On the Rhode-Island Coal. 221 



•III. An Enquiry into the Chemical Character and Pro- 

 perties of that Species of Coal lately discovered at 

 Rhode -Island: together xvith Observations on the use- 

 ful Application of it to the Arts and Manufactures of 

 the Eastern States. 



THE subject of the following pages is so inte- 

 resting to the inhabitants of this country, that little apo- 

 logy is requisite for intruding it on the public. Provi- 

 dence has so bountifully distributed its favours over the 

 continent of America, that few articles are required from 

 other countries, which could not be obtained here by 

 proper industry and research. 



While the population of America was but limited, and 

 while the forests afforded a sufficient supply of so useful 

 and necessary an article as fuel, for the purposes of com- 

 mon life, no exertion was made to discover other substi- 

 tutes ; but, as the soil becomes cultivated, and as arts 

 and manufactures increase, a necessity arises for seek- 

 ing a supply of fuel from other sources than the woods 

 of the country. 



It is unnecessary to dwell on the advantages which 

 must result to a country so eminently flourishing as 

 America) from the discovery of coal mines : few who 

 are acquainted with the rapid increase of the arts and 

 manufactures in England, but must attribute much of 

 their success to the benefit which they derive from 

 their collieries. In this respect, I hope to make it ap- 

 pear, that England, has no great superiority over (hi* 



sum,, f f 



