The Litchfield County Post

WEYMOUTH, (Eng.) MARCH 27.
Interesting account of a Burning Hill.

The smell has been remarked, for 2 or 3 years past; steam began to issue forth about 6 months since, at ten or more different points, in the space of five yards in length, about 50 feet above the level of the sea, where it now continues on a more extended scale, with an occasional appearance of fire below the interstices of the rocks. It has been remarked, that at spring tides, the effluvia emitted is much more sulphureous and disagreeable than at other periods. The heat is now such as to kindle a fire; and as the proof of it, a bird (shot near the spot) was literally roasted there, of which, the party partook. On clearing away some of the external rubbish and digging about three feet downwards, a strata of coal appeared, and so hot that it was impossible to stand thereon for more than two minutes; its temperature was that of an oven, issuing an intense and suffocating smell; on removing some of this coal, the heat became so great, as not to be touched by the hand: a piece of it was put on a white cotton pocket handkerchief, which was completely singed as if burnt by a heater; matches were made of brimstone melted by the heat of the coal, which were tried, and found to ignite on applying them to the fissures from whence the steam issues. On removing more of the external rubbish, it gave fresh vent, & the fire was distinctly seen underneath, so that pipes were lighted from the coal itself without the assistance of a match: another hole was dug about 4 feet distant from the principal cavity, creating a fresh current of air, and a piece of furze took fire on being applied thereon. In placing the hand in a cavity which could only be borne for the space of half a minute, it was quite dripping with the effects of the steam and the appearance of those cracks are quite steamy; several pipes of tobacco were easily lighted by the matches, on their being applied to the hot substances produced. A species of sulphureous coal is considered to be on fire at a considerable depth, and of great extent, thereby rendering it hollow underneath, consequently, due caution must be observed on approaching to view it; the cavities are overhung by large pieces of black stone and earth, so that a foundering of it might prove fatal to spectators; some of this mass has already foundered into the cavities from whence the steam comes.