82 On the Anthracites of Europe and Ameried. 
for producing that equable and steady heat which is required: 
for the rolling and slitting of sheet iron. his has now be- 
comé an article of prime necessity in this country, and | am 
prepared to say that no fuel whatever is so well adapted for 
the purpose. The sheet iron is heated to the ares de- 
gree for the roller, in half the time that it can be done 
other fuel; and a manufacturer assured me that the ee of 
the iron, heated in this manner, was not only much cleaner, 
but that the iron lost much less of its weight by this process, 
than by any other. 
It is, as you observe, extremely singular, that the public 
should have been so long prejudiced against the use of the 
Rhode-Island coal, as well as of every species of anthra- 
cite, in any way, or for any purpose whatever. I early 
perceived this pr ejudice, but foresaw that a period would ar- 
rive when its real merits would be appreciated. Indeed, I 
never had any doubt but its true value would be discovered 
by the artists; but I did not expect that the time would so 
soon arrive when it would be so generally introduced into do- 
mestic use; nor am [now prepared to say, that I prefer it to bi- 
tuminous coal, when used in common grates ; 3 not that it will 
ees burn in Bratess as is fully 3 eters in Philadelphia, 
t because it differs so essentially from bituminous coal, in 
ie liveliness of ‘the flame, and the quickness with which it 
can be — Where a uniform temperature is required to 
kept up in all parts of a house, there is no mode whatever 
of Secinaplatne it equal to the use of the anthracite, in those 
stoves or furnaces which are now so ingeniously and judi- 
ares constructed in Philadelphia. 1 think that it is quite 
e to imagine that a great draft of air is required to 
keep ak the ignition of the fire with this coal; and I am the 
more conyineRs of this, from having seen the manner in 
which the same kind of coal is burnt in the county of Kil- 
kenny, pice: no other fuel is used. There the grates are 
precisely the same as those used in England ; all that is re- 
quired is patience, = that the fire should have sufficient 
time to kindle. oal whatever answers the purpose of 
Scotian better 5 but 1 always observed, in Hedheaty, that the 
have frequently seen the Irish workmen, in cold weal, i sit- 
ting round large fires, aerts on iron bars, in the open air 
