be seen; the cavern then is perfectly dry, and has a mild and gentle warmth. It is, therefore, not surprising that swarms of flies, gnats, bats, owls, and even great numbers of foxes and hares, resort thither, as to their winter retreat, and remain there till the return of spring. MINES, METALS, GEMS, &C. “Through dark retreats pursue the winding ore, Search nature’s depths, and view the boundless store; The secret cause in tuneful numbers sing, How metals first were framed, and whence they spring: Whether the active sun, with chymic flames, Through porous earth transmits his genial beams With heat impregnating the womb of night The offspring shines with his paternal light: Or whether, urged by subterraneous flames, The earth ferments and flows in liquid streams; Purged from their dross, the nobler parts refine, Receive new forms, and with new beauty shine: Or whether by creation first they sprung, When yet unpoised the world’s great fabric hung: Metals the bases of the earth were made, The bars on which its fixed foundation’s laid: All second causes they disdain to own, And from the Almighty’s fiat sprung alone.” The transition from the caverns and caves of the earth, to its MINES, and the various metals and gems they contain, is both natural and easy; and having dwelt on the former, we propose next to advert to the latter. By the word “_mines_” we understand those excavations, in which metals, minerals and precious stones are sought and found; and according to the substances which they yield they are variously spoken of as “gold mines,” “silver mines,” “lead mines,” &c., &c. The richest and most celebrated gold and silver mines are those of Mexico and Peru, in South America, and those lately discovered in California and Australia. Iron mines are more abundant, or at least more abundantly worked, in Europe than elsewhere, though the rapid increase of iron mining in the United States gives promise that our country may in this respect some day rival the old world. Copper mines have been found chiefly in England, Sweden and Denmark; and of late years copper has been found to be abundant in the region of our northern lakes. Lead and tin mines are numerous in England, the latter chiefly in the county of Cornwall; and lead is also found in abundance in the United States. Quicksilver mines abound principally in Hungary, Spain, Friuli, in the Venetian territories, and in Peru. Diamond mines are mainly in Brazil, and some in the East Indies; and salt mines are in Poland.