PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 223 



of animals, yet ftronger than that of oils di- 

 ftilled froni hitunminous mineral fubftances, 

 and was in fmell the moft like that of peat 

 fmoke. In the cold, it congealed into a body 

 of the coniiftence of foap or honey, or rather 

 into a pitchy fubftance of a redifh brown cp- 

 Jour, being of a cauftic pungent tafte; upon 

 the fire it melted like wax, and when cold, 

 looked like the foot of peat. 



This oil eafily catches fire, but is foon a^ 

 gain extinguifhed. When kindled, it burn* 

 like weak fpirit of wine, but not fo intenfely. 

 When put upon the fire in a fpoon, if you ap- 

 proach a lighted candle, it kindles into a flame 3 

 and, upon the removal of the candle, is im- 

 mediately extinguifhed ; fo it muft be fre- 

 quently kindled before it wholly confumes. 



The cinder that remained in the retort, 

 being put in the fire, in a fhort time turn- 

 ed red, and immediately, without fmoke or 

 flame, fell into grey afhes, nothing different 

 from ordinary peat-afhes. Thefe afhes contain 

 lefs fait than thofe of wood. All peat-afhes do 

 not yield the fame quantity of fait, but differ 

 according to the quality of the peat. Fromi 

 a pound of Dutch afhes, Deg?ier, after boil- 

 "ipg, filtrating, and infpiflTating in the ordi- 

 nary 



