shire, and how much further I don't for 

 certain know ; and in many places, if not 

 everywhere, the coal is found under our 

 yellow limestone, through which they 

 sink in many places in order to come at it. 

 Since I began to write this letter I 

 received from M r Beatson of Rotheram, 

 a parcel of the substance he was mention- 

 ing to you. He sent, by the person who 

 brought it to me, an apology for not 

 having sent it before, and saying at the 

 same time that it was not yet so good 

 a specimen as he had wished to have sent. 

 As it was directed to me, though it ought 

 perhaps rather to be considered as your 

 property, I have taken the liberty of 

 reserving the half of it for myself, which, 

 however, if you want any more than 

 I have sent you, either to make experi- 

 ments upon, or for any other purpose, 

 I will send you whenever you please. It 

 seems to be in general a good deal harder 

 than the black lead used for pencils, 

 though some of the thin flakes seem to 

 mark pretty well ; probably the difference 



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