MODE III. COAL. 



they are continued for a space of more than 1200 

 yards, or two thirds of a mile under the sea ; a 

 situation like that of a mine in Cornwall, where 

 the raging waves are heard over head, most ter- 

 rible to the imagination. The most celebrated 

 coal mines of France are those of St. Etienne, in 

 the department of the Loire, which have been 

 worked for many centuries. Those of Flanders 

 are also of ancient reputation: and, perhaps, 

 our attention to this valuable substance was, 

 like many other useful improvements, derived 

 from our commerce with the Flemings *. 



Even in the same bed the coal is seldom of the 

 same quality, or homogenous ; so that many of 

 the German subdivisions would, in the case of 

 any other substance, be regarded as mere varie- 

 ties. Such is the fibrous coal of Estner, which 

 was brought from Newcastle -, the ribbon coal 

 oflrvin on the western coast of Scotland ; the 

 parrot coal, said by some to be so called from its 

 iridescence, while others suppose that it received 

 its name from the crackling noise it makes when 

 first kindled. It is surprising that Werner has 

 not arranged the earthy coal, called smut or 

 culm, as a distinct subspecies. It has been ob- 



* According to Buffon, Min. i. 478, 4to. the deepest coal mines 

 are those of Namur, 2,400 feet. 



'2 P 2 



