42 [June, 1841. 



vegetable impressions; and in colour, structure, and varieties of sur- 

 face, the two coals might readily be taken the one for the other. 

 Of nine samples analyzed by Prof. Johnson, the lowest specific 

 gravity was found to be 1.374, the highest 1.416, and the mean 

 1.390. The mean amount of volatile matter was found to be 8.067, 

 the highest being 11.854 per cent. ; the mean proportion of earthy 

 matter and metallic oxides is 4.46 ; and that of the fixed carbon 

 87.472 per cent. 



From these data we derive the following comparisons. 



Sp. Gr. Vol. mat. Carbon. Ashes 



Inyscedwyn, lighter variety, 1.336 10.7 85.722 3.578 



Do. heavier, 1.372 7.66 88.762 3.578 



Mean of two, . = 1.354 9.18 87.242 3.578 



Ly ken's valley, . 1.390 8.067 87.472 4.460 



In distilling the Welsh anthracite, the first portion of gas which 

 comes over, burns with a pale blue flame, like that of carbonic 

 oxide, which is succeeded at a certain point of temperature by a 

 sudden outburst of carburetted hydrogen, burning with a bright 

 flame and some smoke, a quantity of bituminous matter being at 

 the same time evolved ; sufficient in one instance to close up the 

 narrow beak of the retort employed in the distillation. The coke 

 is perfectly anthracitous, and the angles of the fragments entirely 

 sharp and well defined. 



The gaseous matter of the Lyken's valley anthracite also burns 

 with a brilliant flame, but no violent explosive development of it 

 was remarked. 



Professor Johnson made some remarks on the recent appli- 

 cation of Anthracite, to the smelting of the magnetic, iron ores 

 of New Jersey. 



This has been effected at Stanhope, on the line of the Morris 

 canal, 38 miles north-east of Easton, at which one furnace is now 



