48 Structure of a peculiar Combustible Mineral, 
Eecently ? — Recently. 
And did you subject it to a very careful investigation ? — Yery careful. 
In various forms ? — Yes. 
Now, will you tell me what those Nos. of process are, No. 259 to 263, 
both inclusive ? — 259 represents sections of various specimens of the Tor- 
banehill mineral, as seen under the microscope. 
From the centre of the same, from the outside or bottom, and also from 
the outside of block ? — Yes. 
What is the next No. ? — 260, representing two sections of coal, termed 
to me cannel coal — Duke of Hamilton's cannel coal ; the one represents 
what I have termed a longitudinal section, and the other a transverse 
section, drawn by myself. 
The next No. ? — Is 261. This represents a drawing of what was 
termed to me Lesmahagow, Ferguson's cannel coal — two sections drawn 
from specimens made by mj^self ; but the drawing made by an artist 
named Donald, of Glasgow, under my eye. 
And you have no doubt they are correctly done ? — No doubt ; very 
faithfully made. 
The next No. ? — 262, representing sections of — 1st, what is termed 
Jordanhill cannel coal. The one is longitudinal of Jordanhill, the other is 
a transverse section of a coal called Cowdenhead, given to me. This one, 
263, which represents three drawings — two transverse and one longi- 
tudinal ; a transverse section of Jordanhill cannel coal, drawn by a 
medical gentleman of the name of Risk, under my eye, a faithful delinea- 
tion ; the other is a drawing of cannel coal procured from the Glasgow 
Gas Works, called Knightwood coal ; and there is also a longitudinal 
drawing of Knightwood. Those three drawings were made under my eye 
by Mr. Risk. 
Did you subject the powder of the Torbanehill mineral to the micro- 
scope? — I did. 
Having applied a little water ? — Yes. 
What did you discover to be the particles? — Those particles have a 
clear granular shape, they are of an irregular rounded form, and I say 
may be described as exhibiting an uniform granular appearance. 
Any further description ? — About ^ of those granules are very translu- 
cent, and of a light-amber colour. About ^, also translucent, partake 
more of a flat or angular shape in their outline, and are quite colourless ; 
and there are a few particles of a dark or semi-opaque matter. 
Now have you examined coal specimens in the same way ? — I have. 
What were the results ? — They differed very materially ; the particles 
of cannel coal which I took as being the more compact coal, are found of 
various sizes, and in form generally flat, angular, or oblong, with fibrous 
character ; the edges generally rough and as darkly opaque as in the 
centre. 
Have you examined the ash of the Torbanehill mineral ? — I have. 
When you said that the coal particles were of different sizes, were the 
particles of Torbanehill mineral of various or the same size? — When I 
examined them under a high power I found the Torbanehill to be also of 
various sizes. 
You examined them with the aid of a microscope carefully ? — Yes. 
What results? — I found it very difficult to describe the appearance, 
because it seemed to consist of a film or congeries of structureless particles. 
I got nothing tangible almost to lay hold of. I consider most of those 
consisted of the colourless particles which I have mentioned as having been 
found in the powder, viz., the flat, angular, and perfectly transparent 
particles. 
