from the Coal Measures of Torhane-hill. 63 
being in reality the clayey or earthy ingredient of the 
mineral. 
None of the defender's witnesses, it appears, ever examined 
the ash of coal ; and one witness in particular. Dr. Redfern, 
stated that the examination of " ash in general was liable to 
great sources of fallacy, and placed no dependence upon it ;" 
whereas, it subsequently appeared that he had never examined 
the ash of ordinary coal with the microscope. 
Were I disposed to be hypercritical, I could mention many 
other points in the evidence that I entirely dissent from ; but 
I trust I have already said enough, and will therefore sum up 
my remarks by stating that I consider the mineral in ques- 
tion is not a coal, being structurally different from all un- 
doubted coals, including those with which it appears it has 
been compared by the microscopists engaged by the defender. 
In order, therefore, that the scientific world in general may 
have an opportunity of judging for themselves whether this 
statement be correct or not, I have put specimens of the 
mineral and of these coals into the hands of the preparers of 
microscopic objects, and in a short time sections will be on 
sale by them and by the principal opticians in this metropolis. 
I might by some persons be accused of unfairness in 
making even these few remarks upon the evidence of the wit- 
nesses for the defence, when they are all located in different 
parts of Great Britain, and therefore not able to be present 
this evening to answer for themselves. I wish, however, 
that they could have been here, and more especially if they 
could have brought with them the sections upon which their 
opinions were formed, and the drawings which were produced 
in court. They might say, perhaps, that it would not be fair 
play to send their specimens, their drawings, and their remarks 
into an enemy's camp ; on my own part, however, I can ven- 
ture to state that I am ready to appear before any tribunal of 
scientific men in this kingdom, and my drawings and speci- 
mens shall be open to all who may be interested in the subject, 
to examine for themselves. I beg it may be expressly under- 
stood, that should there be any one point in this paper which 
on subsequent investigation may turn out to be incorrect, I 
shall be as ready to come forward and acknowledge myself in 
error as I now am to express an opinion not hastily formed : 
my only object, as I said before, is truth ; and by truth I will 
abide. 
There is one other point that I would briefly allude to 
before drawing my remarks to a conclusion, and this is a 
portion of the Lord President's address to the Jury, in which, 
