157 
This substance is thus spoken of by Marbodeus* : 
Nascitur in Lycia lapis, et prope gemma gagates, 
Sed genus eximium foecunda Britannia mittit. 
Lucidus et niger est, et levissimus idem, 
Vicinus paleas trahit attritu calefactus, 
Ardet aqua lotus, restinguitur unctus olivo. 
It is frequently found, as was known to Solinus, in various parts 
of this kingdom. It is very abundant in the neighbourhood of 
Liege, and particularly so in a celebrated mountain of coal, in 
Misena, not far from the city of Zuicca. It is also found in various 
parts of Spain, France, and Germany, and indeed in almost every 
part of the known world. 
It is most frequently found in the neighbourhood of coal mines, 
and in detached pieces, on the sea shores, in various subterranean 
situations, and frequently in strata which are evidently allmdal. 
I have found it in the blue tile clay, beneath the gravel, at the depth 
of twenty feet, in the gravel-pits near Hackney ; in pieces about one 
or two inches square, having pyrites adhering to them, and bearing 
on one side of them the striated structure of wood. 
Cannel Coal seems to be the bituminous substance next m 
pmity to jet. It is a black, opaque, compact, and brittle substance : 
it breaks with a conchoidal fracture. Its specific gravity varies from 
1,232 to 1.426. It does not soil the fingers. It kindles very easily, 
and burns with a bright white flame, like that of a candle, leaving an 
earthy residuum, and not caking into a cinder. 
By the analysis of Mr. Kirwan, its composition is 75.20 of 
charcoal, 21.68 of bitumen, and 3.10 of aluminous and silicious earths. 
Like jet it possesses that compactness of structure which renders 
it susceptible of polish, and capable of being wrought into trinkets 
of various forms. The chief differences between jet and Cannel 
* Dactylotheca Marbodei Galli ; cum Scholiis Georgii Pictoris. Basilese, 1531. 
