in the Island of Trinidad. 233 
account of this lake about twelve years ago, which was soon 
afterwards printed: I do not recollect how it made its appearance, 
but I think it was in the European Magazine :—it is, I believe, 
the only account of it ever published. j 
To make use of this pitch, it is necessary to boil it down with 
one tenth of oil or tallow. 
I remain, dear sir, &c. &c. 
: S. SPAN. 
To James Tobin, Esq. 
Bristol, 
m i 
l Bristol, Dec. 14, 1801: 
DEAR SIR, - | 
"Tur foregoing is a copy of a letter which I have received 
from an intelligent friend who has lately made a considerable 
purchase in the island of Trinidad. It may serve to furnish you 
with a tolerable idea of the very singular spot, known by the English 
inhabitants of that large and valuable island by the name of the 
Pitch-lake. Ihave accompanied this letter with some pieces of 
the mineral bitumen mentioned in it: they are not, however, 
the identical specimens theréin alluded to (which unfortunately 
fell into the hands of the Spaniards, by the capture of the ship 
they were on board of), but others, which Mr. Span. collected at 
the same time, although he did not take the same pains to discri- 
minate them. I have been more immediately induced to trouble 
you with this communication, as it appears from your very in- 
teresting paper in the 4th volume of the Linnean Transactions, . 
that you have bestowed a more than ordinary attention on this | 
particular branch of mineralogy. - 
I do not feel myself by any means qualified to enter ‘the Tate i 
with those naturalists who consider all bituminous substances as 
" originating 
