246 



to the formation of some kinds of bitumen. Want of that pre- 

 cision, which, in general, marks the observations of this celebrated 

 chemist, is also discoverable in the explanation he offers of this pro- 

 cess of nature. 



The supposition of the separation of oil from the mass of decom- 

 posing vegetables is not sufficiently supported by the facts which 

 manifest themselves, during the resolution of vegetable matters, to 

 allow it to form the basis of a system, intended to explain this 

 extensive and mysterious operation. For if such a separation of 

 the vegetable oils were even admitted, could the quantity of a 

 principle which vegetables, in general, possess so sparingly, be con- 

 sidered as sufficient to account for the immense masses in which 

 this substance is known to exist ? 



Yours, &c. 



LETTER XXIV. 



INQUIRY RESPECTING THE ORIGIN OF COAL CONTINUED.. ..HY- 

 POTHESIS PROPOSED....MOSAIC ACCOUNT OF THE DELUGE.... 

 OBJECTIONS AGAINST. ...UNIVERSALITY OF THE DELUGE.... 

 CHANGES THUS EFFECTED. ...VEGETABLE MATTER DISPOSED IN 

 SITUATIONS IN WHICH COAL NOW EXISTS. 



1 HAVE been highly entertained by a letter from our friend Winton, 

 in consequence of your having shown him my account of the va- 

 rious systems respecting the formation of coal. Indeed his remarks 



