78 On the Anthracites of Europe and America. 
it from bituminous coal. The anthracite burns away slowly 
no part of it is either consumed or altered, except the i 
which is exposed to the flame; and if a large piece, which 
has been in the fire for some huaessd is taken out, and either 
plunged into cold water, or let extinguish itself, it will be 
found to have lost considerably in size and weight, and its 
surface will be charred; but if this piece is broken with a 
hammer, the interior appearance of the coal is not in the 
smallest degree altered from its original state, but preserves 
the same steel gray, or metallic lustre, thus consuming away 
gradually in the Geant like the diamond when ignited i in 
oxygen gas 
jae a it is many years since I first paid attention to the 
subject of the Rhode-Island coal, and was the first person 
who called the attention of the public to the great advan- 
tages they would derive from an extensive use of it in the 
arts, yet I have a perfect recollection of the difficulties we 
laboured under in order to persuade many, whose interest it 
was to ane it a fair trial. The first impression which it was 
difficult to get over was, that it never could be ignited ; and 
when they were at last convinced that this was erroneous, the 
next objection they started, was, that the heat was so intense 
that is was impossible either to regulate or check it. The 
blacksmith complained that he no sooner put an iron rod in- 
completely melted; as soon, however, as a little experience 
taught them the management of the fire, they preferred this 
coal to — other. 
as [ ascertained, by experiment, that the Rhode 
Island cin paced at least 90 per cent. of pure carbon, it 
naturally occurred to me, that it might be made use of with 
advantage in furnaces for the smelting of.iron ore, in the same 
manner that coke is in England, it being perfectly obvious 
that this coal, in its natural state, had all the essential qualities 
of coke, without either the trouble, waste and expense, which 
is necessary for converting bituminous coal into coke, before 
any use can be made of it by the iron ee It is 
with coke, or the phar. of pit coal. In tle to een ens Z 
question, I accompanied dock cette 
