-Dr. North on ret 67 
each term is “used. _It is not proposed to 
—— of the various various’ sorts of fuel, or an accurate account of 
ed, That which © consists altiost entirely of charcoal, car- 
bon, or carbonaceous matter. 
The first class embraces every sort of firewood, emer d 
peat-wood, and every kind of bituminous coal. "The reader 
will presently perceive why the name of peat-wood is sede 
The second class’ comprehends charcoal, whether aout 
from peat, or any other kind of firewood, coke, and an 
tic coal, such as Rhode Island, ey Schuylkill, &e. 
Atiother division of fuel be made, viz: one class 
might be made to comprehend every sort which grows in the 
air, and upon, and just within the surface of this earth: and 
another class to include that which grows in the water, under- 
neath, and sometimes far beneath the said surface. The rea- 
son for this division will presently appear. 
Peat may be regarded as a sort of firewood, for it 
ses; while burning, all the more essential qualities of any oth- 
er soit of firewood. There are aiso two, if not more, sorts or 
species of peat, besides their varieties, and the present writer 
ascertained, or he is decidedly of opinion, that peat is liv- 
ing, organized muster, which grows in water, giving a resem- 
taste, ae interest, and aisppait ion to follow the fashion. Every one, in an 
affair of science, has, however, a right modestly to propose his opi sae pie 
the re ~~ er or hearer has an equal right to decide vith regard to their cor- 
r. North's opinions on the subject ject of the effect of different kinds of fuel 
on the ea appearing to me not only somew novel, but unsupport- 
ed by, if not contrary to, fact 
s, ascertained by experiment, I threw out 
‘ ' with others, in a letter addressed to him. 
A See ie ie still Inclined to subrait his views to the scientific public, they 
s.3 judge his opi } are tena His hints with regard to «be 
origin of coal from peat, can hardly be judged of correctly; withous <He ¢v- 
idence, which he has not sta nd it fp-Sorrae en 
unnecessary departure fi the established use of langua call peat 
” notwithstanding that i great re of vegetable 
fibre, fine . roe S —— ay probably bj A ate eo eTat 
Bee got none tal Meats on sp ely contain that com 
pound, although ‘they contain its ele ularly a. 
which, without doubt, bitu n owes its pec will pis oe 
at f agree = My 
that _ ee ee egg cw ee isevitiosi of His 
is so extensively diffused 
pros OSE ean aualedde ‘tet alse cor sees a Sores _ 
eae re; 1826. : eS ; 
