Reviews — Rev. T. Wiltshire — History of Coal. 137 



and lithographers, of enthusiastic and experienced authors, working 

 for love alone, and of liberal promoters. We sincerely trust that 

 generous support will be given to this publication, so useful to 

 geological science. T. E. J. 



II. — The History of Coal. By the Rev. Thomas Wiltshire, M. A., 

 F.G.S., etc. 8vo. 36 pages. (Spon, London and New York.) 



GIVEN" as an Introductory Lecture to the Evening Classes at 

 King's College Winter Session of 1878, this concise, and 

 yet elaborate history of the use of coal is remarkably well adapted 

 to supply much-required information on a subject interesting to the 

 thinking public. It will also excite a wholesome desire to learn all 

 that can be learned about the nature, origin, and economic applica- 

 tion of the valuable varieties of fossil fuel. 



After two or three pages on the geological relations of coal to our 

 own and other countries, also some remarks on the probable ignor- 

 ance of the use of coal in pre-historic times, and on the general 

 use of charcoal in early historic times, Mr. Wiltshire refers to 

 the early mention of fossil fuel in Liguria and Elis, the former 

 district still supplying lignite at Cadibona. The terms anthraces, 

 bitumen, Thracius lapis, obsidianus lapis, ampelites, and gagates, as 

 applied to lignite, mineral pitch, jet, and coal by ancient authors, and 

 the supposed benefits derived from the various uses of these sub- 

 stances in early times, are learnedly discussed. 



The more definite use of coal as fuel by the Romans in Britain, and 

 possibly by the earlier inhabitants, is well worked out at p. 14, etc. 

 At page 19 we enter on a later period, when, about a.d. 850, the 

 monasteries appear to have recognized the value of coal (unless, 

 indeed, charcoal is the substance referred to in their documents). In 

 deeds and charters of a.d. 1190, however, the digging of coal is 

 definitely referred to in the North of England and soon after in 

 Scotland. The Newcastle Coal-field soon sent its minerals by sea 

 along the south coast, and " sea-coal " became a household word in 

 London, little as its use was approved of in town and country by 

 old-fashioned people, and by those who for various reasons preferred 

 wood fires and open hearths. The old colliery laws, often hard and 

 arbitrary, the gradual introduction of sea-coal in London houses, in 

 spite of prejudice and Boyal decrees, and the gradual growth of the 

 word " coal " from its olden forms, are fully treated. The introduc- 

 tion of steam pumping engines, and the invention of safety-lamps, 

 to facilitate the working of mines, and then the increased demand 

 for coal in the manufactures, arts, locomotion, and domestic use, 

 brought about the changes which have so greatly influenced affairs 

 among all classes and conditions of modern life. 



The Appendices, including a Map, illustrate the relative supply 

 of coal obtained from different countries ; and especially the 

 increasing quantity taken year by year from the British Coal-fields. 

 Nearty 135 million tons of coal are raised every year in the United 

 Kingdom and Ireland. In 1877 more than eight million and a half 

 tons of coal came into the London District alone, sufficient to make 



