The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-02

in attempting to efcaPe into the hole, drew the
trap after it. The owner on Widening the hole
difcovered that il led into dark retreat. His
curioG,y being thus excited, he had lights i'm
mediately procured, which upon entering the
cave, difc overcd new and moi fplendid
fceae to his aftonilhed viGon.
The height, length, width, direction and con-
tents of this fngular cavity have been varioui-
y reprefented by different obicrperJ. Some
have eitimated its length and breadth at feveral
hundred yards. Others have ALIGNED it ftil
more extraordinary dimenions. Some Whole
imaginatous are mot vivid, have attempted to
refemble this cavity under the earth to the
fplendid palaces on its furface they have
divided it into extenive fpendid apartments,
which thev have fancifuliy adorned with
curtains, fetoons, .fophas and Ratues. But
all agree that it is of the mof extraordiu-
airy caves which has ever been dif"overed in
Ametica, and when illuminated by the light of
candles. one of the mott magnificent fpeci-
mems Of natures productions, which they have
ever bche'd.
The roof, the Gdes and many parts of the
Hoor are ltrewed with the mot beautiful petr-
factions. Thefe almof of every fpecies of
form, colour and confidence. Some are as trauf-
parent as Glafs fome are ltreaked, and others
are tinged with the deepef hues. Some are
conical and Others OF the mon irregular form.
Some are is hard as adamant and others are
extremely porous, friable and brittle. The
bats of thefe chryitals is principally eaicareouJ
EARTH or lime. There is not one of them, which
will Grike fire with the flint aud of courfe,
there is no Efeiou5 earth in their competition.
The. formation Of their beautiful chr ftals is
of very eafy explanation. The little fpars
which are occaGonally formed on and under
one of the arches the Richmond Canal. moft
hrkinglv point out the manner of their compo-
cf "A, has Id
bed of lime-aone, and then filtered through
the roof Of this cave, what will follow Either
the water on the roof flows in fuch quantities,
that its own weight force; it to defend 70 the
hoor; or it flows 70 nowly through TIE roof
as to evapora.e or be afforded, bcfnrS il has
acquired weight enough to defend. u the
tiris cafe, the lime which floats in the Eroo II
water will be fucceHivcly carried TO the floor,
where it gradually accumul7tes into a fold
pillar In the latter cafe, thoir ipars will tue
ceiively accumulate on Tire 81. And thus
different parts of the cave 's;!l fo3lsSdes tx
hibit fpars upon its roof, and iometiuiea uPou
the floor.
Ofall the fpccirnens, which we have feen of
thete beautiful productions, one has particular
~ attracted our notice. 1t WAS conical piece
If reddHh colour which fcemed to have
been detached from its baie by Jaw. In lis
thckeh part it was perhaps about 4 inches in
u'dHctSr. upon inspecting Ws O'lol,, IL pre-
tented the fame conGitency, hardness, veins,
& freaks, which are Perceptible in marble.
This fngie fact feems to to lay open the
whole fbt9ry oftbe Formation Of marbles. From
the fhels and other foiiil productions, which
have been frequently found engraJied in the
blocks of marbles, il was e:fy to infer that it
was fafitioHJ and formed iusilanCe but
here is Jingle fact, which points out the man
of its formation. What is it but calcareou
cbrrQ4i, formed ii :he TuaJiTet WHICH mas
been already mentioned, by water palIipg over
!lme-n one beds, and deriving the colours of its
veins from the different colours of the carths
and minerals, through which it 6itrates? Has
it not been a long etablihed fact that lime is
tie BATS of all the marbles
Several of the beautiful chryfals of this cave
are about to be converted into ornaments, as
watch-feals, candefticks and other domef-
tic decorations.
The owner has already confined his trcaiure
uDGcr paddock, and admits no one to enter
it without douceur Of so cents. He has fent
iPecimen ofits various chryltals to the Mufse-
um of Philadelphia.