Native Sulphur, or Brimstone

When I first visited the Isle of Dogs, at Black wall, I thought it would be interesting to observe and collect the strata as belonging to a certain level pretty well determined by its vicinity to the Thames. Among other subjects it was both beautiful and interesting to observe the Sulphur forming on the old stumps of the trees that were found from nine to eighteen feet below the common level of the place; and perhaps it is no less remarkable that a stratum of leaves, which was in some places three or more feet thick, had a strong odour of Sulphur; but the Sulphur in general formed Sulphate of Lime, or Gypsum, with the little Lime among it, sparkling in the sun like minute diamonds. The same occurred sometimes upon the stumps of trees; but in some parts the Sulphur was nearly pure, and even of a brighter colour than that from Amlwch, and covered largish spaces somewhat copiously, so that the wood was not discerned; in other places it seemed to be passing with the moisture out of the cracks, and followed the longitudinal direction of the fibres, very prettily contrasting with the sparkling Gypsum. The golden, if not shining, hue in some places equalled in beauty the yellow Lichens which often enrich the stumps of trees above ground. We believe, however, that it in some places occurs in the inside of growing trees, as we remember having seen it, but did not at the time make a careful investigation of the matter.