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conduct me accordingly we crossed the water in a small
boat and there was the Baron's English charriot with
six fine horses which had been transported over the
river broader than the Thamesat London in floats.
We drove to the Commander's of the Saltworks, who
went round with me to shew
all the works and particularly
a new boiling k pan an invention of a common
peasant who was directing the execution of it
at his own expence in hopes of a reward in case of its succeding
The Commander of the works gave me Models
of the set of instruments used to make in boring the salt holes
with and after promising to spend a day with him
at my return from the remaining part of my
expedition, we hastened to get back to the Baron's
to dinner. When we came to cross the water again
instead of the small boat we had come over in, was a
monstrous house barge something in the of
those of the London companies rowed with 14 oars
and decked with colours. When we came near clolanding a number of Guns were fired in salute
from the shoreside. — But you will have all
this in my journal one day or other I must rely
tell you that in the evening I set out for the
Cavern in which I spent 2 days and a night as
I found when I came out, for all is darkness there
and I happened not to have my watch with me.
The entrance to this cavern might well put one in
mind of poor Gil Blas's residence. Tis true it was not
covered with a trap door; but the hole was so small
that such a precaution would have been unnecessary.
Although there was straw on the ground, it was necessary
to pull off all but a waistcoat, not to run the hazard
of sticking by the way. Thus prepared we, one after another
crawled on our bellies <gap/?> crawled for 8 or 10 fathoms: we then were
able to raise ourselves up upon our hands & knees; soon after upon our feet
in a stooping position; and in about a humdred fathoms came to
a spacious vaultlike opening. As you may imagine, it
was much warmer than above ground. My company
consisted of my Interpreter & servant with 8 or 9 peasants
some of whom had been here several times & had penetrated as far as their fears
would let them. These agve an account of a lake into
which they had seen or rather heard something plunge at
their approach. this something no one had attempted to pass
this lake. The hill or rock in which this cavern is formed
consists of a calcareous stone of a greyish colour. The ate from
above as it filters through into the cavern forms stalactites
and crystals of various figures. It is in search of such curiosities
that people have been from time to time sent here. I went part
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Identifier: | JB/539/268/002"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539. |
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1782-01-02 |
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539 |
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268 |
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002 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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