114 ^ TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



coal consists of matters analogous to those of peat, and 

 contains the basis requisite for forming the soreline 

 acid. 



The aptitude to receive and embrace useful and impor- 

 tant ideas from small notices of things, must be acknow- 

 ledged a faculty which is but seldom bestov/ed. In modem 

 stri6lness of chemical theory and reasoning, this circuitous 

 operation of nature, in promoting the growth of sorcl, 

 may probably be questioned ; but as the diligent and mi- 

 nute attention of any individual, to any particular process 

 which may have escaped the notice of othei s, ought rather 

 to induce communication, than create an apprehension of 

 hazarding the results of -such inquiries, the above obser- 

 vation, like many-others in this Treatise, is presented 

 with no other view than that of calling attention to the 

 minute circumstances daily presented by nature, and 

 ivhich are too frequently overlooked. 



The promoting the more complete solution of vegetable 



substances, is undoubtedly one of the principal obje(5ls of 



the present design ; still there are other circumstances of 



a. more mechanical nature, which demand attention : such 



as 



