222 On the Rhode-Island Coal. 



country ; and those who wish well to the manufactures 

 of America, can in no higher degree promote its best 

 interests, than by encouraging researches, which so ob- 

 viously tend to their prosperity. 



The inhabitants of the Eastern States, and of Boston 

 in particular, are much indebted to the genius and per- 

 severance of one of their own countrymen, for the dis- 

 covery of a coal mine, at Rhode-Island, so eligibly situ- 

 ated, in every respect, that a constant and regular sup- 

 ply can be obtained, at all times, without difficulty. 

 My object at present is, to describe its geologi- 

 cal situation, to give an accurate analysis of the coal 

 Which has been discovered, and to explain some of its 

 most obvious qualities ; and I am more particularly in- 

 duced to this attempt, from observing that much igno- 

 rance prevails on the subject, and that many of its pro- 

 perties arc either unknown, or misrepresented. 



In this description, I shall confine myself entirely to 

 that part of the island where the coal mine is at present 

 situated, and where the indications of coal Merc so 

 strongly marked, that it is rather surprizing it should 

 have so long escaped general observation. 



The fossils which appear on the surface, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the coal-mine, arc argillaceous sand-stone., 

 abundance of schistus, or shale, and white quartz, in 

 large detached masses. "When the ground is pene- 

 trated a few feet, the appearances are such, as to leave 

 no doubt that the strata consist of what is called the 

 true independent coal formation. Shale, and argillace- 

 ous sand-stone, abounding with vegetable impressions, 



