86 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. 
on objects deemed to be both feasible and important,) was, if 
the course of a few years, thrown aside, by many persons, as 
useless lumber, and neglected by all ;—the proprietors of the 
mines being obliged to sit down, (as it was generally under- 
stood) with a heavy loss. 
It is impossible to say how much longer this important in- 
terest might have slumbered, had not the city of Philadel- 
phia—dormant also, till a very late period, as to the immense 
and invaluable beds of anthracite, in its own vicinity—at last 
discovered how to apply it to use ; and had not New-York, 
soon after, learned from Philadelphia the same important 
lesson. : 
Still, it is believed that most persons have remained, until 
recently, rather sceptical, with respect to the Rhode-Island 
coal. As I have myself been, to a certain extent, of this num- 
ber, and as I have nut, either on my own account, or that of 
my friends, the slightest interest in any'concern of this na- 
ture, I proceed, with the more pleasure, to give my testimo- 
ny in favour of the anthracite of Rhode-Island—having al- 
ready expressed fully my high opinion of that from Pennsyl- 
vania. 
nace. I remarked also, that the specimen was one that had 
jain several years, in a garret, under which circumstances, it 
might perhaps have pi 
though it would hardly have given up any combined water. 
It is obvious, that if water, in either of these forms be present 
in the anthracites, they ought, when intensely ignited, to af- 
ford, by decomposition of the water, more or less of in- 
flammable gas. 
o bring this matter to a decision, I took two ounces of 
ing the experiment, in all respects, as before, except that I 
poured a small quantity of water into the tube, so as to wet 
the fragments of dry anthracite, I proceeded to apply an in- 
“tense heat. . 
ee two barra es anthracite, which, when dry, 
given not a bubble, J now obtained six wine pints of in- 
Alammable gas. Peto 
