34 Structure of a peculiar Combustible Mineral, 
On the Minute Structure of a peculiar Combustible Mine- 
ral, /rc^zz the Coal Measures of Torbane-hill, near Bath- 
gate, Linlithgowshire, known in Commerce as Boghead 
Cannel Coal. By John Quekett, Professor of Histology 
to the Royal College of Surgeons of England. (Read 
Nov. 23 and Dec. 21, 1853.) 
The substance in question has lately excited the greatest 
interest in the scientific world ; and a trial, second to few in 
importance, has recently taken place in Edinburgh, having 
for its object the determination whether the Torbane-hill 
mineral should be called a coal or not, and whether it should 
be included in the missive of agreement for a lease, and let as 
coal. Those of my hearers who may wish for a particular 
account of the matter in dispute, and a statement of the facts 
brought forward, both by the pursuer and defender, or, with us 
in England, plaintiff and defendant, I would beg to refer to 
Mr. A. W. Ly ell's Report of the trial, published by Messrs. 
Bell and Bradfute of Edinburgh. ' 
Upon this trial no less than seventy-eight witnesses were 
examined — thirty-three for the plaintiff", and forty-five for the 
defendant. They might be classified as geologists, mineralo- 
gists, chemists, microscopists, and practical engineers, such as 
gas managers, miners, &c. 
With four of these classes of scientific witnesses I have no 
immediate concern, and will, therefore, leave them to settle 
their own differences ; but not so with the microscopists, with 
many of whom my opinions are entirely at variance. 
In order that you may all fairly understand the nature of this 
question, as far as the microscopical observers are concerned, 
1 will, in the first place, give you a detailed account of the 
minute structure of the Mineral itself. Secondly, I will give a 
brief description of the minute structure of Coal. Thirdly, I 
will lay before you the whole of the evidence given by the 
microscopists on the part of the pursuer as well as the defender; 
and lastly, make a few remarks upon the conflicting testimony 
of some of the witnesses. 
I wish that the matter had fallen into abler hands than 
mine ; but having been intimately acquainted with the 
mineral in dispute for some time past, and as two of the oldest 
members of this society, Mr. Bowerbank and myself, have 
had their competency called in question, and have been repre- 
sented by the Judge as no botanists, and, therefore, " are not, 
as I understand, conversant or skilful in fossil plants,'' and the 
society itself not having escaped his ridicule, the jury being 
