2O4 Natural Theology. 







They are no more wonderful, indeed, than the 

 different conditions of oxygen ; but as carbon is a 

 solid, its different conditions are recognised by the 

 sense of touch and sight, as well as by their chemi- 

 cal relations. 



Carbon, like hydrogen, is a constant element in 

 ordinary combustion. They beautifully supplement 

 each other. Hydrogen is a permanent gas ; carbon, 

 on the other hand, in a pure state, is always a solid. 

 It is this physical property of carbon that secures 

 to us the vast accumulations of combustible mate- 

 rials in the earth, so essential to mankind in devel- 

 oping the arts of civilized life. The inexhaustible 

 beds of coal are a wonder to the world. They have 

 remained for thousands of years comparatively 

 unused and unknown. But now they become the 

 very basis of material prosperity. If other com- 

 bustibles would in part take the place of coal, how 

 imperfectly they would do it, and how soon they 

 would be exhausted ! Our forests would vanish 

 like frost-work before the sun. 



But the mines of coal would never have been 

 formed, if carbon had been other than a solid. The 

 vegetation from which these beds were formed, 

 having lost the other elements, was left as pure 

 anthracite ; or in connection with hydrogen and oxy- 

 gen, gave rise to the different grades of bituminous 

 coals. When we consider the dependance of man 

 in his highest state, upon these different varieties 

 of coal, for producing light and heat, and working 

 of metals, and for the generation of steam, we see 



