The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-22 00:00:00

HE SUN, LONDON, THEIRS- NM EVEISING, NOVEMBER 22, 1866.

found by itself is in Borrowdale. One of the prin-
cipal uses to which it is put is the manufacture of
pencils. They being confined to this country is
so well known and so universally allowed that they
are styled abroad Crayons d'Angleterre. It arises
from hence that this substance is little known
to foreigners, the most learned of whom speak of
it confusedly, and with much uncertainty. These
further particulars we may venture to affirm con-
cerning it, without any danger of misleading our
readers, that the mine before mentioned is private
property, is opened but once in seven years, and
the quantity known to be equal to the consumption
in that space is sold at once, and as it is used with-
out any preparation, it is more valuable than the ore
of any metal found in this island. But there is
nothing improbable, much less impossible, in sup-
posing that other uses will be discovered, which
would certainly contribute to raise the value of a
mineral peculiar to this country.
Continuing this historical sketch we find, in the
" Gentleman's Magazine " for 1751, the following
interesting details :—" Skiddaw is undoubtedly one
of the highest mountains in Britain, the declivity
of which, from White-water-dash at the foot, to
the summit, measures nearly 5,000 yards, but the
perpendicular height cannot be much more than a
fourth part of that. Near Keswick is another lake,
near two miles long and four broad, in which several
islands are interspersed, but not inhabited by German
miners. We had not ascended far before we per-
ceived some persons at a great distance above us,
who seemed to be very busy, though we could not
distinguish what they were doing. As soon as they
saw us they hastily left their work and were run-
ning away, but, by a signal from our guide, who
probably was but too well acquainted with them,
they returned to the number of eighteen. We came
up to them after an hour of painful and laborious
travelling, and perceived them to be digging with
mattocks and other instruments, in a great heap of
clay and rubbish, where mines bad been formerly
wrought ; but though they were now neglected by
the proprietors as affording nothitig worth the
search, yet these fellows could generally clear from
6s. to Bs. per day, and sometimes even more.
" The black-lead is found in heavy lumps, some
of which are hard, gutty, and of small value, others
soft, and of fine texture. The hill in which it is
found is a dirty brittle clay, interspersed with springs,
and in some places shivers_of the rock. It should
be added that the lumps of black-lead found in the
rubbish seldom exceed half a pound in weight ; but
those found in the mines are said to weigh six or
seven pounds.
" The black-lead mine is situated near the sum-
mit of the mountain, at the entrance is the miner's
lodge, and there was the principal heap of rubbish,
about one hundred and fifty yards above the one
already referred to, and here were several fellows
and girls at work within pistol shot of the hut. It
appears that in the mine itself the miners work for-
ward for the mineral, and the pits resemble quarries
or gravel pits.