COAL OF THE MEMRAMCOOK. 93 



companions, visited the mine and brought specimens of 

 the coal. It was exceedingly hard, tough, and difficult 

 to break, burnt with flame, but left a white ash as bulky 

 as itself. On examination, I found it to be only a bitu 

 minous shale, consisting of many thin layers of fine silt, 

 thoroughly impregnated with bitumen, to which it pro 

 bably owed its toughness. 



On subsequently visiting the gas-works at St John, I 

 was informed that it had been tried there for the manu 

 facture of gas, but was pronounced to be worthless for 

 the purpose. Newcastle caking coal, and the Scotch and 

 Wigan cannel^coal, yield from 8000 to 12,000 cubic feet 

 of gas per ton ; but this Memramcook coal was said to 

 give only 1000 cubic feet. The coke left by it, also, 

 from the large amount of earthy matter it contained, was 

 of no economical value. 



Since my return home, I have examined some of this 

 coal, and find that it leaves 49 per cent of ash a 

 quantity sufficient to make it inapplicable to the greater 

 number of economical purposes. But it gave me also 

 at the rate of 7000 cubic feet of gas from the ton. I 

 infer, from these results, that the quality of this bed of 

 pseudo-coal varies. That which I have examined is far 

 from being worthless. It may be used in smithy forges 

 and for domestic purposes while it is not unlikely that 

 portions of this, or of other similar beds may be found, 

 which will be still richer in bituminous matter, and admit 

 of more extended useful applications.* 



Hopewell, where I landed on Saturday night, has a 

 court-house standing by itself, and two or three other 

 houses scattered about, in one of which I obtained 

 quarters. It may be called the county town, because, 

 for convenience of access, it has lately been selected as 

 the best locality for holding the courts ; but the town 



* Vol. ii. p. 98. 



