OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 5

incloſed vales) and tothe moors north of Rothbury.— They aréè not marked by any ſtriking irregularities of ſur- face, being in general extenſive, open,‘ſolitary waſtes, growing little elſe but heath, and affording a hard fubßfiſ- fi

tence to the flocks that depaſture them.

SECT. 5— Minerals.

Coal—is found in abundance thro’ the greateſt part of this county, particularly in the lower diſtriéÆt; in the ſouth-eaſt quarter it is of the beſt quality,* and the moſt numerous and thickeſt ſcams, from whence thoſe: vaſt

quantities are exported which ſupply the great conſump- tion of the London market, as well as the coaſting and foreign trade.— This coal trade is the foundation of the commerce of the county, and the principal ſource of its

wealth, as well as a never-failing nurſery for ſome of the

: Of

beſt ſeamen in the Britiſh Navy.—Of the quantity coals raiſed in this county, we have not been able to form a probable conjecture, for want of ſufficient data to efi- mate the quantity uſed at home; but have obtained what are exported from the River Tyne, in which a confider- able portion raiſed in the county of Durham is included, and which may probably come near a balance for thoſe conſumed in this county.—Some idea of the magnitude of this trade may be formed by the following ſtatemenc of, j

The Exports of Coals from Newcaftle:

In 1772 351890 Newcaſtle chaldrons 1776 380000 T791 4449099 1792 4909682

LA

* The coals found in this diſtri@ are of the variety called cating coals,” which melt in the fire, burn to a-ſtrong ciúder in

the open air, and the beſt kinds‘produce very few aſhes.

B 3 1793