Notices respecting New Books. 2>» / 



the single port of Philadelphia in that season, loaded with a million 

 and a quarter of tons, for the service of the neighbouring states." 

 (p. 20.) Further on, the author, in the spirit which we have already 

 remarked as pervading the entire work, concludes another division 

 of the same subject by the observation : " It is beyond the scope of 

 human vision to contemplate, in our day, the results associated with 

 these millions, — the industrial facilities, the wealth, and power, and 

 influence at home and abroad, which they must inevitably confer 

 upon the future inhabitants of the country." (P. 33.) 



Another illustration of a more special nature, of a means of the 

 consumption of coal accompanied by a vast amount of benefit and 

 comfort to the community, is touched upon in this work, which we 

 cannot omit to notice. " It was in 1803," says the author, " that 

 Mr. Winsor first exhibited the effect of gas-light at the Lyceum 

 Theatre, London." It appears that there were in London in 1845 

 nineteen gas companies, who produced, on an average, 10,000,000 

 cubic feet of gas every twenty-four hours, which is at the rate of 

 3,650,000,000 cubic feet a year. The whole number of lights is 

 calculated at 100,000. In 1838 these London gas companies alone 

 consumed 340,000 tons of coals annually. 



It would be obviously impossible to direct attention to all the 

 matters, however great their interest, which are discussed in this 

 volume. We must content ourselves with referring to two more 

 points, both of them of much importance, and both of them among 

 those numerous ones which we have already said that the title of the 

 volume will hardly lead the reader to expect to find discussed 

 within it. 



The comparative merits of anthracite and bituminous coal are very 

 fully discussed in all their bearings, as to the application of each, 

 both to domestic use and to manufacturing purposes. We are espe- 

 cially glad thus to see done "justice to anthracite in pointing out 

 the incalculable value of a species of fuel previously rejected and 

 despised, as amongst the most inferior and most impracticable of all 

 the combustibles." (P. 365.) It cannot be denied that an absurd 

 prejudice still exists in this country against the use of anthracite 

 cobJ. Our countrymen seem in love with smoke. Two centuries ago 

 *' the famous city of London petitioned the parliament of England 

 against two nuisances or offensive commodities which were likely to 

 come into great use and esteem," one of which was " Newcastle 

 coals, in regard of their stench," &c. (P. xl.) But the citizens seem 

 to have now become in love with that same stench ; and, while no 

 effectual means have been taken, as they might be, to prevent the 

 waste of material which takes place in the escape of smoke, — 

 which is the mere result of imperfect combustion — the use of the 

 smokeless anthracite encounters hopeless prejudices. Our author 

 well remarks, that "the difiiculty suggested about ignition, evea 

 were it found so in practice [wliich it is not in reality], is deprived 

 of all weight, from the consideration that, with ordinary attention, 

 a fire, when once kindled in the fall of the year, may be kept up 

 until the return of summer if needed. The supposed tendency of 



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