_An Account, how _Adits_ and _Mines_ are wrought at _Liege_ without _Air-shafts_, communicated by Sir _Robert Moray_. A way to break _easily_ and _speedily_ the hardest _Rocks_; imparted by the same _Person_, as he received it from Monsieur _Du Son_ the Inventor. Observables upon a _Monstrous Head_. Observables in the Body of the Earl of _Belcarres_, sent out of _Scotland_. A Relation of the designed Progress to be made in the _Breeding of Silk-worms_, and the _Making_ of _Silk_, in _France_. Enquiries touching _Agriculture_, for _Arable_ and _Meadows_._ * * * * * _An Account, how _Adits_ & _Mines_ are wrought at _Liege_ without _Air-shafts_, communicated by Sir _Robert Moray_._ It is well known to those conversant in _Mines_, that there is nothing of greater inconvenience in the working or _driving_, as they call it, of _Mines_ or _Adits_ under ground, for carrying away of Water, or such _Minerals_ as the _Mine_ affords, than the _Damp, want,_ and _impurity of Air,_ that {80} occur, when such _Adits_ are wrought or driven inward upon a _Level_, or near it, 20, 30, or 40. fathom, more or less. Aswel because of the expence of money, as of time also, in the _Ordinary_ way of preventing or remedying those inconveniences; which is, by letting down _shafts_ from the _day_ (as _Miners_ speak) to meet with the _Adit_; by which means the Air hath liberty to play through the whole work, and so takes away bad vapours and furnishes good Air for Respiration. The Expence of which _shafts_, in regard of their vast depth, hardness of the Rock, drawing of water, &c. doth sometimes equal, yea exceed the _ordinary_ charge of the whole _Adit_. Amongst the _Expedients_ that have been devised to remedy this, there is one practised in the _Coal-mines_, near the Town of _Liege_ (or _Luyck_) that seems preferable to all others for Efficacy, Ease, and Cheapness: the description whereof followeth.