the Question they have indeed supply'd us with polite Schemes and witty Allegories and where they do not by dint of Reason convince us like Sirens by their Wit they charm us but it is not Paint that can long preserve the Features after that is once discover'd the Face appears more deform'd I can no more think the World before the Deluge was form'd like an Egg or that there were no Mountains or that upon the breach of the Shell the Waters gush'd out and overwhelm'd the Globe than I can espouse that wild Notion of the Philosopher who fancy'd himself an Egg and dreaded lest the Heavens should fall and destroy him What Moses has deliver'd upon that Subject exactly quadrates with Nature and from his History it is very clear that there were Mountains before the Flood in the seventh Chapter of Genesis he says the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth and all the high hills that were under the whole heaven were covered fifteen cubits upwards did the waters prevail and the mountains were covered Whence it is plain that before the Deluge there were Mountains otherwise how could they be cover'd he may as well reconcile the contradiction of a Man covering his Head with his Hat when he had none upon his Shoulders and the one Absurdity is as easily defended as the other In the same Chapter that inspir'd Philosopher very clearly conveys to us the beginning progress and conclusion of the Deluge all which throughly consider'd one would think to any unbiass'd Person are Arguments too plain and convincing to be obviated for let us take him barely and literally as an Historian where he acquaints us that the fountains of the great deep were broken open the windows or the clouds of heaven poured down their waters for it rained forty Days and forty Nights What can we imagin those Fountains to be but the Freshes separated by the Earth from the Sea which upon those Convulsions of the Earth when it was broken open issued forth upon its surface And then that great fall of Waters from the Clouds which doubtless incessantly and vehemently pour'd down Night and Day joyning with them might easily cause that general Inundation To those that alledge the deficiency of the Waters to accomplish so universal a Flood let us by plain Text and Demonstration answer in the first Chapter of Genesis when the earth was without form and void then darkness was upon the face of the deep which plainly shews as was asserted before that this Globe was a meer immense Liquid for the Earth surely would have had a Form tho' Darkness had been upon it had it then been separated from the Waters but upon their subsidence dry Land appeared and received a Form wherefore then by a very reasonable Consequence could not that Power that made the first great separation of Fluids from Solids once again cover all with Fluids or why could not the same proportionate quantity of Liquids that could dilute such a Mass of Solids once again overwhelm them but where was then the necessity of a total dissolution of all the Strata of the Earth at the Deluge or why must all again return to its primitive Chaos without form Besides the Evidence of all the recited Phaenomena Moses very readily clears that difficulty for Chap. 7. he tells us that the Ark was lifted up above the Earth that all the high hills and mountains were covered which lifting or floating of the Ark above the Earth and covering of the Hills and Mountains seems to be very dissonant to a Dissolution not but that a strange Catastrophe occur'd to the superficies of the Earth by the resistless motions of the Waters which gave so many evidences of their Power and Universality at that time Again Chap. 8. The waters returned from off the earth not separated as at the Creation and again that they decreased continually till the tops of the mountains were seen Upon the whole I can see no reason why any should so elaborately endeavour to answer Difficulties where none present themselves and that by so quaint a Method as to amuse the Reader by starting greater Having now from Observations in Nature and Divine History given an account of the Deluge that we may form some Idea of it I thought it not inconsistent with my Design to insert the following Phaenomenon About three Years ago near Hyde in Cheshire happen'd an unusual Flood which overwhelm'd the Banks of the River and violently broke in at the Eye of a Coal-Pit the Water in its impetuous Current thro' the hollows forc'd the Air before it which when pent up in the Extremities of those Passages by its Elasticity divided a solid Rock at least 20 Yards perpendicular the Water over the greatest part of the Field appear'd in large Columns not much unlike the Spouts in Africa when having spent its force the Rock clos'd again and all over the Field were to be seen various pieces of Coal scatter'd Hence we may imagin when all the Springs of the Deep were broken up and the Clouds pour'd down their Waters in continued Cataracts for forty Days and Nights in so strange a Convulsion I say from the recited Phaenomenon we may form some inadequate Idea how that terrible Destruction was accomplish'd And since we are treating of Floods I think it a pardonable Digression if I give an account of a Spout seen by my Brother within these two Years in his Voyage to Virginia The figure of it as he affirms was like a Spire-Steeple inverted and hung for a considerable time from the Clouds to the surface of the Sea it afterwards divided and then the Sea was in a most violent Commotion which was observ'd by the flowering of the Water as he stiled it the lower Pillar hung for a considerable time upon the surface of the Water but at length vanished the upper part from the Clouds remain'd longer His Conjecture is that the Spout was not a Column of Water that ascended out of the Sea but a Cloud only that hung down to the surface of the Water and he gives these Reasons for it first because the upper part of the Pillar continued much longer than the lower part after its division in the second place before the Spout appear'd the Air was extreamly dark and by that the Sea-men predicted the appearance of a Spout What former accounts we have of Spouts in Authors are different from this whether therefore there may be various sorts of Spouts I shall not determine as being forreign to this Undertaking Dampier confirms
resembling the half part of a Worm besides various Bones of several small Fishes and all petrify'd or perfect Stone Surely in these the Disports of Nature are very remarkable and to me it seems very evident that they are but the various Contextures of Salts Sulphurs and Earths and not the Exuviae of Creatures deposited there by specific Gravity at the Deluge when the Earth was universally dissolved as an eminent Author affirms since this stratum of Earth contains all those different Bodies viz. Salts Sulphurs and Earths the various mixtures of which shew us diverting Representations as will be observ'd in other Tables so that he who contends for these to have been the Exuviae of those Creatures which they represent must likewise account for the Figures of Feathers and Stars observable in the same stratum which I do conjecture is not easily done taking the whole Matter together I Fig. 4. This is a Stone taken out of the Bowels of a Man in Lancashire and covered with Spunge Fig. 5. Is a species of Coral the Superficies is tubulous and stellated this seems likewise partly to consist of a Fluor and if as in this it is evident Nature manifestly shews her Disports viz. in the representations of Asterisms in Miniature why may she not as well do it in the representations of Shells in Rocks Fig. 6. Is the Ophites or Cornu Ammonis that is the Serpent-stone or Rams-horn found in the Mines in Derbyshire This Stone bears the Figure of the Serpent some of which I have seen so extremely exact viz. those that come from the Isle of Malta that in those not only the external Figure of the Viper but the very Vertebrae Head Teeth and Eyes were most exactly describ'd and far surpassed the Petrifactions of any Shell whatever By the same parity of Reason therefore they may urge these Stones to be petrify'd Vipers as they do those Shells to be petrify'd Fishes which I presume none will attempt lest perhaps after an elaborate Hypothesis he may at last find the Snake in the Grass 2 An Explication of the Cuts contain'd in the second Plate marked FIG 2. Fig. 1. By some stiled a species of the Bufonites or Brain-stone viz. from the representations which it bears to a Toad or as some would have it to the Cortical part of the Brain He who here observes the curious Composure of the Lines upon the surface of the Stone and the infinite Number of small Striae included in them must acknowledge that the Disports of Nature are not to be parallel'd for what can I else call ' em surely no Man's Reason is so totally eclips'd nor can his Forehead be so extremely hard as to assert this to be a petrify'd Brain if he does I am sure I envy not the Product of his own Fig. 2. The Cylindrical Pyrites striated found in the Kennel-Mines at Haigh in Lancashire Upon the superficies of this the striated Lines are drawn exactly like those upon Cookle-shells to me therefore from what is before observed it seems very obvious how the representations of those Shell-fishes may frequently be found in Quarries Fig. 3. A petrify'd Oyster found in Derbyshire Fig. 4. A Cookle petrify'd found in Lancashire this is likewise stiled the Pectunculus Auritus Fig. 5. One of the Echini petrify'd with the representations of Trees upon it as may be observed by the Cut Here again the Disports of Nature are very remarkable for surely none will affirm that ever Timber grew upon this small Pebble Fig. 6. A Cockle of an irregular Figure or Pectunculus found in Lancashire Fig. 7. A Snail-shell petrify'd found in the Copper-Mines in Lancashire Fig. 8. Moss petrify'd by a Water near Manchester towards a place call'd the Collyarsts Fig. 9. A Hair-Ball taken out of the Stomach of a Calf Fig. 10. A petrify'd Pectunculus with spiral Lines found in Lancashire Fig. 11. A Glossopetra or Crow-bill by some called the Sharks-tooth found in the Lead-Mines Fig. 12. A Glossopetra found in the like Mines both in Wales and Derbyshire Here again are extremely remarkable the Disports of Nature for what else can they be termed Can I call 'em the Exuviae of those Creatures before mentioned surely he that has seen that large one in the Possession of Mr. Charleton of the Temple and the great variety of others that are frequently found in this Kingdom some representing the Bills of Crows others those of small Birds and will affirm them to be the Exuviae of those Creatures has a Fancy extraordinary luxuriant and I doubt not but he will attempt to fly and convince the World that Man is not that Creature Plato took him for viz. an unfeather'd Animal Fig. 13. A piece of a Pectunculus petrify'd specifically higher than the common Shell of that kind by which 't is plain that Shells at the Deluge subsided not by specific Gravity Fig. 14. One of the same Kind Fig. 15. The Figure of a Cockle or Pectunculus of a Flinty Substance Fig. 16. Another sort of the Echini petrify'd Fig. 17. A Pyrites in the form of a Pectunculus From all which 't is plain how various the Disports of Nature are Fig. 18. A Stone taken out of the Kidneys of a Gentleman Fig. 19. A Stone taken out of his Bladder Fig. 20. A Shell taken out of the Bladder of a Hog representing one of the Curvirostra Hence it is plain that Shells may be found where Fishes of that Kind never were and since the Formations of 'em and the different Representations of 'em in Rocks may with no difficulty be otherwise solved can I see any necessity from those Phaenomena to infer an universal Dissolution of the Globe at the Deluge So many unaccountable Absurdities attending that Hypothesis Fig. 21. A Stone taken out of the Gall-Bladder of the before-mention'd Gentleman viz. Major Ashurst of Ashurst in the County of Lancashire Esq 3 An Explication of Cuts contain'd in the third Plate marked FIG 3. The Spots in the three first Shells-shew the Germination of Pearls in Muscles that is their Eruption from the Lamellae of the Shell these I have observ'd from their very first appearance to their dropping from the Shell upon the surface of the Fish Fig. 4. Is a Turbo In this Shell I never saw any Fish but I presume it quits its Shell when by Storms it is forced from the Bottom of the Sea where I do conjecture is its natural Abode these Shells therefore being found in Inland Countries in firm Marle do now fully confirm the Disruption of all the Strata of the Earth at the Deluge Fig. 5. Is a Curvirostrum found upon the Sea-Coasts in Cheshire tho' most commonly in India Fig. 6. Is a Pectunculu 〈…〉 with Azurine circular Lines Interpolated Fig. 7. Is a Pap-Shell or Patella Fig. 8. Is a Spar consisting of various Rhomboids found in Derbyshire in the Lead-Mines Fig. 9. Is a Buccinum found upon the Sea-Coasts near Hillbree-Island in Cheshire Fig. 10. Is a Trochus