232 On the Rhode-Island Coal. 



I am perfectly aware, that such a proposal will meet 

 with many objections. The prejudice arising from 

 long and early habits, it takes some time to remove. 

 So deeply rooted even are these, that I have heard it 

 doubted by many, whether it was possible to make 

 sucli a lire with coal, as would answer the purpose of 

 cooking. Such prejudices are not confined to any 

 country; the Englishman has the same doubts with 

 respect to the qualities of wood; but, as these doubts 

 arise from perfect ignorance of the true mode of using 

 either of these articles, so are they removed, when each 

 party obtains a more correct knowledge of what the 

 other has discovered by experience. 



Those, who are at length persuaded that this, or 

 any coal, can be made to burn in common grates, 

 will next inquire, what are its advantages over wood, 

 before they resign an article to which they are accus- 

 tomed, and with which they are perfectly satisfied ; to 

 this I shall concisely reply, as follows, and upon this 

 answer I rest its merits. 



First, such coal as this, when properly ignited, gives 

 a more steady, intense, and durable heat. 



Secondly, it is more economical, produces no disa- 

 greeable effluvia, and requires none of that attention to 

 the frequent renewal of the fire, which is so necessary 

 in the use of wood ; and, 



Thirdly, from its emitting no sparks, and from the 

 manner in which it burns, producing neither flame or 



