150 LETTERS TO A FRIE.M) AT COLLEGE. 



caused, and tlius preventing the formation of coal, and in the low tem- 

 perature of the higher latitudes being unfavorable to vegetation. 



Another important fact, which may be noticed in reference to the 

 subject before us, is the vast amount of this mineral treasure, which is 

 found imbedded. There are in general several workable beds, varying 

 from a few inches to six and eight feet in thickness, and sometimes, 

 where several run into one, to fifty and sixty feet. When now we take 

 into consideration the vast extent of the coal field of the United States, 

 of that of England and Wales, of those of France and Germany, of 

 those of Asia and New Holland, and of other minor ones which we 

 have not named; and further remember that the most of these were once 

 much more extensive than they are at present, their boundaries having 

 been contracted by the action of powerful water currents, we are 

 struck with astonishment at the vast quantities of vegetable matter, 

 •which was once imbedded, and which even yet remains in the almost 

 uiexhaustible beds of mineralized carbon. 



Its value to mankind as fuel, both for domestic comfort and manu- 

 facturing purposes, is incalculable. It is diflicult to conceive how the 

 north temperate zone could long remain the seat of a dense, civilized, 

 active and enterprising population, how it could long maintain its pre- 

 eminence over all the rest of the world in the arts and sciences without 

 the possession of these mineral treasures. The forests must soon fall be- 

 fore the axe of the woodman, and being consumed leave society bereft 

 of those vast means of industrial operation at present at its command. 



LKTTERS TO A FPvIEND AT COLLEGE. JVC. I. 



Mv Dear Amicus, 



You wonder at my long silence, and complain that my letters come 

 more and more "like angels' visits, few, and far between." But I assure 

 you that this is no less a source of regret to me than to you, and no- 

 thing but the pressing nature of my engagements prevents me from in- 

 flicting upon you a weekly epistle. But if you will turn to the account, 

 which I some time since gave you, of my pedagogical labors, you will 

 perceive that I am engaged from "rosy dawn 'till dewy eve," as Homer, 

 I believe, phrases it. To teach the "Classics, Mathematics, Natural 

 Philosophy, Belles-Lettres, English," and all the ct cetcras of a Mary- 

 land Academy, requires in one like me, who have just finished my Col- 

 lege studies, a steady industry of which I am afraid you have no idea. 

 I do not speak of the time spent in school, though from six to eigln 

 hours per diem is no trille either, but the preparation for tlicse mulii- 



