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tion here offered will be found in perfect coincidence with that 
given by Mr. Hatchett, Mr. Williams, and Mons. Tingry, as far as 
regards the derivation of coal from vegetable matter ; differing only 
from that of the two former gentlemen, in its attempt to ascertain 
the nature of the process by which the change has been effected; 
and from that of the latter gentleman, in not acknowledging the 
necessity of the general operation of mineral vapours, or subter- 
ranean fires and distillation. 
The opinion, which the strictest examination of every circum- 
stance seems best to warrant the adoption of, appears to be, that 
coal is a product of the vegetable matter, which has been buried 
at several distant periods, but chiefly in consequence of an universal 
deluge ; and which, after having been reduced to a fluid state by the 
bituminous fermentation, has suffered a certain modification of that 
inflammability, which bitumens in general possess, by the deposition- 
of its carbon, and by an intimate and peculiar intermixture with 
various earthy and metallic salts. 
In examining the solidity of this hypothesis, the attention must 
become particularly engaged by three different circumstances, which 
offer themselves as necessary objects of inquiry. In the first place, 
the necessity presents itself, of ascertaining, whether the deluge 
may have been capable of occasioning that deposition of the matter 
of which coal is formed. In the next place, it should be determined, 
whether the circumstances under which this matter has been de- 
posited, were likely to occasion it to undergo such chemical changes 
as would produce its transmutation into coal. Lastly, it is requisite 
to discover, how far this suppositious change accords with the 
general economy of nature ; or, at least, with that part of it which it 
has been permitted to us to understand. 
The general tenour of the Mosaic account of the creation of the 
world, as well as several distinct expressions employed by the 
sacred historian, whilst speaking more particularly of the creation 
