THE 



LONDON and EDINBURGH 



PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE 



AND 



JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



[THIRD SERIES.] 



JULY 1833. 



I. Observations on the Circumstances producing Ignition in 



Charcoal in Atmospheric Temperatures. By Mr. William 



Hadfield*. 

 HPHE spontaneous combustion of charcoal under certain cir- 

 -■- cumstances has been long observed, though it has not 

 excited the attention which it merits ; nor would it now, per- 

 haps, have possessed much general interest, had it not been 

 for the serious consequences which may result from its occur- 

 rence in some situations. As large quantities of charcoal are 

 used in gunpowder manufactories and in other works, its 

 spontaneous combustion in such places would manifestly en- 

 danger, not only much property, but a number of lives. The 

 subject is, therefore, worthy of attention ; since, if the cause 

 could be assigned, the danger might be averted. 



Engaged during 25 years in a manufactory where charcoal 

 is produced, I have had many opportunities of observing the 

 phenomenon ; and I have been induced, by the suggestions of 

 a number of my friends, to lay the amount of my own expe- 

 rience before this Society. 



Though I am aware that a very interesting article on the 

 subject was, in January last, published by Col. Aubert in the 

 Bulletin des Sciences Militaires, I shall abstain from any 

 further notice of it; since I wish to confine my present paper 

 to the result of my own observation and experiments. 



* Read before a Meeting of the Literary and Philosophical Society of 

 Manchester, on November 4, 1831 ; and now communicated by the Author. 



Third Series. Vol. 3. No. 13. July 1833. B 



