lations. (Vid note A.)

(The inverted commas and Italics it

shd be premised are all his own.)

NOTE A.-"For many years I have been employed in collecting materials for a more perfect Theory of the Deluge; but the work so grows on my hands, and the science of Geology is so rapidly increasing, and pervading so many other sciences, that I know not either when, or how, I shall be able to complete it: It is my misfortune to differ both from the Oxonian Professor and the great teacher' Cuvier, and several of the Scotch and German Geologists, upon their Diluvian and Antediluvian Theories, and particularly upon their ideas of the primitive non existence of organic beings' of the late formation of man' and what is termed the 'order, or succession in the creation of animals."

[9] "In the month of September, 1824, I visited

with my family,

Torquay, without having the remotest idea of making any excavations in its caverns for the purpose of discovering their hidden treasures, but with the full and avowed design of examining Kent's Hole for a very different object; viz. to ascertain whether it were or were not a Mithratic Cavern; for the Druidical Priesthood like their Egyptian, Chaldean, and Brahminical brethren, worshipped in such cavernous recesses, (whether natural or artificial,) the Solar God, under a variety of names-such Muidhar, or Mithras, Bel, Belinus, Beluerus, Belatucader, the Tyrian Hercules and Ogmius, Cocideus, etc. while the Eastern titles of that Deity were more generally those of Osiris, Orus, Thoth, Budha, Creeshna, Mahadeva, or Seeva, and more than a hundred others. In several of these deep and gloomy caverns, or temples, (which mystically represented the Diluvial Abyss) and particularly in those of Elephanta, and Ellora, in Hindostan, the emblems of the Deus Genitor yet remain."

Mr. Northmore resumes- "In these gloomy temples the Catechumens were initiated and purged of their sins.' Here they saw in representation 'the torments of the damned, and the joys of the Blessed.' Such were the Eleusinian orgies, and many were the scenes of peril and horror through which the Epoptæ passed. One of the most usual modes of Purification was by creeping through a hole or orifice or passage in the rocks, or by passing an arm, or leg, or portion of the body through it, if of small dimension; or by going through a door or gateway; but this could not be done by the Aspirant, without the aid and approbation of the Priest, the door of itself violently opposing' the wicked and impure, and denying them admission' to the sacred fountain of pellucid water.'

It was partly then with this view of investigation that I went to Torquay, A.D. 1824, and having, by mere accident, mentioned this my intention to my brother-in-law Capt. Welby, (there resident,) who had the beautiful work of Belzoni, upon the pyramids of Egypt, lying upon his table, he kindly offered it to my perusal, as thinking it might be of service to me in my Mithratic pursuit, as in truth it really was; for the fact is that the Pyramids of Egypt [10] (as was the Tower of Babel) were built for the same object and mystery; the water of the sacred Nile was brought into them and used for the same purpose of baptismal regeneration, as the natural 'pellucid water,' of Castleton cave and Kent's Hole; and the rock-basins, and stone-bowls of the Nymphs and Druids; and the tanks and reservoirs of the Hindu Pagodas were designated to a similar end.".....

(Mr. N. goes on to state that hitherto his scientific pursuits had been confined chiefly to Antiquities and to Chemistry, and after complaining of the jealousy of Sir Humphrey Davy, Mr. Faraday, Cuvier, Jamieson, &c, who suppressed his name as an original discoverer of Gases, Caverns &c, He again returns to the subject of the cavern.)

"It now occurred to me, that I might, as the saying is, kill two birds with one stone, and extract as many organic remains from our Devonian limestone caverns as the Professor had done in Kirkdale. With both those objects then in view, I hired two assistants (William Rossiter and John Ferris), and

Mr. Northmore was speedily followed by a gentleman well [13] known in the scientific world for his contributions to almost every department of knowledge. Though not the original discoverer, Mr. W. C. Trevelyan was certainly the first that obtained any results of value to science, of which he had an engraving executed on his return. It exhibited simple teeth of Rhinoceros Hyæna and Tiger with jaws of the Bear and Fox-and one or two inconsiderable bones.

This it appears is all that was known of the cavern up to 1825; too little manifestly to satisfy the longing of the public for the fullest information. The existence of fossil bones, referrible to five species, was established, it is true;but in what number, and in what state, and under what conditions, the great body of organic remains {occurred} {appeared}, these were enigmas that this handful of fossils was insufficient to resolve.

It is at this point that my labours commence, of which, though late, I propose to lay the narrative before the public.

accompanied by an able draugtsman, Mr. Gendall of Exeter, I set out on the 21st September, A.D. 1824, with the double object of discovering organic remains, and ascertaining the existence of a temple of Mithras; and happy am I to say that I was successful in both objects; in the former pursuit indeed I have been followed by hundreds, in the latter by none. The baptismal lake of 'pellucid water' the creeping path of 'stone purification,' and if I am not quite mistaken, (for I speak doubtfully) 'the mystic gate of obstacle;' the oven mouth; and possibly one more arcane memorial, sufficiently satisfied my mind upon the Temple of the extensively worshipped, and thousand-named Deity, Belin. But upon this subject no more at present, and I proceed to the organic treasures of the sacred Arkæan Cave..

...

"Upon entering, then, the Cavern, and being at that time a novice in the [11] art of exploring, I began to consider in what part it was most likely to find the expected treasures, and seeing a small recess in the Cavern, of a size sufficiently capacious to hold a large tiger, I began to dig therein through the stalagmitic covering, and in less than ten minutes I could not forbear exclaiming with joy-Here it is; and I pulled out an old worn-down tusk of an Hyana, and soon afterwards a metatarsal bone of the Cavern Bear. About 20 or 30 other teeth and bones were the result on that day; but among them, and what I much prized, were the jaws upper and lower, of either the Wolf or the Fox; these I placed, as I thought, safely in my basket, but upon my return to my lodgings I found they were gone," (a grave charge against W. Rossiter and John Ferris) "and though I subsequently offered a reward to the finder, I was never able to recover them. Such then were the fortunate results of the first day, and my object was complete; for in truth my views tended more to Principles than mere matters of fact, and experiment." (Panorama of Torquay.†)

+["The Panorama of Torquay," By Octavian Blewitt. 2nd Ed., (1832) pp. 107-138. See also "Trans. Devon. Assoc. for Advancement of Sci., Lit. and Art," (1868) pp. 479-495. W.P.]

[Copies of a Plate of "Teeth and Bones found in Kent's Hole, near Torquay, Devon, 1824, M. Morland del et lithog. Printed by C. Hullmandel. London Pubd. by John Murray. Abemarle St. 1825.", and answering in all respects to the author's description, have been recently presented to the Torquay Natural History Society, by Mr. Gardner of Torquay. W.P.]

I had hoped, and it was to be desired, that the subject would have been taken up in the interval by those best able to handle it; and it was in this expectation that I had long laid aside all intention of sending my notes to the press. Other and greater undertakings have retarded the execution of the design where I knew it was contemplated. There remains to me therefore no other alternative than to yield to the duty which my discoveries impose on me, towards science, by publishing an account of what I know of the cavern. I avail myself of the return of health accorded to me by a merciful Providence to record those researches, from which illness not improbably occasioned by them, has long compelled me to desist.

It being my desire to present a faithful picture of this extraordinary repository of the relics of every age, I pray the reader to transport himself to the scene and to follow me through its depths that he may be witness and judge of the facts that shall be exposed to his view. For this purpose it [14] will be necessary to enter into minute details from which a work dealing in general conclusions built upon previously ascertained facts is dispensed-Though at the close of our researches we {may} {should} give expression to the irresistible inferences at which we arrived, our aim is rather to supply matter to others than to speculate ourselves.

[15]

Thus much we thought it necessary to premise before entering upon our narrative.

Occasion and results of my first visit.

To the following incident I am indebted for first directing my steps towards the Cavern:—

Having one morning in the summer of 1825 chanced to hear a friend (the late Captain Welby) express his intention to join an exploring party there, I was induced to accompany him. We found his relation Mr. Northmore, of whom mention has already been made, at its entrance, surrounded by about a dozen persons, among whom were remarked the Commander of the coastgard and his men. All busy in equiping themselves for their expedition underground.

The passage being too narrow to admit more than one person at a time (and that only in a stooping posture) the company entered in files, each bearing a light in one hand and a pickaxe in the other, headed by a guide, carrying a lantern before the chief of the band. I made the last of the train, for I could not divest myself of certain undefinable sensations, it being my first visit to a scene of this nature.

As soon as the party was assembled in the vestibule, Mr. Northmore ascended a rock, from which he delivered instructions to the group around him, respecting the plan to be pursued in their operations during the day. He next distributed the coastguard through the several chambers, and employed himself in passing to and fro, superintending their proceedings-Notwithstanding which there was little or nothing added on taht occasion to what was already known of the cavern- -Indeed no individual with his single arm could do more than pierce the crust superficially, but instead of desulto. ***** had all hands been brought to bear on any particular point, they must have necessarily reached the bones, for there is no part where they may not be found below the stalagmite. After witnessing the complete failure of this expedition I have been since at a lost to explain Mr. Northmore's statement of his extraordinary discoveries on a pre- [17] vious occasion in less than "ten minutes."

The party was however somewhat consoled for their disappointment by the discovery in the black mould, of certain rudely shaped pieces of oak, one of which was immediately shown me by Mr. Braham, the finder. It was about the length and form of the human foot, and hollowed in the centre not unlike a sandal-I accordingly gave it the name which it has since borne of the "Druids sandal "-The designation though applied only in allusion to the lecture we had just heard, was too good not to be caught at and adopted, as it seemed to countenance certain fanciful doctrines then promulgated, with all the authority of an oracle, and since consigned to the article from which ample extracts have been given touching the conversion of the cavern by the Druids into a Mithratic Temple.

Perceiving that it was vain to look for the fossils, without first piercing through the crust which stood between them. and the mould under foot, I betook myself alone, to a spot which had the {appearnce} {air} of having been disturbed. It was one of those perforations in the floor which further observation enabled us to trace to burrowing animals situated half way down the vestibule or Sloping chamber-in a cove on the right against the wall. The mouth was partially choked up with soil of which a heap was thrown up around its margin. It was slightly glazed over with the drop. The earth was of a reddish brown, unctuous to the touch and from the presence of a profusion of recent bones bore evident marks of frequent disturbance

On tumbling it over, the lustre of the enamel soon betrayed

its contents. They were the first fossil teeth I had ever seen, and as I laid my hand on them, relics of extinct races and witnesses of an order of things which passed away with them, I shrank back involuntarily-Though not insensible to the excitement attending new discoveries, I am not ashamed [19] to own that in the presence of these remains I felt more of awe than joy-but whatever may have been impressions or the speculations that naturally rushed into my mind, this is not the place to indulge them-My present business is with facts.

[21]

I pursued my search in silence and kept my good fortune. a secret fearing that amidst the press and avidity of the party to possess some fossil memorial of the day, my discoveries would be damaged or perhaps share the fate of those abstracted from Mr. Northmores basket-I was anxious to send them in the state they were found to Oxford.

In addition to specimens of the five species figured in Mr. W. C. Trevelyans plate there appeared several new ones belonging to Horse, Deer, Hare, Rabbit, entire head of Field rat, (campagnol) and a small feline or cat-with the bones of two species of Bird-But the most remarkable discovery of all was that of the upper jaw of a Hyæna, the bone of which was eaten away close to the roots of the teeth, and even the upper portions bore impressions of gnawing.

The whole was accompanied by bones belonging principally to the small quadrupeds, some of which were fractured at their extremities, as if by the bite of a Dog,-and their barrels loaded with mud

Along with the above was sent a lump of the soil through which were disseminated small splinters of bone and teeth of the Campagnol-The whole was immediately drawn on stone in a superior style by the Lady that executed Mr. Trevelyan's plate.†

This may be regarded as the first gleam of light that was thrown on the condition of the contents of the cavern. My communication was followed by an answer which urged me to follow up my good luck—(Here insert it) ‡

General Geological View of the District of the Cavern. Before entering into further details of the proceedings, it is

+ [Copies of a Plate of "Teeth and Bones found in Kent's Hole near Torquay, Devon, by the Revd. I. Mc Enery, in October 1825. Drawn on Stone from Nature by M. Morland," have been recently presented to the Torquay Natural History Society, by Messrs. Greenfield and Gardner, of Torquay. W.P.] [This letter does not accompany the MSS. W.P.]