Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/174

 the footing about the Pitt; which is guessed to be the natural height of the Ground, though the Bank be 6. foot higher, accidentally raised by rubbish of long making Salt, or Walling, as they call it, In other places the Springs lye much shallower for in two places within our Township the Springs break up so in the Meadows, as to frett away not only the grass, but part of the earth, which lyes like a breach, at least halfe a foot or more lower than the turfe of the Meadow, and hath a Salt liquor, ousing, as it were, out of the mudd, but very gently.

2. What kind of Country 'tis thereabout, where the Springs are, whither Hilly &c.; And what Plants grow near them? Our Country is generally at low ground, witness the name given to it (the Vale Royal of England;) yet 'tis very full of Collicular Eminencies, and various Risings, to distinguish it from being all Meadow. We have also a peculiar sort of ground in this County and some adjacent parts, which we call Moẞes: and they are a kind of Moorish boggy ground, very stringy, and fatt: which serveth us very well for Turfs, cutt out like great Bricks and dried in the Sun, And this kind of ground is so much here, that there are few Townships but they have their particular Mosses. In these is found much of that Wood we call Firr-wood, which serves the Country-people for Candles, Fewel, and sometimes for small Timber-vses; and this the Vulgar concludes to have layn there since the Flood. But generally these Mosses seem to be places undermined by some Subterraneous streams; or by the dissolution of some matter, that made them equal with the rest of the ground formerly: in which conjecture I am confirmed by this, That neat a place of My Lord Cholmomdeley's, called Bilkely, about 9. or 10. years since, not far from one of these Mosses, without any Earth-quake, fell in, a piece of ground about 30. yards over, with an huge noise, and great Oakes growing on it fell with it together; which hung first with part of their heads out, afterwards suddenly sunck down into the grounds, so as to become invisible: Out of which Pitt they drew Brine with a pitcher tyed to a cart-rope, but could then find no bottom with the ropes they had there: Since, the Pitt is filled up with water, and now doth not taste Salt, but a very little brackish, a very small rindlet pulling through it. The