On the Rhode-Island Coal. 233 



smoke, many of those accidents arising from fire, to 

 which chimnies, stores, and dwelling-houses, are liable, 

 from the general use of wood in large cities, would, by 

 this means, be avoided. 



I shall add but one circumstance more, which should, 

 perhaps, have some weight in this country : though the 

 fact may be received with hesitation by the generality 

 of readers, yet it has been asserted, by medical men and 

 philosophers, that the use of this article for fuel in Eng- 

 land, has contributed to check that tendency to conta- 

 gious diseases, which was at one time so prevalent in 

 their large cities ; and Dr. Mitchill, a celebrated philo- 

 pher and senator of America, has endeavoured to ex- 

 plain it, on principles connected with established theo- 

 ries in chemistry. 



It now only remains for me to make a few observa- 

 tions on the best method of using this coal; and I 

 must confess, that I have heard so many difficulties 

 started on this subject, which have no grounds what- 

 ever, that it is with some hesitation I attempt to remove 

 them. 



Well-informed and enlightened men will easily un- 

 derstand, that such coal as this, when properly ignited, 

 must possess all the qualities of carbon. To such per- 

 sons I cannot always appeal, and as the difficulty of ig- 

 niting this substance is much greater than that of char- 

 coal, many are disposed to doubt that it has any advan- 

 tage ; all, however, that is required, is, that the furnace 

 or grate should have a strong draft, and that a little 



