Another rugged declivity, similar to that which con ducted the spectator to the cave, leads down to the pool, which is sixty-five feet in circuit, five feet deep, and of cooler temperature than the external atmosphere. It re sembles a large marble bath cf pellucid water, the bottom and sides being of the purest white. It occupies so much of the base of the grotto, that a person cannot walk round it. On its margin the spectator finds himself standing in a mag nificent apartment, wholly consisting of the most brilliant spar glittering on all sides, and emitting myriads of rays, which are reflected from the bottom of the pool. In some grottos and caverns of other countries, there is a constant supply of water, which is generally discharged by a stream running towards the entrance; but here there is no visible outlet, and the quantity of water in this reservoir is not ob served to decrease. Crossing the pool on a plank, a gal lery of great height, but only three feet wide, is found, which leads to farther passages imperfectly explored. Its entrance is formed by two large columns of pure spar : that on the left of rustic conformation, six feet in circum ference, and sixteen high ; but that on the tight rather re sembles a work of art. It is of more surprising structure, and more elegant appearance, than any of the figures which the spar of this grotto has assumed. The shaft is twenty feet in length, nearly cylindrical, and its thickness in general about two feet and a half. It stands on a regu lar circular base rising from the floor, and projecting about twelve inches round its circumference. A series of sections seems to constitute the whole column, each twen ty-two inches in length, and divisible into two distinct por tions ; the upper one being a crystallized mass of stalac tites, while, in its general aspect, the under part resem bles the foliated cat vings of the Corinthian or Composite capital inverted. On more minute inspection, this division is found to display the most methodical arrangement of structure, in the formation and insertion of the foliage of sparry concretion; and the interstices of the leaves are of such dimensions, as to admit of complete inspection of the interior of the column, which proves a combination of the same foliated incrustations as the exterior. Passing by these pillars, the width of the gallery is somewhat en larged, the sides still exposing elegant and numberless crystals, emitting a dazzling lustre. The floor also is of white marble, but of more singular conformation than in any other part of the cavity. Part of it rising from the rest resembles a piece of lace, and consists of many con cretions on one side, while the other is quite smooth, and entirely covered with shining crystallizations, the waved interstices of which are full of water. These beautiful productions abruptly cease at the distance of about 250 feet from the mouth of the cave, and the bare black rock is exposed. Although farther recesses exist, they have not yet been explored.
Several singularities regarding this remarkable grotto being peculiarly interesting, ought not to be overlooked. Its formation is concluded to have resulted from the sepa ration of immense dykes of whinstone, while freestone constitutes both the floor and the roof. Although no con siderable stratum of limestone is seen in the neighbour hood, there is a prodigious accumulation of spar entirely calcareous within. The crystallizations are of the most complete kind, free from every imperfection, and white and beautiful. Water is constantly exuding from the whole roof; and it is likewise universally suffused over the incrusted surface of the spar, which is always moist to the touch. But this humidity augments the brilliancy of the coruscations, and is the source of the water con tained in the marble cistern. The endless variety in which the sparry incrustations appear, is one of the great est ornaments of the grotto; and the infinite combinations and modifications of it are alike brilliant and interesting.
Sometimes it is disposed in foliage or flowers ; sometimes in busts or columns; and the interior, of tabulated stalac tites, is studded with innumerable crystals converging to wards the centre. It may seem idle to speak of traditions of the ninth century, but we shall only observe in illustra tion of the name Slochd Ahriman or the Nursling. Cave, that it is said to have afforded refuge to a youthful female, who had become the victim of a feud which estranged the parents of her and her lover, the young chief of Colonsay. Separated from him, she was delivered of a son, who was carried to Slochd Ahriman, whither his mother retired to nurse his infancy; and thence the name of Nursling Cave.
On the 17th of March 1775, the Rev. Mr Newnham, a young clergyman of Bristol cathedral, accompanied by a gentleman and two ladies, went to visit a chasm in the ground called Penpark Hole, about three miles from that city. Wishing to sound its depth with a line, lie advanced a short way irto the upper part of the opening declivity, which is not steep, in order to give it a freer cast, and, for security, held by the twig of a tree, spreading across the chasm. Unhappily, in accomplishing this, his feet slipped, owing to the humidity of the earth, and he was precipitated headlong into a frightful abyss before the eyes of his terrified companions. An accident so distress ing, gave birth to many speculations respecting the caverns where it had happened, particularly as the body of the sufferer was long the object of a fruitless search ; but at last some hardy adventurers having resolved on de scending, discovered a great accumulation of water at the bottom, and a stone thrown down being interrupted in its fall, disclosed the spot where the body still floated, 39 days after the catastrophe. It is difficult to explain the figure of this, or indeed of any other cavern, without drawings; therefore we shall briefly observe, that the access to Penpark Hole is by two separate chasms in the ground, leading by a declivity to the interior. After pass ing different lateral vacuities, one of which hag a spacious vaulted roof, the adventurer reaches the most extensive recess, branching into an oblong irregular space, 225 feet long, by 123 in width. Below it are other recesses, and the bottom of the whole, which, if we rightly understand the description, is more than 200 feet from the surface of the earth, is covered with water, varying in depth from 6 to 50 feet, but clear, and good, and free from any peculiari ties. All the cavities are of extremely irregular forma tion, in general presenting a rocky surface or sparry in crustations, and the floor is described as in some places to consist of a kind of white stone, enamelled with lead ore." The subterrancous communication between the external mouths is extremely narrow, and was first explored by Mr White, a land-surveyor, who, with much hazard and diffi culty, forced his way through, by crawling on his belly. But even now, should a stone be displaced in the under taking, the adventurer would inevitably be buried alive. Penpark Hole was visited in 1669 by Captain Sturmey, and in 1682 by Captain Collins. The former was accom panied by a miner, who, penetrating one of the galleries to a considerable distance, exclaimed that he had found a rich mine ; but his joy was suddenly converted to astonish ment, for he returned affrighted by the sight, as he said, of an evil spirit. No inducement could prevail on him to re visit the place, and Captain Sturmey himself sickened four days after and died. In consequence of the accident above related, it was more particularly examined by several in dividuals; but more minutely by Mr Catcott and Mr White, the hirer of whom has drawn a section of it.