Mr. Edward Browne to his Father [MS. SLOAN. 1868] Sir,

I received two letters from you yesterday, and baue met with a great many more at Venice and Padoua. I intend not to come by Lions or Geneua; the way being too bad to crosse the Alpes ouer Mount Godard, Mount Sampion, or Mount Senis. I think it will not bee worth my staying much longer when I haue seen the practise in the hospitalls. The anatomy is done; it hath giuen mee great satisfaction, not in any thing that bath been said upon the parts, but in seeing the praparationspreparations, which was done so neatly, that I think I shall neuer see any thing like it againe. 'Twas young Marchetti that dissected; hee first learned this dexterity of Sr John Finch, a worthy gentleman, and of great esteem all ouer Italy, and one that in anatomy hath taken as much pains as most now liuing. Hee hath tables of the veines, nerues, and arteries, fiue times more exact then are described in any author. I am particularly obliged to him, hee doing mee the fauour of showing mee the receptaculum 92 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1665. chyliductus thoracicus, ductus Whartoni, and ductus Stenonis, in a dog, which wee got for the purpose. Hee is a great honourer of you, sir, which ·made him willing to doe me a kindnesse, though hee be nice in showing any thing in anatomy. My design as to my journey is to goe directly into Prouence, if the plague be ceaced there, and from thence, as I find opportunity, to Paris, by some way which I have not yet gone. I haue laide aside my thoughts of seeing Germany, chusing rather to be perfect in Italian and French then to understand Dutch also, and haue but a smattering of all three. I think I shall haue Mr. Trumbulls companye againe, at least some part of the way. There is heere an academy; those of it call themselves I recouerati; one made a speech about the last commet, which I read in print. Hee afirms that there was at first obserued a large parallax by obseruation from diuers places, but by some instances in his discourse I perceive he understands not the business, and names places where it was seen different five degrees, but in such a part of the heauen where tis impossible for it to bee seen, by obseruations made from such parts of the earth. But I hope some astronomer will write of it; the relation of it would bee mighty pleasing to mee, haueing made some obseruation of its motion my self at Rome. The best picture that euer I saw, and which I think goes beyond Michell Angelo's day of judgment, is in the refectory of the conuent of St Georges at Venice. 'Tis a marriage by Paul Veronese, upon a piece of cloth four times as big as your Icarus.

Your obediant Sonne, Padoua, March 20, 1665. Ed. Browne.

Dr. Browne to his son Edward [MS. SLOAN. 1848.] March 1, styl vet. 1668-9. Dear Sonne,

I receaved your last letter, Febr. 14, with others which should have come before, but they all came together. I sent to you about xii dayes ago. Yours came together of late, when some have layn by the way a weeke or more, and so they come unto your sister safe at last, and therefore, I tbinck you may so direct them from any place. I cannot conceaue your stay will bee longer at Vienna, perhaps not while this may come unto you; but out of my love and care of you, I would not omitt to send adventure this. For satisfaction of the queries of the R. S. putt yourself to no hazard or adventure, butt leame and make the best enquiries you can of 176 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1669. things in Hungarie, and at distance, by others, and what is neere Vienna or in it, you may observe yourself. Your chief buisinesse must bee to settle a correspondent, who may write unto you at any time and answer your letters, in order to the R. S. or to their secritarie, if need requireth, which must bee some person resident in Vienna, of an ingenious and inquisitiue temper, who make it his businesse to enquire particularly of himself or according to your queries, or what may bee further hinted hereafter. There is an author named Wernherius, or Vernherius, de rebus Pannoniæ, which is Hungarie and part of Austria, who hath writ of all the mineralls and all minerall waters in and about those parts; out of whom Baccius, de Thermis, hath taken what hee writes of such things in Austria, Hungarie, and neere Poland. I doubt whether you can have the opportunitie in any librarie there to looke upon it. You may receave some knowledge about. the mines in your queries by proposing them all, or some, to some of the emperours officers implyed about the mines, which you may find in Vienna, or some practical workmen that hath observed them. Quarries of . . . . . . . . . are probably not farre from the city. The baths of Baden, by Vienna, are mentioned in Baccius, de Thermis. You may enquire of what they consist, and what tryall hath been made of what mineralls they consist. You may enquire about an hot bath by Buda, very hot, which Baccius calls purgatorie, from the popular name. Vitriolun Hungaricum, the best is only worth the obtaining; Cinnaberis nativa, best in lumps; and Vitriolum Crystallinum, and other things you mention; but how you should send them, I see not, sure not by the post, in respect of dearenesse and hazard to bee lost. You must fall in with some merchands that send any goods to Amsterdam, and so putt them up distinctly in boxes; the saline bodyes being apt to relent by moyst ayre; and some smaller quantities of what is singular you may putt in your portmantell. I confesse I should bee willing to receave or see such things. Take as good account, and as particular as you can. Whether you should give any account now, or rather hereafter, to the R. S., I make some doubt; for in your returne you may observe many things, perhaps considerable, in 1669.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 177 those poynts; butt, however, you may signifie them, and write of them, in your letters to mee. You may enquire of Mr. de Bois concerninge thus and myrrha, non arborea, sed fossilis, found at Gradisco in Moravia, whereof you may read in Ortelius his Geograpbie in the cap. of Moravia; read also his chap. De Mansfieldiæ comitatu, where scheyffersteyn are found, and a lake wherin the shape of fishes and froggs are found in stones. I am glad you gave account of so many things in your letters. It was high enough to go up 338 stepps in St. Steph. steeple; and very much that the half moone should stand so longe. The ice showes exceed others in any place. Clusius, the learned botanist, that writ De stirpibus Pannonicis, was over the emperours garden. Endeavor by all means to see his treasure of rarities, and what is remarkable in any private custodie. I am glad you have anatomies there. 'Tis not bard to converse with learned men in those parts. I am sorry the great bridge is broke down, which must much incommodate the citty. How came you to see Rudolphus his glasse, and what credit doth it· beare? Dee I thinck was at Prag in his time. The fountaine at Saltzberg is noble. I could make a shift to understand the Duch writing in it. I like the Turkish foot ensigne well, &c. The Turkish Asper was not in the letter. 'Tis good to see the manner of the executions in all places. I beleeve Nurnberg is the largest towne you have yet met with. You do well to observe fishes and birds, and to learne the Duch names, which commonly are significant, and are set downe with the. Latin in Aldrovardus. By that time you are on your returne, the hearbs will showe a litle in the fields and trees also, which you may take notice of. Enquire what tree that is of which they make musicall instruments; a white waved wood which is called ayre, and sayd to come from Germanie. I bless God for your health, good rencountres and protection of you, and that he would continue the same, is the prayer of your loving father, Thomas Browne.

9 Dee and Kelly were at the emperor's court at Prague in 1585, but were soon afterwards banished from his dominion as magicians, at the instigation of the pope's nuncio. 178 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1669.

What minerall waters you see you may tast, butt take downe none, nor any way hazard the discomposure of your body. We are all glad you have layd by the thoughts of Turkey or Turkesh dominions. Observe the great jaspis agayne, whether of a good green colour where it is worne. What kind of stone is that which stoned St. Stephen, pebble, flint, or freestone? See the emperour's librarie or any other. De Terris Bohemicis you may read in Musaeum Wormianum, terra Bohemica, Silesiaca, &c. whereof divers. I have conferred with some who knowe the country about Saltzberg well, for that is plentifull in mines, mineralls, sallts, sulphur, antimony, &c. Mr. Scoltow is much out of London, at his mothers; cosen John Cradock is constant at Mr. Thomas his howse, at the Sheaf, in Covent Garden. Hee was heere [at] Christmas, and Nancy never out of London. The Bishop, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Dentry, now with the Bishop, Whitefoot, Robins, Bendish, and all friends, present respects. Your mother, Betty, Moll, and Franck, also. I have payd the bills of fortie pounds. I hope you will not bee to seeke for credit, as at your coming to Vienna; but that you may go on upon the former credit, as need requireth, in your returne. Sir Tho. Woodhowse, now with me, presents his respects. We all hope your returne before the hott wether.

Sir Thomas Browne to his son Edward [MS. SLOAN. 1847.] [April, 1682.] Dear Sonne,

I presume by this time you receaved my letter, by Captain Lulman. I receaved yours last weeke, with Dr. Grewe's paper of proposalls, and I am willing to subscribe for one booke myself, and will shewe the paper unto others, and probably some may subscribe, butt others may bee backward, there having been so many subscriptions to other bookes, and some now on foot. I should bee willing to do him any service. You had a kind of fungus not usual, fungus ligneus lanterniforis, like the lanterne of a building; and you had also I thinck the draught thereof. I have also a draught by mee; if you remember not what you did with it, I can send you the draught. It was found within a rotten willowe. Of the Lapis obsidianus Islandicus you had a peece, which I receaved from Island; and I have another peece of three times the bignesse. There is a rock of it in Island, butt at a good distance from the sea, and I beleeve it is not usual to meet with such a stone. Among the draughts of birds which Mr. Martyn had, I thinck there is the icon of an unusuall kind of locust, which was given mee long ago, and brought from the West Indies, butt I never sawe another; which I was fayne to call locusta sonora, as supposing that Odde horny excursion or prominence, running beyond the 3 Probably, "Proposals for printing his Anatomy of Plants," which were read to the Royal Society, March 15, 1681-2, and printed in that year, fol. Lond. 1682. 340 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1682. head, made the sound the lowder. I have the animal, and will have it drawne out, if need bee. Wee all long to heare of my daughter Browne's safe delivery. Pray present my service to my sister Whiting and Mr. Whiting. God blesse you all.

Your louing father, Thomas Browne.

You may well insert that verse you mention, as thus: "The water of the Danube seemes white, troubled, and more confused, according to the expression of Virgil..... That of the Savus, &c." I remember you sent me some good observations of an asse's colt or fole, to give a reason of an asse's bearing so great a burden, of the baying, &c. which you might have well mentioned at your dissection, if you did not forgett it. These for Dr. Edward Browne, in Salisburie Court, next the Golden Balls, London.

An Extract of a Letter Written by Dr. Edward Brown from Vienna in Austria March 3. 1669 concerning two Parhelia's or Mocksuns, lately seen in Hungary.

I received the account of the Parhelia's, seen Ianuar. 30th last, ft.n. about one of the clock in the afternoon, over the City of Cassovia in Hungary. It was communicated to me from a Learn'd Jesuit, call'd Father Michel, who lives at Presburg, but is now in this City. There were two Parhelia's, one on each side of the true Sun, and they were so resplendent, that the naked Eye could not bear the brightness thereof. One of them (the lesser of the two) began to decay before the other, and then the other grew bigger, and continued well nigh two houres, projecting very long rays from it self. They were both on that part, which was towards the Sun, tinged with a pale yellow, the other parts being somewhat fuscous. There were at the same time seen several Rainbows, together with the Segment of a great white Circle, of a long duration, passing through the two Parhelia's and the Sun: and all this at a time, when the Air was almost free from the Clouds, though here and there were scatter'd some very thin ones.

An Extract of a Letter Lately Written by Dr. Edward Browne to the Publisher, concerning Damps in the Mines of Hungary and their Effects.

SIrSir, having been lately in the Copper, Silver, and Gold-mines in Hungary, I hope ere long to give you a particular account thereof; presenting this in the mean time concerning Damps in these Mines; whereof I understand, that they happen in most of them, that are deep; and that they happen not only in the Cuniculi or direct passages, where they walk on Horizontally (by these Mine-men call'd Stollen) but also in the Putei or Perpendicular Cutts or Descents (term'd Schachts by the same.) They are met with not only in places, where the Earth is full of Clay or the like substances, but also where it is Rocky: and one place they shew'd me in the Copper-mine at Hern-groundt, where there has been a very pernicious damp, and yet the Rock so hard, that it could not be broken by their Instruments; but the descent was all made by the means of Gun-powder, ram'd into long round holes in the Rock, and so blowne up. Another place they show'd me, where there is sometimes a damp, and sometimes clear weather. When there is much water in(966) the Mine, so as to stop up the lower part of this passage, then the damp becomes discoverable, and commonly strong. I procured one to enter it, till his Lamp went out 4. or 5. times, in the same manner as at Grotto del Cane in Italy.

Damps are not all of the same force, but some weaker, some stronger; some suffocate in a small space of time, others only render the Workemen faint, with no further hurt, except they continue long in the place. The Miners (who think themselves no Workmen, if they be not able to cure a Damp, or to cure the bad Weather, or make the Weather, as they term it) performe it by perflation, by letting the Aire in and out, and causing, as 'twere, a Circulation of it. In the Mine at Herrn-groundt they did cure a bad Damp by a great paire of Bellows, which were blown continually for many days. The ordinary remedy is by long Tubes, through which the Air continually passing, they are able to digg streight on for a long way without impediment in breathing. For some Cuniculi are 500. fathoms long; which will not seeme strange to any one that shall see the Mapp of the Copper-mine at Herrn-groundt or the Gold-mine at Chremnitz. And in the Silver-Trinity-mine by Schemnitz, I pass'd quite under a great Hill, and came out on the other side. At Windschach-mine by Schemnitz they show'd me the place, where 5. men and a Gentleman of quality were lost; for which reason they have now plac'd a Tube there. The like they place over all doores, and over all ways, where they digg right on for a great space, and have no passage through. At Chremnitz they told me, that 28. men had been killed at one time in 4. Cuniculi, 7. in each; and in the sinking of Leopold's- pitt, which is 150. fathoms deep, they were much troubled with damps, which they remedied in this manner.

They fixed a Tube to the side of the Schacht or Pitt, from the top to the bottom, and that not proving sufficient, they forc'd down a broad flat board, which cover'd or stopp'd the Pitt, or couched very near the sides of it, on all sides but where the Tube was; and so forc'd out all the Air in the pitt through the Tube: which work they were forc'd often to repeat. And now they having divers other passages into it, the Air is good and sufficient; and I was drawn up through it without the least trouble in breathing.(967)

But besides this mischief from poisonous Exhalations, Stagnation of the Air, or Water impregnated with minerall spirits, they sometimes perish by other ways. For their being in these Mines an incredible mass of wood to support the Pitts and the Horizontal passages, (the Putei and Cuniculi) in all places but where 'tis Rocky, men are sometimes destroy'd by the wood set on fire. And in the Gold-mine at Chremnitz the wood was once set on fire by the carelesness of a boy, and 50 Miners smothered thereby; who were all taken out but one, that was afterwards found to be dissolv'd by the Vitrioll water, nothing escaping either of flesh or bones but only some of his cloaths. I am &c.

Vienna April. 20 1669.

A Relation Concerning Quick-silver Mines in Friuli; communicated by Dr. Edward Brown; confirming as well the AccomptAccount formerly given of that subject, in Numb. 2. of these TransactiousTransactions, as enlarging the same with some Additions.

THeThe town of Idria, in the County of Goritia and Province of Friuli, is seated low, and encompass'd with Hills on all sides. A River of the same name runs by it, which although Leandro terms it superbissimo siume d'Idria, yet I found small and shallow at the time when I was there; though upon plentiful Raine it proves sufficient to convey down the Firr-Trees and other Wood required in the building of the Mines, and also for Fuel required in the service of them: And to this end there is an handsome work of Piles made sloaping athwart the River (after the same manner as I observ'd in Newsol in upper Hungary cross the River Gran;) to stop the Trees, which are cut down, and cast into the River above this place.

What is chiefly considerable in this Town, are the Quick- silver-Mines, very well known to the Neighbouring parts, and exceeding useful to many at greater distance.

The entrance into these Mines is not high, or upon an Hill, as in many other Mines; but in town it self, whereby they are somewhat the more troubled with Water, against which they are provided with many excellent Engins and Devices, as at other deep Mines. The deepest part of the Mine from the entrance, is between 120 and 130 fathoms.

Of the Quick-silver of this Mine they make two sorts: The one they call Iungsraw, that is, Virgin-Quicksilver; the other, plain Quicksilver. Virgin-Mercury they call that, which discovers it self without the help of Fire; and is either plainly to be seen in the Ore, or falls down in little drops in the Mine, and sometimes streams out in good quantity; as about seven years agoeago it ran out of the Earth at first in a streame as small as a thred, and afterwards as big as a pack-thred, but ceas'd in three of our dayes.

That also is accounted Virgin-Quicksilver, which, having no (1081) need to pass the fire, is separated by water first in a Sive, and afterwards in a long trough, having very small holes at one end. So that there are in a manner two sorts of Virgin-Mercury; the one, running out and discovering itself without labour; the other, requiring some way of Extraction and separation, though not so high an one, as by Fire.

Plaine Quicksilver they name that, which is not at first perceived by the Eye, or falls from the Ore, but is forc'd out by Fire. And this they obtaine out of the Ore, or out of the Cinnaber of Mercury, which they digg out of this Mine. The Ore of this Mine is of a dark colour, mix'd with red. But the best is an hard stone; which they commit not presently to the operation of the Fire, but powder it grossly, and work it by the Sive, that so, if any Virgin-quicksilver be found in it, it may be separated in this manner, and what doth not pass the Sive, may be separated by Fire in Iron-furnaces; Fifty of them in a Fire.

The Quicksilver-ore of this Mine is the richest of all Ores, I have yet seen; for ordinarily it contains in it halfe Quicksilver, and in two parts of Ore one part of Quicksilver, and sometimes in 3. parts of Ore, two parts of Quicksilver.

I went into the Mine by the Pitt of St. Agatha, and came up again by that of St Barbara, descending and ascending by Ladders. I ascend at one of 639. staves or 89. fathoms. Andreas Siserus, in Kircher's Mund Subterraneus, makes such a dreadful description of this Mine, that it might discourage any from attempting the descent; which makes me doubt, Whether he had been in any other Mine, especially where the descent is made by Ladders.

This Mine, I was inform'd, hath been wrought 200. years, about the same space of time with Newsol-Mine, but comscomes much short in time of the Silver-mine at Schemnitz; and much shorter yet of the notable Lead-mines in upper Carinthia. Some hundreds of men are employed about this Mine of Idria; of which the chief Officers are the Prefect, the Controller, and the Judge.

I heard no complaint of the Damps of this Mine, as I have heard of divers others; Yet the workmen are sufficiently mischiev'd without them: for, though they be not suddenly suffocated, (1082) yet the Mercury getting into their Bodies, they are languishingly destroyed by it. Much less could I hear any news of eitheeither noxious or innocent Apparitions, Virunculi &c. such as some write, and many talk of in other Mines.

In a Laboratory, where the Quicksilver is separated by Fire, I saw an heap of 16000. Retorts of Iron; every one of which costs a Crown at the best hand from the Iron-furnaces in Carinthia. There are 800. Retorts and as many Recipients employ'd together, in drawing over the Quicksilver in 16. Furnaces; 50. in each Furnace, 25. of a side, 12. above, and 13. below of each side.

June 12, when I was there, they carried out 40. Saumes of Quicksilver into forrain parts, each Saume containing 315. pound weight, to the value of 400 ducats of Gold. Though the conveyance be not easy, yet some is sent as farr as Cremnitz in Hungary, for the use of the Gold-mines; and very much carried away Southward. For, though the River by the Town be but small, yet they are not very farr from the Sontius or Lysonzo, a considerable River, which runs into the Gulf of Trieste in the Adriatick Sea.

In the Castle I saw 3000 Saumes of Quicksilver together, in barrels; the Quicksilver being first made up in double leather: And in another house as much rich Ore, as can be distill'd in 2. years, except they have great plenty of rain to bring down the wood; but, the Hills being high about them, it snows at the tops of them oftner than it rains.

The Countrys, through which I pass'd, are singularly well wooded, and well stor'd with fair Trees, wherein, beside such as grow with us in England, are stately Firrs, Larches, Pines, Pinasters, Picea's, and that nobly crisped and well grain'd kind of Acer, whereof Viols and Violins are made: Whereof there is also plenty in the Country of Saltzburg and Carinthia.

Travelling sometimes in the night, we had continually about us a great number of large Glow-worms, which put into papers gave a dimm light like Candles in Lanthorns; and the Aire also full of flaming Flyes, affording some delight to us.

The way unto this place I found difficult; for, travelling from places on the borders of Croatia by Lovitch, I was faine to pass (1083) over great mountains, and coming from it, I pas'd over Swartzenburg or the Black mountain, from whence I descended 10. miles in a rocky Country, and farr more stony than the Cran or Campus lapidosus in Provence; and so to Aidoschini and Goritia, and leaving the Sclavonian behind, entred into the Lingua Fullana, and so onto this Noble and incomparably fortified City; where being yet uncertain, whether I should go to Venice, I would not omit to present you this accomptaccount, which I beseech you to accept from &c.

Palma nova in Friuli June 15. 1669.

An AccomptAccount frowfrom the same Dr. Brown Concerning an Un-common Lake, called the Zirchnitzer-Sea, in Caniola.

Having cross'd the River Dravus, and pass'd Mount Luibel in the Carnick Alpes, by that noble passage, cut through the RooksRocks, and vaulted like that of Pausilype near Naples, I had a desire to take a view of the Lake of Zirchnitz, so much spoken of, and written on by so few; and therefore I went unto Crainburg upon the River Savus, and so to Labach, the chief City of Carniola; from whence I continued my Journey in Carniola betwixt the Hills and a great Marsh, till I came to Brounizza, two leagues from whence and beyond the Hills is seated the said Lake, receiving that name from Zirchnitz, a town of about 300. houses.

This Lake is near two German Miles long, and one broad. On the South-side thereof lyes a great Forrest, wherein are many Deer, and wild Boares, Wolves and Bears. On the North side the Country is flat; but the whole Valley is encompassed with Hills, at some distance from it.

This Lake is well fill'd with Water for the greatest part of the Year; but in the Month of June it sinketh under ground, not only by percolation or falling through the pores of the Earth, but retireth under ground, through many great holes at the bottom of it: And in the Month of September it returns by the same, and so in a very short time fills up the Valley again.

As the time of the waters Descent is short, especially when (1084) the Lake grows lower, and hath for a while shewed some abatement, so the Ascent and return is speedy; for at these holes it mounteth with such violence, that it springs out of the ground to the height of a pike, and soon covers the tract of Earth again.

And this piece of ground in the time of the retirement and absence of the Water is not unfruitful, but by a speedy and plentiful production of Grass yieldeth not only a present sustenance for the beasts of the field, but a good provision of hay for the cattle in the winter.

Nor have the Inhabitants thereabout only the benefit of the ground by these Commodities, but also the recreation and profit by Hunting. For at the time of the waters absence, Hares, Deer, Boares and other Animals come into it out of the neighbouring Forrest and Country, and are taken several wayes by them.

The Lake is not only thus fill'd with water, but every year well stored with Fish. The Prince of Eckenberg is Lord of it and of much Country thereabout: But upon restoring of the waters all have liberty to Fish; and the fishermen, standing up to the wast at the holes before-mentioned, intercept the passage of the Fish, and take a very great number of them, which otherwise would be secure for some Months under the Earth, and not fall to return in September.

The Fish of this Lake have a closer habitation than those of any other I know; for, they pass some Months under the Earth, and a good part of the Winter under Ice. I could not learn, that there were any Otters in this Lake, (which otherwise must probably have taken the same Course with the fish;) nor that there were any remarkable extraneous substances, any Vegetables, or unknown Fishes brought up by the water, but those which come up are of the same kind with those which descended.

But beside these holes at the bottom of the Lake (of which there are many) there are also divers Caverns and deep places in the Country of Carniola, even where there is no water; after the like manner as we have in the Peack-country, and at Elden-hole in England.

(1085)

Halfe an English mile nearer the Lake than the town of Zirchnitz, stands a village named Seadorf, and neigher to the Lake than this, another village called Niderdorf, that the ground sinks in several places upon the sudden retiring of the Lake; and the aforesaid Prince of Eckenburg was once so curious, as to descend into one hole, through which he passed under an Hill, and came out on the other side; as I was informed by Monsieur Andreas Wiser the present Judg of Zirchnitz, and also by Johanes Wiser, who hath formerly held the same place.

The people who are acquainted with the Lake, wet and dry, know where they are, and have a particular knowledge of the eminencies, vallies and inequalities of it: for, the bottom of the Lake is not even, or near about the same depth, but sometimes two foot, and then suddenly twenty yards deep. And because the Fish haunt the deep places more than the shallows; they have given names to the 7. chiefest cavities or valleys in the Lake.

I took boat at Niderdorf, and went divers miles on the Lake, passing over the five first valleys. I went also to a noted Stone, commonly called the Fishers-stone, which hath somewhat of the use of the Nilescope-pillar at Grand Cairo; for by a certain appearance of that, they conjecture how soon the Lake will retire. I also passed by a noted Hill, which, when the Lake is high, becomes a pleasant island; and so I returned, &c.

Venice June 20. 1669.

Concerning the Mines, Minerals, Baths, &c. of Hungary, Transylvania, Austria, and other Countries neighbouring to those.

The Directions and Inquiries, as they were, some time since, recommended by the Publisher to the care of the Ingenious and Learn'd Dr. Edward Brown (Son to that deservedly famous Physitian Dr. Thomas Brown, and Fellow of the Royal Society) travelling in Germany, Hungary, TurkyTurkey, &c; are these.(1190)

To inquire in Hungary, Transylvania, Austria, and the other Countries thereabout, what is observable there, as to Minerals, Springs, Baths, Earths, Quarries, Metals; especially the kinds, qualities, and vertues of Mineral waters. Whether there be any medicated Earths. And what Coals, Salt-Mines, or Salt-Springs, Allom, Vitriol, Sulphur, and Antimony, those parts afford.

To inquire particularly, and to procure some of all the several sorts of Antimony, and Antimony-Ore, to be found in Hungary.

To procure some of the best Hungarian Vitriol, the Cinnabaris nativa; as also of the true Gold and Silver-Earth or Ore, said to be found at Cranach in Hungary.

To inquire after, and send over some of that kind of Vitriol, which by credible persons is affirmed to be found chrystallized in Transylvania.

To get a particular accompt of the Salt-Pits in Transylvania, which are said to yield two sorts of perfect Salt, the one being a Sal Gemmæ, the other, a common Table-Salt. To observe, how deep these Salt-Mines lie from the surface of the ground. How deep they have been digg'd hitherto. What damps are met with in them? &c.

(1191)

These are the Queries; to which we shall now subjoyn the Answers of the above-mention'd curious Travailer, as they were imparted by him at several times, according as he had occasion to inform himself, when he was in those Parts, about such matters.

— I have not been unmindful of the Inquiries, you were pleas'd to honour me with upon the accompt of the Royal Society; and in Answer to them, I shall first acquaint you with what I found and learn'd of the Salt-Mines: concerning which I now present you with those two kinds of Transylvania Stone- Salts, which you mention'd; and also with Salts out of the Mine at Eperies in Upper Hungary; together with some accompt of that Mine.

Of the Sal Gemmæ I have sent you four pieces, and a stone of Salt, as it was taken out of the Mine, which, if you please, for your further satisfaction, to break with an Hammer, you will find it to split into Tables or Parallelepipedons in your hand.

With these comes along a Specimen of that Mineral Salt, which is commonly used at Table. This is found in most of the Salt-Mines, as in that of the County of Maromarus, nigh to the Castle of Hust; and in one at Des, in two at Forda, in two at Calos, in two at Szick, and in one at Dizaknel.

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The Colour of the ordinary Stone-Salt of this Mine is not very white, but somewhat grey; yet being broken and grind(1193) ed to powder, it becomes as white as if it were refin'd: And this Salt consists of pointed parts or fossets. Another sort of Salt there is also, which consists of Squares and Tables; and a third, to be found of somewhat stirious or long shoots.

Nor is all the Salt of this Mine of one colour, but of divers; that which is found grossly mixt with the Earth, receives some colour from it. And even that, which is most pure, and resembleth Chrystal, doth often receive Tinctures of several colours. In the middle of a Chrystal-Salt with long shoots, I have seen a delicate blew; and Count Rothal hath a large piece of a fair yellow. There are also some pieces very clear and transparent, so hard, that they carve them into divers Figures, as Crosses, Crucifixes, and others. Of each of these I have obtain'd a piece, and present the same unto you** These are now in the Repository of the Royal Society; as are also the several Specimens of Ores, hereafter mention'd.; but cannot omit to advertise you, that, whereas these Salts, though kept without care, remain'd dry for many months in other Countries, yet they began somewhat to relent soon after I came into England; and if they be kept in a Stove, or very hot place, they will be apt to lose their Transparency. I could not hear of any Damps in this Mine.