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The eastern portion has been clearly found to extend upwards of 
seven miles, by the experiment of repeated boring : whilst the west- 
ern has not, as yet, been traced further than two miles. The whole 
area, including the working, from the first period to the present time, 
amounts to ten acres. 
The Bovey Coal is now used for supplying the steam-engine, for 
burning lime ; and, occasionally , for giving the earthenware its first 
burning ; it is not now used for domestic purposes, the sulphurous 
gas it emits being, not only extremely disagreeable, but injurious to 
the health of the inhabitants. It has been said, that exposure to the 
influence of the sun and atmosphere, for some months, deprives it 
of this pernicious quality ; but this is not warranted by experience ; 
even seven years has only lessened, but by no means destroyed it 
entirely. It certainly undergoes considerable decomposition j the 
different laminee cracking and peeling off, from the evaporation of 
the contained moisture ; it then weighing considerably lighter. 
The coal has some peculiarities, with respect to its appearance. 
From this circumstance, the workmen have divided it into three 
species or varieties, which they call stone coal, hoard coal, and knotty 
coal. Some portions bear evidently the effect of fire, and resemble, 
in every respect, as to external appearance and touch, the common 
charcoal. 
From every observation and inquiry I have made, it does not 
appear, that any substance of a vegetable form has ever been dis- 
covered, either in the coal strata or incumbent strata ; no leaves, 
pine-nuts, or any thing of a similar nature. 
Solid bitumen has often been met with, both in the coal and argil- 
laceous strata ; and it has been remarked, that the coal, taken up 
after this substance has been found, is always of good quality. A 
species of spar, the sjmth adamantin of the French, has been some- 
times, though rarely, found in the middle of a portion of the coal. 
The iron 'pyrites is ]net with very frequently. There are springs im- 
