On the Rhode-Island Coal. 225 



was, to ascertain the qualities of the coal, as an article 

 of fuel. 



The following table of the relative proportion of car- 

 bon, which it bears to some other mineral coals, may 

 not be unacceptable. 



Thus it appears that this coal is nearly a pure natural 

 carbon, or charcoal, resembling, in many of its properties, 

 the anthracite of Hatiy, and approaching, as nearly as 

 possible, to the description of Kilkenny coal, but supe- 

 rior to the former, as containing vastly more carbon, 

 and much to be preferred to the latter, as it contains 

 neither pyrites nor sulphur, substances which render that 

 coal peculiarly disagreeable for domestic purposes. 



Though coal is so profusely distributed in different 

 parts of the earth, yet there is no substance which dif- 

 fers more in its nature and qualities; a knowledge, 

 therefore, of the ingredients which each species con- 

 tains, is necessary, in order to apply it to the purposes 

 for which it is best adapted. In such a country as this, 

 where the inhabitants are so long accustomed to the use 

 of wood for fuel, it is not surprising that much igno- 



