Of the Portland stones, it is to be observed generally, that the dirt bed is full of fossil roots, trunks, and branches of trees, in the position of their former growth. The top cap is a white, hard, and closely compacted limestone. The skull cap is irregular in texture, and is a well-compacted limestone. The roach beds are always incorporated with the freestone beds, that invariably lie below them, and are full of cavities formed by the moulds of shells and the like. The top bed is the best stone, the bottom one ill cemented, and will not stand the weather. A middle or curf bed occurs only in the southernmost quarries on the cast cliff; it is soft to the north, and hard to the south. The good workable stone in the east cliff quarries is generally less in depth than in the same bed in the west cliff quarries, but the east cliff stone is harder, more especially to the south of the islan 1. The stone, even in the same quarries, varies considerably. That which contains flints will not stand the weather. The bottom bed on the west cliff is not a durable stone, though sold as a good stone in the London market. The best stone is in the northeastern part of the island; the worst in the south-western part. The annual consumption of the whole of the quarries in the island is equal to an area of one acre of the good workable There are 56 stone, or about 24,000 tons. The entire area unworked is about 2000 acres. quarries in the island, and about 240 quarrymen employed, of which number Messrs. Stewards employ usually about 138. (See Subsection 1666f. et seq.)

1665. The following very useful enumeration of the stones used in buildings of the island, arranged under that head, and divided into the sorts of stone employed in them, we add, verbatim, from the Report which we have so much used. The heads are under SANDSTONE buildings, LIMESTONE buildings, and MAGNESIAN LIMESTONE buildings.

SANDSTONE BUILDINGS.

BAKEWELL, Derbyshire. The houses generally are of sandstone, and in fair condition. A new bank now erecting of sandstone from Bakewell Edge.

BAKEWELL CHURCH (14th century), of a sandstone of the vicinity, very much decomposed. BARNARD CASTLE, Durham (14th century). Circular keep, apparently of Stenton stone, in excellent condition. In modern works, the Joint Stock Bank and Market-house of Stenton stone, in good condition.

BELPER NEW CHURCH, Derbyshire. Built 10 years since, of sandstone from Hungerhill, in an incipient state (in parts) of decomposition. BLANDFORD PARISH CHURCH, Dorsetshire (1769). Of a green siliceous fine-grained sandstone, the dressings being of a stone similar to the Portland oolite; the former much decomposed; the latter in very good condition. Town Hall, about 80 years old, of stone similar to the Portland oolite, in good condition.

BRANCEPETH CASTLE, Durham. Of ancient date, of sandstone of the vicinity; recently restored extensively; older parts in various states of decomposition. BRIAVEL'S, ST., CASTLE, Glocestershire. In ruins (13th or 14th century).

Entrance gate

way (the chief remains of the castle) built of red sandstone, decomposed. BRISTOL CATHEDRAL (13th and 14th centuries). Built of red sandstone and a yellow limestone (magnesian?) strangely intermixed; the red sandstone in all cases decomposed, the limestone more rarely decayed; the tracery, &c. of the windows, which are of the limestone, are in good condition; but the pinnacles and other dressings, which are of the same material, are much decomposed. The east end of the cathedral is a remarkable instance of the decay and preservation of the two stones employed. Norman gateway, west of the cathedral (the upper part of the 15th century); the Norman archway and its enrichments, which are of a very florid character, built of yellow limestone (magnesian?), in excellent condition.

BYLAND ABBEY (12th century). In part of a siliceous grit (principally in the interior), and in part (chiefly on the exterior) of a compact oolite, from the Wass quarries in the