oe 
Prof. H. How on Oil-Coal. 75 
In this paper I do not hope to decide the question, but I wish 
to point out as interesting facts the occurrence of true bitumin- 
ous coal in contact with the Oil-Coal, and to call attention to the 
relative proportions of the ultimate elements in the latter and 
in the before-mentioned disputed substances as compared with 
bituminous coals, as important in explaining the different nature 
of their products of distillation, and in affording support to 
ose who do not make one species only of these minerals. 
_Some of the analyses which follow are published for the first 
time; others, of my own, relating to bituminous coals, I have 
taken from among those given in the Report on Coals suited to 
the Steam Navy of Great Britain, by Sir H. Delabeche and Dr. 
Playfair, and those of cannel-coals are taken from sources here- 
after indicated. 
_Tam indebted to Henry Poole, Esq., manager of the Fra- 
ser Mine, for the following particulars relating to the geological 
position, etc., of the substance :— 
“The lowest measures about sixty yards, on the surface, short 
of the distance where the oil-coal crops, are composed chiefly of 
strong bands of sandstone, actual thickness net yet proved; 
then shales with bands of ironstone, and Stigmaria roots with 
Sigillaria stems, and a few detached fern leaves, in such soft 
shale that I have not been able to preserve any good specimens. 
Immediately above the oil-coal is a seam of bituminous coal 
this band two or three varieties (species?) of Lepidodendron 
elastic that they could be bent considerably without break- 
ing. At the bottom of the slope another thin seam of curly 
Coal has appeared of a few inches in thickness, but is not 
Worked at present. In the roof-coal were found pieces of de- 
