of shale already mentioned. It has been satisfactorily proved by experiment that sulphate of soda, dissolved in water, is decomposed, under some circumstances, by vegetable matter; the water yields oxygen to the carbon of vegetables, forming carbonic acid, part of which, with the soda formerly in a state of sulphate, constitutes carbonate of soda, and the remainder is found in the state of gas. The hydrogen of the same portion of water, and the sulphur from the sulphuric acid, form sulphuretted hydrogen. If we suppose that the carbon of carbonaceous shale performs the same office, it will account for the production of the sulphuretted hydrogen and the carbonic acid gases. And it deserves to be mentioned, in corroboration of this view, that those springs at Harrogate which yield most sulphuretted hydrogen, contain no sulphates, while in those in which, from the absence of that gas, such a process has evidently not taken place, the sulphates abound. Indeed, sulphate of soda, except where much sulphuretted hydrogen is present, generally accompanies the muriate or chloride.

The diseases in which this water, and others of the same class, have been found beneficial, will be afterwards enumerated, together with proper direc tions for their use.

No. 2. THACKWRAY'S GARDEN SPRING, Of Crown Spa, is situated about two hundred yards from the Old Sulphur Well, nearly in a line with it, and in the lowest part of the valley in the garden at the east-end of the Crown Hotel. It was discovered about thirty years ago, and the water was used to supply the baths, until analysed, in 1823, by Mr. West. The result of that analysis, corroborated by the present, proves that it is greatly superior in strength to any other of this class, except the Old Well. Both contain the same ingredients, solid and gaseous; the New Well has the greatest impregnation of the gases, the Old Well contains more salt. Over this valuable spring the late Mr. Thackwray, the proprietor, erected a small but handsome building, in the style of a Chinese Temple, and changed the garden and some surrounding land into pleasure grounds.

Its qualities being so similar to the former, it is almost unnecessary to add that its effects are the same. Being private property, it is protected from those acts of wantonness and mischief, to which, from their exposed situation, it is to be regretted, the other wells are occasionally liable.

No. 3.-CRESCENT NEW PUMP.-This is in the garden, immediately to the west of the Promenade: Room, and about one hundred yards from the Old

Well. I was induced to analyse this spring with great care, from an impression at one time received by tasting the water, that it was almost free from saline contents, and merely impregnated with sulphuretted hydrogen gas; thus resembling the springs at Dinsdale, Croft, Middleton, Askern, and some other places which have acquired considerable reputation from this impregnation alone. The taste which it at that time conveyed, might have been occasioned by over water in the well; yet not only from the taste but the analysis, it is at present much stronger in saline contents than the water at any of the above-mentioned places. It is seldom used internally, but forms an excellent water for baths. Where water, weaker in salt than the two former, and well supplied with the gases, is judged proper, this can with propriety be recommended.

No. 4. THE KNARESBOROUGH or STARBECK SPA, though the weakest in mineral contents, is by no means the least important water in this class. It is the only sulphur spring used which is not at, or immediately adjoining, Low Harrogate. At nearly an equal distance from Harrogate and Knaresborough, it is situated in the latter township, about two hundred yards from the road, and close to the beck of the same name. Though

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probably the first sulphur spring known and used in the district, being mentioned by Dr. Dean, it appears gradually to have been neglected as the wells at Harrogate increased in celebrity.* Its waning honours, however, were not allowed the melancholy consolation of undisturbed retirement. In a small brochure written by its zealous guardian, Mr. Calvert, it is pretty distinctly intimated, that from a species of self-interest or rivalry, almost too petty to be noticed, unless from the effects produced, the ancient covering and stone basin were removed, and the spring itself, if not sown with salt, was at least literally ploughed over, and the water drained into the adjoining. rivulet. "The gifts of the Supreme Being are not to be thus perverted (observes Mr. Calvert); in process of time the spring again made its way to the surface, and some individuals, finding it useful

There is some doubt whether the following racy passage from old Fuller in his "Worthies of England," published 1662, was intended for this or the Old Sulphur Well-it is in some respects applicable to either. "Not far off, (" the Tewit Well,") is a Sulphur Well which "hath also the qualities of saltness and bitterness; the stench whereof, "though offensive, (patients may hold their nose and take wholesome "physick,) is recompensed by the virtues thereof: ma-much (as my "author, Dr. French saith) it heateth and quickneth the stomach, "bowels, liver, spleen, blood veynes, nerves, and indeed the whole body, insomuch that it consumes crudities, rectifieth all cold dis"tempers in all parts of the body, causeth a good digestion, cureth the dropsy, spleen, scurvy, green-sickness, yout. And here it is "high time to hold still, for if this last be true, let that disease which formerly was called dedecus medicine, be hereafter termed decus #6 fontis Knaresburgensis.”

for their purpose as bathing water, formed a pond for the purpose of leading away the water as occasion required." No sooner was it found useful than the rival townships, or their legal guardians laid claim to its possession. How long or with what weapons it was disputed we need not now enquire. The inclosure act, to which I have alluded, seems to have given the award to Knaresborough, the inhabitants of which ancient and loyal town contented themselves by occasionally staking out the ground; but nothing further was done during forty years, until the spring of 1822, when a grand movement was made, principally, I believe, at the unwearied instigation of Mr. Calvert, by the whole town of Knaresborough in its behalf. A numerous public meeting was held, subscriptions collected, and on the 23d of May, the foundation-stone of the present neat and now permanent fabric was laid with due masonic honours. I have pleasure in recording this united and systematic effort, which has led to the erection of the most complete edifice of the kind in the neighbourhood. A cottage, with shrubberies and garden, kept in excellent repair, hot and cold baths at a moderate price, and a chalybeate spring, to be afterwards noticed, complete the establishment of Knaresborough Spa..